Former Claret Dougall passes away

Photograph courtesy of Plymouth Argyle FC

The name Dougall is one that should be revered in Burnley Football Club history. Billy Dougall was player, trainer, coach, manager and later physiotherapist at Turf Moor. Only recently Jimmy McIlroy told me that he learned more from Billy than anyone else throughout his career, something he repeated on the television programme 'Time of our Lives'.

Billy died in the 1960s after suffering ill health but his son Neil also had a long and distinguished career in the game. He was a semi-pro at Burnley and played in the first team during the war years whilst also playing for the RAF alongside such names as Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen.

Falkirk born, he played for the Scottish wartime international side. He signed for Birmingham after the war and played for Scotland in the Victory international against England before winning a full cap in 1947 against Wales at Wrexham. It proved to be his only full cap.

He moved from Birmingham to Plymouth in 1949 for £13,000, a sizeable fee at the time, and went on to play for Argyle on no fewer than 289 occasions. Predominantly a wing half he did play in every position except goalkeeper and outside left.

He won a testimonial with Argyle and it was Burnley who travelled down to Home Park in October 1959 to provide the opposition. A Burnley team missing only Jimmy McIlroy, on international duty, won the game 5-1.

Neil remained with Argyle at the end of his playing days as trainer and coach, chief scout and eventually as the club's PR officer whilst also enjoying six months as manager. After leaving the club in the early 70s he was involved in running sports centres in Plymouth.

He passed away on Monday 1^st December and his funeral took place, in Plymouth on Wednesday of this week. At Argyle's game against Sheffield United last week a minute's applause was observed ahead of kick off.

Our thoughts are with the Dougall family at this sad time.