Tribute to Killie FC legend Frank Beattie

Nov 27 2009 by Lizzie Struthers, Kilmarnock Standard

ONLY one player in the long and proud history of Kilmarnock FC has led the club to a Scottish League Championship.

That man was Frank Beattie, who sadly died last Thursday. He was aged 76.

A large number of present-day Killie fans didn’t have the opportunity to see him play or get to meet him, but there will be few supporters who are not aware of the major part he played in Rugby Park folklore.

Frank Whitfield Beattie was a gentle giant, a six-footer who gave 19 years of service to Kilmarnock and the first-ever player to play more than 600 first-team games for the club.

Born in St Ninian’s in Stirling, he was signed by the then manager, Malky McDonald, from Bonnybridge Juniors in 1953.

Over the next 19 years, he travelled almost on a daily basis from his home near Stirling to Rugby Park for training and games.

Frank’s early appearances for Killie were as an inside forward, making his debut against St Mirren in a League Cup tie on September 4, 1954.

But it was some five years later, after Willie Waddell succeeded Malky McDonald, that Frank found his true position as a half-back.

That switch was the catalyst for Frank’s career, and it was no coincidence that Kilmarnock FC went on to enjoy the best period in its history over the next few years.

He was a central figure in the League Cup final at Hampden in season 1962-63, referee ‘Tiny’ Wharton adjudging that Frank had handled the ball into the net rather than head it, to deny the Ayrshire side an equaliser against Hearts, who went on to win the game 1-0.

But in 1965 Frank, the Killie players and supporters had reason to celebrate when they beat Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle to win the First Division Championship.

He led his team into the European Cup, eventually losing to Real Madrid over two legs, and in season 1966-67, under his captaincy, reached the semi-finals of the Fairs Cup before losing to Leeds United.

Frank’s appearances became rarer over the next few seasons, and he suffered a break to his right leg in a tackle with Jimmy Johnstone at Celtic Park in December, 1969.

In 1971 he was awarded a testimonial in recognition of his long service to the club, and although Celtic beat Killie 7-2, the match was memorable for the fact that a youngster by the name of Kenny Dalglish scored SIX goals for the Glasgow side.

Frank’s last appearance at Rugby Park was on August 28, 1971, and his final appearance for the club was at Motherwell a few weeks later.

His Rugby Park career over, Frank went on to manage Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion.

A newsagent in Cambusbarron where he lived with his family, he went on to coach his local amateur side to victory in the 1978 Scottish Amateur Cup Final.

Davie Sneddon, a member of that League-winning team from the mid-sixties, spoke this week of his lifelong friendship with ‘Big Frank’.

Said Davie: “He was an unusual type of player in that he played at a consistently high level, week in, week out.

“Over the years I lost count of the number of opposition players who told me they hated playing against him.

“He was a quiet big bloke and stayed with me now and again, along with Campbell Forsyth, when they maybe hadn’t time to travel to Kilmarnock for a midweek game.

“He was one of those people who, when you met him, you knew you had a friend for life.

“He was one of the most respected players of his age, both on and off the field.

“We visited each other long after we stopped playing. He was a great friend, one of the best, and he’ll be sorely missed.”

Frank is survived by his wife Betty and two daughters.

A funeral service will be held today (Thursday) at St Mary’s Chapel in Stirling, followed by interment at Cambusbarron Cemetery.