Minute’s silence as Falkirk mourn death of former chairman Campbell Christie

FALKIRK will hold a minute’s silence before this afternoon’s First Division meeting with Raith Rovers to mark the death of their popular director and former chairman Campbell Christie.

Christie, who died aged 74 after a short illness, was best known across Scotland on account of his 12-year spell as the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. However, he could look back with pride at his third and final spell as the Falkirk chairman, which ended immediately after the club’s Scottish Cup final appearance in 2009.

With Christie at the helm, Falkirk moved to a brand new stadium and competed in the Scottish Premier League. He had remained on the Falkirk board after stepping down as chairman.

In a statement, Falkirk said: “After a period of illness, Campbell died peacefully at Strathcarron Hospice in the early hours of this morning. Our thoughts are with his wife, Betty, and his family at this time.

“Campbell loved Falkirk Football Club and was a great servant to the club. He spent three spells as chairman and steered the club through periods of its greatest turmoil and greatest successes. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the football club.”

Martin Ritchie, who succeeded Christie in the Falkirk chair, paid a personal tribute. “Our thoughts are all with Campbell’s family. This is very sad,” said Ritchie. “Everyone here will miss Campbell. He was a huge personality here for a long time.

“His first two stints as chairman were in times of turmoil but he was able to help the club.

“Then, his third spell came in more successful times with the move from the old Brockville and with promotion to the SPL.

“One of the things about Campbell was that he was an elder statesman, a politician. He was good at dealing with situations, good at negotiating situations and was a people person. That was so important with our occasionally complicated move to a new stadium.

“It will be strange for the board not having him around for that advice. We will miss his wise counsel.”

Ritchie added that Christie bowed out of Falkirk at a fitting juncture. “The cup final and promotion were great for him. I have a photo of Campbell wearing a blue and white wig the day we were promoted to the SPL. He bowed out in the best possible style with the cup final.

“He did see the good times. At a club like Falkirk, there are not always good times but Campbell saw the good as well as the bad.

“I don’t think anybody at the club had a bad word to say about Campbell. He loved the club, he really enjoyed his football; he got as excited as any of the fans when Falkirk did well.”

Upon hearing news of Christie’s death, Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, added: “For many, Campbell’s warmth as a man and a fighter were evident in his love for Falkirk FC, and I know that all Falkirk Bairns will be mourning today.”