Published: Friday, 9th May, 2008 09:00
Football mourns dedicated Coshie
By Steve McElroy
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A FORMER player and manager of Rhu Amateurs, who put his heart and soul into the club he loved, has died suddenly.
James McCoshan, 65, passed away in the early hours of last Friday, at his home in James Street, Helensburgh.
Affectionately known as Coshie, Mr McCoshan was described as ‘Mr Rhu Amateurs’ because of his involvement with the club, which spanned more than 30 years — as a player, manager, and, latterly, groundsman.
His dedication to the team was such that two weeks ago he and his wife, Jeanette, interrupted a weekend away in Skye so that he could return for the club’s AGM.
Tributes were paid by his long-time friend Tony Brodie, who said: “He was so involved with Rhu. He was part of the foundations — from being a player to helping manage the teams to keeping the park and pavilion going. He was part of Rhu and just loved to watch football.
“He would cut the grass and tidy up the clubhouse. He was very well known in the town, highly respected and will be missed.”
Mr McCoshan’s love of football continued to his son, John, who said: “Last Thursday evening — just hours before my dad died — I was keen to know the result of the European semi-final tie between Rangers and Fiorentina.
“I was at work and desperate to get to a television. So my dad gave me a running commentary over the phone on the penalty shoot-out.
“That was nice. He knew his football.
“Many times when we were watching a game my dad would make a comment and just a few minutes later the television commentator would make the same point.
“He wasn’t a club fan, but he was a big Scotland supporter and had been to several internationals. He was at Wembley when Scotland beat England.
“He was also a keen gardener and was always pottering about in his allotment, providing that Rhu weren’t playing.”
Mr McCoshan was born in Adelaide Street and attended Clyde Street School.
He worked at the town’s old Tower and La Scala cinemas where he was a projectionist before joining the old GPO, which became BT.
He played for Rhu when they were in the old Gareloch League, now the West League, and despite giving up the game competitively, still played in veterans matches.
He previously helped coach Rhu second team, who scooped the McTaggart Cup, then teamed up with Findlay Colquhoun to coach the first team.
Mr McCoshan won medals playing for BT teams.
He took part in coaching courses which were also attended by former Scotland managers Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown, and used his vast footballing experience to coach Ardencaple Boys Club for a time.
His brother Dan was also well known as an opera singer.
Mr McCoshan’s funeral takes place on Saturday morning at St Michael’s All Angels Church at 10.30am.
His son said that when he met the minister to arrange the service, he told him that his father had been a regular visitor to Evensong — unknown to the family.
John said: “In the last few years he had been attending services and never told us. The Minister had spoken to him a couple of times and he had told him he liked the church and going to the service.”
Mr McCoshan leaves a widow, son and daughter, Fiona, and two grandchildren, Dominic 11, and Cara aged four.
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