Steve Clarke has paid a heartfelt tribute to a devoted member of the Tartan Army who died while following Scotland in Boston. Donny Strathie, 76, died suddenly on Sunday, June 14 before he got the chance to see John McGinn and co take on Morocco.
The lifelong Scotland supporter had travelled to the United States to back the national team on the biggest stage and had secured his ticket for Friday night's match. Tragically, he never got the chance to see the match he had dreamed of attending. Clarke broke off from his pre-match press conference to send his condolences to Donny's family.
He said: “Among all the great news around the World Cup for Scotland this is obviously very sad. It’s sad for his family, his daughters and his grandchildren. I think Donny's ambition was to see Scotland at a World Cup again. Thankfully he managed to do that before he passed but my thoughts and condolences are with his family.”
His family have asked Scotland supporters who attend the match at the Gillette Stadium tomorrow to hold a minute’s applause on the 76th minute in honour of Donny. Donny was a well-known figure in his local community and served as captain of the Bowhouse Pool team. His daughters, Denise Strathie and Cheryl Strathie, have both shared photographs of their dad in his memory as messages of love and support continue to flood in for the much-loved man.
A poster circulating online to urge supporters to take part in the minute's applause read: “One minute applause tribute to Donny Strathie. Tartan Army foot soldier who died in Boston on Sunday, June 14. Share and spread the word – one minute applause tribute in the 76th minute of Scotland v Morocco.”
Daughter Cheryl said: “Let’s see if we can all make this happen for Dad.”
