Stirling County Cricket Club members are mourning the loss of a legendary player, committee member and lifelong supporter.
Douglas Macgowan, known popularly as “Closey”, died on Friday, September 30 – the day after his 82nd birthday.
He first played for the club in the early 1950s and was the youngest player ever to represent the 1st XI at the time, aged only 14.
A year earlier, young Douglas was presented with the match ball after taking a hat-trick in a game against Patons and Baldwins.
He went on to represent the club with distinction alongside his brother Jim, winning awards at the Williamfield club for his batting and bowling, scoring more than 1000 runs in the 1979 season, culminating in playing a leading role in the club winning the Scottish Counties Championship in 1985 and the Beneagles Quaich in 1986.
He continued to play in the club’s 2nd and 3rd XIs, acting as a mentor to many of the club’s youngsters before finally hanging up his boots as player just before his 70th birthday in 2010 having scored more than 19,000 runs and taking more than 800 wickets.
He served for a spell during the 1960s as captain of the club and as a committee member for a number of years.
As well as cricket, Douglas played tennis, football and golf and away from sport was a member of Stirling Operatic Society, the church and YMCA.
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Born in Riverside on September 29, 1940, he attended Riverside Primary and the High School of Stirling and lived in the town with his mum, stepdad and brother Jim. He later married Molly Nimmo and had two daughters Kirsty and Shirley.
Douglas worked initially in the bank but principally spent most of his working life as payroll services manager with NHS Forth Valley. Upon retiral he moved to Alloa.
His funeral will take place on Tuesday, October 18, at Stirlingshire Crematorium at 11am.
