George (Dod) Reid MBE passed away last Wednesday night aged 61 having achieved so much in his life. One of his greatest legacies is being a founder member of Colony Park Boys Club in 1978 and Honorary President for the past 20 years.

Dod's energy and enthusiasm was unbelievable. Only four years earlier, he had been consigned to a wheelchair for life after a scaffolding accident at the age of 27 left him with a fractured spine.

Far from feeling sorry for himself, the husband of Sheila and with two very young children to look after, joined together with three other parents to establish the professional set-up that continues to be a huge success story, and he also became a founder member of the Central Grampian Boys Football League.

Over the years he picked up well earned honours including the Paul Harris fellowship by Rotary International in 1998 but the pinnacle was in 2000 when he travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE by Prince Charles. A proud day for Dod and his family.

Over the years he has seen so many players come through the ranks and go on to play at a high level. His son George excelled for Inverurie Locos at junior and Highland League level, proving to be a prolific scorer season after season.

Current Locos players include Steven Park and Craig Ross have both gone through testimonial seasons, Neil McLean has been Semi Professional Captain of Scotland while former player Stuart McKay also played for his country at that level and has been a star for with Peterhead for the past three seasons in Division Two.

A great desire was to see a Colony player go on to pick up a full national cap for Scotland. Dons striker Darren Mackie looked like being the first but the accolade fell to Barry Robson, now of Celtic.
Dod had seen him go through an abortive spell at Rangers in the late 90s before finally blossoming at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United, then standing out as a key player at Parkhead and helping them to League Championship success and victories in the Champions League.

Close friend Roger Langtree paid the following tribute: "As Honorary Vice President and Past Chairman it has been a privilege to work with Dod Reid over the years. Not only an inspiration to the players he coached but everyone round about him.

"His outstanding qualities as a person were his enthusiasm for football and his love for his family. But Dod also had a great deal of common sense which is sadly lacking in football today.His willingness to offer help and advice when needed was never in question.

"It is doubtful whether Dod and his colleagues in 1978 could have imagined that the seed they sowed would grow into one of the biggest clubs in Scotland, something everybody in the town should be grateful for.
"When you think of Colony Park you think of Dod, every player in future, whether they knew him or not, should be reminded of that. I along with thousands more will miss him greatly."

Looking back on the club formation on 1978 as if it was yesterday, Locos Interim Chairman Eddie Innes added: "I have known Dod for more years than I would like to remember, I can still see him at Colony Park with their first team Surrounded by Wattie Strachan, Bob Gibb and the late Frank Hildreth, a team full of Inverurie loons including young Dod who went on to be a Loco's stalwart but his legacy has seen many others follow.

"Over the years as my kids grew up they all had a great affection for Dod and my daughter, who now lives in New Zealand, e-mailed to me to pass on her condolences to the Reid family.

"He was a true gent in every way and a legend that will never be replaced, I think we should all take a leaf out of Dod's style. He unfortunately spent many years in a wheelchair, but that did not deter him at all, as he achieved and gave more to Inverurie than anyone else who is and was fully mobile.

"We thank Dod for what he and the three others set up and which Dod ultimately developed into one of best youth set-ups in Scotland . A true gent to go with it and totally unassuming. It was a pleasure knowing George Reid MBE."

Current Colony Chairman Ian Hird succeeds a whole list of proud people who have carried on the mantle of maintaining and keeping improving on the standards over 31 years.

He said: "I have known Dod for over 15 years, he has brought a great deal of joy to kids and their families. Not many families in Inverurie have been untouched by his presence, it is a real travesty to lose him so early.

"A thoroughly well respected man, I have heard of nobody who has had a bad word to say about him, only admiration."

While Robson is in the forefront of the current club scene and national team in Scotland, many years ago Mike Cormack became the first Colony player to progress fully at a senior club. Now Assistant Manager at Inverurie Locos, Cormack feels the loss really badly.

"We all knew he wasn't well but it still came as a shock hearing the news of his passing. Dod always encouraged me in my football wherever I was and he was the first to congratulate me when I got fixed up at Motherwell," he said.

"I was in his first team at Colony Park and when I met up with him at the many successful fundraising Colony Dinners, we never ever forgot that in our conversations. I feel for his family, he'll be a big miss."

Colony people old and young will remember how much Dod enjoyed all those fundraising events where some of the great football personalities were present, but he never forgot his roots. And as another annual presentation night at Inverurie Town Hall comes up in just over a fortnight, celebrating the various achievements of Colony Park FC, that space on the corner of the stage will always be remembered as where Dod sat in his wheelchair with his wry smile.

Inverurie Locos boss Dave Cormie has been delighted to help progress the young talent of Inverurie into his various football teams over the years but never forgets the man who made it all possible.

He commented: "I am indebted to Dod for his help and to Sheila as well, the whole family, a fantastic family. I will miss him as a friend as well as a football person. What he has done over the past 35 years is give not only the boys but girls as well the opportunity to play for Colony Park and to represent Inverurie.

"He didn't label anybody, he gave everybody a chance, a second chance and more to help them. He was just as happy to work with players he could see as going on to be be superstars as those who couldn't kick a ball.

"I found him to be a football guru, but also a wonderful person, the world is a sadder place without George Reid MBE that's for sure."

Close family friend Paul Douglas said: "You would never be stuck for conversation with Dod. He loved his football but his family were always the most precious thing for him . It took me several months to realise why he had such a fantastic rapport with the football kids particularly very young kids - the dawning on me that he never looked down on them, he always met them face to face.

"He never claimed to have any special gift, but he undoubtedly had. He has helped shape countless young lives as well as helping a few of us older folks to appreciate the important things in life.

"I am so so glad to have had Dod Reid in my life for these last 20 odd years. He has been a huge influence and will continue to be so for the remainder of my life."

Dod is survived by his loving wife Sheila, son George, daughter-in-law Zoe and their young children Matthew and Jessica, daughter Eleanor and son-in-law Dave, who has maintained the family tradition at Colony as a stalwart in coaching and secretarial duties, and their teenage son Joe, who plays with the same enthusiasm now as day one in front of his grandad.

It was fitting that the man chosen to serve the eulogy at his funeral was the great Raymond Whyte, Dod had laughed so much at his stories over the years.