Remembering Gary Riddell

Today we remember Gary Riddell, who tragically died 28 years ago today, whilst taking part in the Dunfermline half-marathon raising money for the Hillsborough disaster.

Gary started his footballing career with Deeside Juveniles at the age of 11 and later joined Aberdeen Football Club at a time when they were the most successful team in Scotland, and one of the finest in all of Europe.

Gary signed S forms with the club, which was still managed by Alex Ferguson at the time, and went on to play for the club at various level for four years. He played many East Reserve League games as a teenager, including one at the ripe old age of 15 at East End Park! He spent a season playing juniors with his local Ellon United side whilst still at school and then signed his first full time contract with Aberdeen. A broken ankle put him on the sidelines for many months, but after playing a few Highland League games with Rothes, Aberdeen were satisfied the injury had cleared up and he returned to full time training with his parent club.

During his time at Pittodrie, he also represented Scotland at Schoolboy and Youth international level. Alex also included Gary in his first team squad on a number of different occasions, but left the club and made a rather big move to Manchester United in 1986, and Gary fell down the pecking order with a change of manager to Ian Porterfield.

The opportunity to play first team football came about later in 1987, with Dunfermline Athletic playing their first ever Premier League campaign in 1987/88. After being watched by myself, Gary signed a two year contract with The Pars in September that year and made his debut in a match at East End Park against Morton on 19th September 1987 in front of five and half thousand fans. He did pretty well for a newcomer, helping the team win 4-1 on that afternoon.

With lots of competition for a centre half position, Gary held down a regular starting place in the team alongside Norrie McCathie and the experienced John Holt who signed at the same time as Gary. Despite a few niggling injuries, Gary started for Dunfermline Athletic 24 times in his first season. We were relegated that season but were all determined to come back bigger and better. Gary was an absolutely integral part of the side that wanted to come straight back at the first time of asking.

Gary played in 22 league matches that following season, richly deserving the league winner’s medal that came his way. He was part of a team that won the First Division Championship for the first time in Dunfermline Athletic’s history, and will always be remembered by all generations of Pars fans to come.

Unfortunately, he never managed to play his part the following season after his tragic death just one month after being part of the celebrations that saw the championship trophy lifted at East End Park.

51 first team appearances under his belt, but we’ll never know how much more he would inevitably have gone on to achieve in his chosen sport.