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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Rangers cup shock scorer and Hamilton Accies hero Adrian Sprott passes away, aged 61

Hamilton Accies hero Adrian Sprott has passed away following a period of ill health, the club has announced.

The 61-year-old wrote his name into the history books on January 31, 1987 when he scored the goal that knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup. Accies - who were bottom of the top flight at the time and with a squad of players earning around £50 a week - recorded a 1-0 win at Ibrox.

A civilian worker with Lothian and Borders police, Sprott was on target against a line up that included then-England captain Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Davie Cooper, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant.

The goal sent the band of 1800 Accies supporters into raptures and ended Woods’s record of 1196 minutes of football without conceding a goal.

It is considered one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history.

Sprott also played for Stenhousemuir and Meadowbank.

A statement from Hamilton Accies read: "It is with real sadness that we learn of the passing this morning of our former player Adrian Sprott, 61.

"We knew that Adrian hadn’t kept good health recently but we are shocked to hear today.

"Also playing with Meadowbank and Stenhousemuir he is undoubtedly remembered for one particular afternoon on 31 January 1987 when he famously scored our goal at Ibrox to defeat Rangers in the Scottish Cup."

Recounting his goal at Ibrox, Sprott said in a 2008 interview: "That goal at Ibrox has meant that people do recognise my name.

"I've seen the footage as has my family but when you look at the film quality, the strips, the haircuts, it really is from a different era."

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