It is with regret that I have to inform you of the death of Willie Neill. Willie was a stalwart of Leith Academical RFC and Leith RFC. He was a player, committee member and team secretary for more years than we care to remember.

At the time he was Team Secretary the Club were running 5 teams and a Colts and Willie with assistance from his children orchestrated all call offs and subsequent changes. Many people will have several stories about Willie. He was known by many as the Rugby Man for his phone calls on a Friday night to advise players of changes to their team. He also had a ploy to get players to the meeting point on time by putting the meet time half an hour earlier than was necessary – the players quickly caught on but Willie didn’t change.

He was also known as the Egg Man as he supplied various groceries including duck eggs, hen eggs and quail eggs. He also supplied the oranges for all home games at Hawkhill and Academy Park and his last delivery was in October 2014 just weeks before he was taken ill, if you had a half time orange at Leith, the chance are Willie had supplied it. Willie a man ahead of his time once suggested bananas at half time not because of any nutritional value, simply because they were cheaper than oranges. I could go on.

Willie died on Saturday 7 March. His Funeral will be at St Cyrus Parish Church on Monday 16 March at 12.30.

Jim Smith
President
Leith RFC