Death of Motherwell FC secretary Betty

Oct 8 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

TRIBUTES this week poured in for well-known Motherwell FC secretary Betty Pryde, who passed away at the weekend.

The 68-year-old was found in her Orbiston Street home on Sunday morning. It’s believed that she passed away from natural causes during the night.

Betty had a history of heart problems but a family member said this did not appear to be the cause of death.

Mrs Pryde spent 30 years at Ballantyne and Copland solicitors, Motherwell, spending most of that time as secretary to the firm’s senior partner, Ian Livingstone.

Jock Brown also worked at the firm and when he became general manager at Celtic in 1997 he took Betty with him to Parkhead.

When Brown resigned a year later, Mrs Pryde also stepped down and shortly afterwards joined Motherwell, the club she had supported all her life. She spent around 10 years as an office administrator and manager’s secretary.

Motherwell spokesman Alan Burrows said: “Everybody at the club is devastated. Betty carried out so many tasks at the club and Terry Butcher once said that she ran the club when it was in administration. I don’t think that was far off the mark.

“All of the players loved her to bits and that was the same with the managers. It’s safe to say that everybody involved with Betty is devastated.

“It has been said that Motherwell will fill the position but will never fill the hole Betty is leaving behind and I think that says it all.”

Majority shareholder John Boyle commented: “Betty was truly the person who oiled the wheels of the football club.

“She was kind and courteous to everyone. She was everyone’s granny.

“She was the first point of contact for new players and the last point of contact for hardened managers.

“Betty’s passing is a major blow to the club and she will be truly and sorely missed.”

Ian Livingstone, who also served as chairman of Motherwell FC, said: “Betty was a loyal employee to Ballantyne and Copland over many years and was PA to myself for most of that time. She had a great ability to deal with clients and had an excellent relationship with them. She went beyond the call of duty in whatever job she held and had many friends in all spheres of life.

“I kept in touch with her and know that at Motherwell Football Club she was like a second mother to the players, who had great affection for her.

“It was tragic and so sudden. I spoke to Betty just two weeks ago and it was a real shock to learn of her passing.”

Former Motherwell manager Billy Davies, now boss at Championships side Nottingham Forest, said: “Betty was one of the most honest, trustworthy and honourable people I’ve dealt with in football. She was almost unique in her candid and compassionate method of dealing with people.

“Any club who is looking for a blueprint of good back-room staff could do no better than finding a Betty Pryde-type of person.

“You will be sadly missed, Betty, by myself and my family.”

Tommy McLean, who steered Motherwell to their historic 1991 Scottish Cup win, commented: “I knew Betty from her days at Ballantyne and Copland, through Ian Livingstone and Jock Brown, who covered the legal side for the club.

“Betty was a lovely lady and I think anybody who knew her would say that, because she always had a cheery smile on her face.

“Betty was a good supporter of Motherwell – her entire family were – and she was excellent for the club. Betty will be a big, big loss. She was a good figurehead for the club and everyone knew her. Not one person would have had a bad word to say about her. My thoughts are with her family.”

Motherwell general manager Lee-Ann Dempster added: “Betty wasn’t just an outstanding football administrator, she was a mother figure to many people at the club and she will be a great loss. “We’re all really shocked and devastated by the news and our thoughts are with her family at this time.”

Betty’s funeral service will be held in Motherwell South Church, Manse Road, on Friday at noon. She will be laid to rest at Airbles Cemetery at 12.45pm.