Tributes have been paid to a ‘legend’ of Scottish Sports journalism after Rodger Bailie passed away earlier this week at the age of 84.
Mr Baillie started his career in journalism as a 15-year-old and continued until he was 80 having been in attendance at Celtic’s European Cup win in Lisbon in 1967 and Rangers European Cup Winners Cup victory in Barcelona five years later in 1972.
His career in journalism also allowed him to build up close relationships with legendary managers of both Old Firm clubs and he was even in the dressing room in Lisbon with the Celtic team after they defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in that European Cup Final.
Mr Baillie started his career as a copy boy at the Glasgow Evening News in 1955 and moved onto the same job at the Daily Record before progressing on to their sports desk. From there, he moved to the Sunday Mirror where he built his relationship with Jock Stein having written his column, before returning to the Record.
He finished his career as chief sports writer at The Sun where he retired in 2005 but he continued to write for the Scottish Sun, Sunday Times and the News of the World.
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His legendary career also saw him cover five World Cups with Scotland in 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986 and 1990 as well as the European Championships in 1992 and 1996 – on top of covering England’s World Cup win in 1966.
His death follows that of another legend of Scottish sports writing with Allan Herron passing away at the age of 95 and both held roles as president of the Scottish Football Writer’s Association (SFWA).
The current incumbent of that role is Chick Young and he paid tribute to Mr Baillie by saying: "Dear Rodger. Another sweet man, another legend of our business has gone in the wake of losing his dear friend Allan Herron.
"Rodger had the ear of the great and good of our game, close to giants like Jock Stein and Willie Waddell.
"He was the owner of an impish sense of fun and a warm love for life. I don’t remember not smiling in his company.
"He had a contacts book which was an A to Z of the glitterati of the Scottish game and breaking stories streamed from his typewriter.
"A golden era of football writing is crumbling with the passing of Allan and now Rodger.
"His career embraced so much of the glory years of club and international football in this wee outcrop of rock in the North Atlantic.
"Another colleague, an ex-President of this association and friend is gone. These are dark days.”
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