David Bryce

David Bryce, who has died aged 61 of lung cancer, was a former drug addict who turned his life around and formed Calton United, a football team for recovering substance abusers.

He was born into the tough working-class milieu of the Gallowgate in Glasgow’s east end and from an early age became part of the then- flourishing local gang culture. Almost inevitably from an early age he fell foul of the law, leading to him becoming an inmate of various approved schools, Borstals and eventually prisons. This unpromising start in life also saw the young Bryce gradually descend into alcoholism.

Ironically, according to his most recent sponsor, Glasgow boxing promoter Alex Morrison, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous and kicked his drinking addiction only to become hooked on heroin when a dealer told him heroin was non-addictive.

Consequently, once again he descended into the dark nether regions of the hardline drug addict’s life so that by 1984, at the age of 35, by his own admission his life was a complete mess. But like one of his boxing heroes, American boxer Barney Ross who conquered heroin addiction in the 1940s by going cold turkey, Mr Bryce did likewise. By 1983 he decided to help other addicts and formed Calton United, the football team for recovering addicts.

So succesful did he make this salvation-through-sport project that at its height it employed 25 staff, although it was no soft option. Those recovering addicts who signed up for the project had also to go into withdrawal, no heroin substititutes such as methadone were permitted.

Also at its height, the Calton Athletic project attracted the support and patronage of famous celebrities such as the late Tommy Burns, the former Celtic manager, and comedian Lenny Henry.

However, Mr Bryce’s veto on methadone brought him into conflict with those behind the government methadone programme which he publicly criticised as being “like giving an alcoholic vodka instead of whisky”.

As a result, government funding was withdrawn from the Calton Athletic project. But Mr Morrison invited Mr Bryce and his Calton Athletic clients to use his new boxing gym on the Gallowgate while Mr Morrison also became chief sponsor for the football team, aso offering boxing training as an additional recreational facilty for the group.

Unfortunately, the onset of cancer not only resulted in Mr Bryce having a lung removed in a recent operation but also led to a dramatic downturn in his general health.

Mr Morrison said: “His death was a great shock as he had seemed to be on the road to recovery. He was a good loyal friend to me and all who knew him, he never gave up on any recovering addict and would give people chance after chance, write references, appear at court and spend all day and night with addicts in an effort to give them the means of personal salvation.’

“There are many former addicts leading a successful life today who owe their present positive lifestyles to the tireless efforts of the late David Bryce. He was a unique person who tried to see the best in everybody. He will be greatly missed.’’