COWDENBEATH Football Club have paid tribute to a former player, caterer and regular matchday visitor.

The club were given the sad news that Jimmy Ross passed away last Monday, November 6, at the age of 92, at Cameron Hospital.

Ross was a goalscorer for the club in the mid-1950s and later he provided catering at Central Park for several years and was a frequent visitor to matches.

He was born in Kirkcaldy in 1931 and attended Dunnikier and Kirkcaldy high schools.

He first made his mark in football in local Boys Brigade football.

Then he was called up for National Service and served at RAF Halton in England, Cowdenbeath club historian, David Allan recalled.

“Once demobbed he played in the juniors for St Andrews United, and then signed for Dunfermline in 1954," he said.

"Jimmy had a couple of seasons at East End Park but then was freed – primarily, it seems, because he didn’t want to go full time.

“John Dougary then promptly signed Jim for Cowdenbeath."

Ross later recalled his days with Cowden as follows: "There was a great camaraderie at Cowdenbeath – at Christmas they gave you a food hamper which included a steak pie in it. It was though challenging to fit in the football, as I was very busy working as a plasterer in Dundee.

“Getting back home in a van and then going right out to Central Park to train was a tough schedule – it took its toll on me.

"I scored a fair few goals but was freed by Cowdenbeath in 1956. Dundee United were interested in me then but I decided to give up the football."

The sturdy inside man though had proved his worth at Central Park by claiming 18 goals in just 34 games for Cowden.

He played up front in a Cowdenbeath forward line that included Willie Beckett and Frankie Quinn.

Later Jimmy had a haulage business in Kirkcaldy before he took on Caira’s Café, in the Gallatown, which he then had for 42 years.

Bert Caira was his brother-in-law, and they ended up doing the catering at East Fife, Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath – football, as well as the stock cars.

David added: “We offer Gordon and all his family and friends the most heartfelt condolences from everyone at Central Park.

"We had been delighted to welcome Jimmy to several matches in recent years and he too greatly enjoyed revisiting Central Park."