Harry Colville, footballer and manager; born December 12, 1924, died March 16, 1999
One of Fife's most famous footballing sons, Harry Colville, has died at the age of 74 after a long illness.
The dominating centre-half had two spells with Falkirk, captained his home town team Raith Rovers during the glory years of the 1940s and 50s, and also played for their rivals, Dunfermline, in a career spanning almost 20 years.
He was educated in Kirkcaldy before training as an engineer with Melville Brodie, but football was his first love and, after impressing with Bayview Boys' Club, he was signed by Falkirk.
While still a teenager he moved to Raith Rovers and with other greats including Willie McNaught, Johnny Maule, and Willie Penman was a key member of a team which spent an unprecedented 14 years in top-flight football under the guidance of the legendary Bert Herdman.
Harry then became equally popular with Dunfermline Athletic fans during a spell with Rovers' main Fife rivals, before returning to Brockville, where he ended his career at the age of 36.
Despite hanging up his boots, Harry couldn't keep away from the game and managed Cowdenbeath for a couple of seasons. He also proved himself an all-round sportsman and demonstrated that he was as sure-footed on ice as on grass, for as a member of Raith and Abbotshall Curling club in Kirkcaldy and Thornton Curling club, he was a three times winner of the British Curling Championships. He also enjoyed badminton and golf and was a member of Ladybank Golf Club.
Apart from thrilling fans on the football field and ice rink, Harry also helped other sportsmen and women to develop their talents by passing on some of his vast knowledge.
He was happy to offer advice and coaching while serving as manager first of Dundee Ice Rink, then the Waterstone Crook Sports Centre in Newport-on-Tay, before taking charge of the Ice Rink at Crystals Arena in Glenrothes, from where he retired at the age of 63.
Harry is survived by his wife Eumie, to whom he was married for 47 years, a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.
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