Billy Abercromby Death & Obituary: Scottish footballer, St Mirren legend has died at 65

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Billy Abercromby Death & Obituary: St Mirren legend Billy Abercromby has passed away at the age of 65. The Paisley club announced the tragic news on Tuesday, leading to an outpouring of tributes for the fan favorite. Abercromby, who captained St Mirren to Scottish Cup victory in 1987, was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and holds the record for the most European appearances for the club. Known for his “tough tackling, no-nonsense style,” chants of “Aber’s gonna get ye” often echoed from the Love Street terraces in his honor.

Who Was Billy Abercromby?

William Abercromby (September 14, 1958 – June 2024) was a Scottish footballer who began his career at St Mirren. He signed a full professional contract in 1975 after progressing through the club’s youth ranks. His first involvement with the first team came a year later when Sir Alex Ferguson included him in the squad for a tour of the West Indies.

On October 29, 1986, Abercromby was sent off for three red card offenses—one for foul play and two for dissent—during a match against Motherwell at Love Street. Consequently, he received a twelve-match ban. Despite this, he went on to captivate fans by leading St Mirren to a 1-0 victory over Dundee United in the 1987 Scottish Cup final.

During the 1980s, Abercromby was instrumental in all four of St Mirren’s European competition campaigns, playing in nine of the club’s 14 matches—a record for any Saints player. Throughout his career, he made 367 appearances for St Mirren before moving on to play for Partick Thistle, Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, and East Stirlingshire.

St Mirren Football Club Statement

St Mirren Football Club released a heartfelt statement following the news of Abercromby’s passing:

“St Mirren Football Club is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of our 1987 Scottish Cup-winning captain Billy Abercromby, who has passed at the age of 65. A St Mirren Hall of Fame inductee, Billy began his career at Saints in 1975 – signing professional terms following a spell at St Mirren Boys’ Club.

“Billy spent 13 seasons in Paisley, becoming a fans’ favorite with his tough tackling, no-nonsense style, leading to chants of ‘Aber’s gonnae get ye’ from the terraces. In his time at Saints, Billy made 367 appearances for the Buddies – nine of which came in European fixtures, a club record. Billy was a part of our First Division title-winning side in 1976/77, our Anglo Scottish Cup-winning side of 1980, and famously captained Saints to our third Scottish Cup triumph in 1987 after a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Hampden.

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“His final match for the club came in 1987 in the second leg of our European Cup Winners Cup tie against Norwegian side Tromso. Billy would depart Saints in 1988 when he moved to Partick Thistle and had further spells in his career with the likes of Dunfermline Athletic, Cowdenbeath, and East Stirlingshire. The thoughts of everyone at St Mirren are with Billy’s loved ones at this difficult time.”

Conclusion

Billy Abercromby’s legacy at St Mirren and within the football community is profound. His dedication, leadership, and fierce playing style made him a beloved figure among fans and peers alike. As a captain, a record-holder, and a Hall of Fame inductee, Abercromby’s contributions to the club will always be remembered. The football world mourns the loss of a legend whose impact on and off the field will continue to inspire future generations.