Scottish football legend Ally McCoist never misses tea-time date with care home pal 'Tiny'

Ally McCoist, former manager at Rangers football club, has become a familiar face at a Glasgow care home, where his 70-year-old friend Mary ‘Tiny’ Gallagher lives, regularly taking her out for afternoon tea.

Mr McCoist, who played for Rangers for 15 years, becoming the club's record goalscorer with 355 goals, became friends with Mrs Gallagher, when she served meals to directors and players at the football players lounge at Ibrox Stadium.

Mrs Gallagher who was also a tour guide of the club, called him “very kind hearted and a massive joker, a true gent” and said: “I have known Ally since he came in as a youngster from Sunderland. He is a wonderful person and larger than life, someone I will hold close to my heart. He never forgets where he started and the people he met along the way!”

Mrs Gallagher, who worked at Rangers for nearly half a century was given the John Greig Achievement Award in 2014 for her contribution to the club.

In ‘The Official Biography of the Rangers’, she is referred to an ‘intrinsic part of the history’ of the club, with her gran, mum, herself and her sister all working at Rangers. She remembers her gran telling her stories of how she used to wash and darn the players’ football strips as well as weeding the pitch.

Mrs Gallagher, who met the likes of David Beckham and Sean Connery while at Rangers, only retired a couple of years ago after having a stroke.

Michelle Murray, manager at Cardonald Care Home said: "Ally is a very good friend of Mary's and regularly comes and takes her out for afternoon tea before coming back and sitting in the home for a chat.

“He's like an extended member of the family, and it's nice for everyone in the home because for such a famous man, he's certainly very humble. I know Mary enjoys spending time with him and the rest of the football team. It's nice to see that they continue to recognise her for her hard work and dedication, even after she has retired.”

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