Sydney “Syd” Gerrie

Sydney Gerrie was born on 14^th June 1927 in Aberdeen.

In his youth he had been a keen participant in athletics, and at the age of sixteen had represented Aberdeen at a meeting of youth cubs, winning the high-jump and running the half-mile.

He started his football career with Inverurie Locomotives, a club that were formed by the employees of the Great North of Scotland Railway Company, but this was halted during WW2, when he enlisted as a Craftsmen with the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, and served in Africa.

Moving further down the east coast, Syd signed for Dundee F.C. on 29^th June 1948. Played as an inside right, he impressed in this position during his trial game, in which he also scored two goals.

He moved to centre forward for his first team debut in the League Cup match against Albion Rovers, the third player tested in this role in the early part of the 1948-49 season. He was described as being “a strongly built lad,” who when in possession “is difficult to dislodge.” Gerrie went on to make eighteen first team appearances, and score seven goals. It had been a successful season getting to the semi-finals of the Scottish and League Cup, and finishing second in the league.

Before the start of the 1949-50 season started, Dundee F.C. played Edinburgh Hibs, at Glenesk Park in front of 14,000 spectators. The fixture had been arranged as a “grand exhibition” for the re-opening of Dundee Violet’s ground. Syd Gerrie scored the first goal on the new pitch, he was presented with a raincoat at the end of the match for this achievement.

The new season hadn’t even started when Dundee found themselves out of the League Cup. Hull City had sent their chief scout, former England internationalist, Jack Hill, to Firhill to see Gerrie play against Partick Thistle. It was a wasted journey as Syd didn’t play, and Hill reported that he couldn’t remember ever “watching such a poor display in the second half by Scottish clubs.”

By the end of the season he had just about doubled his appearance and goal ratio from the previous year. Making thirty one appearances and scoring fifteen goals.

The 1950-51 season saw the arrival at Dens of Billy Steel, this didn’t auger well for Gerrie, who was overshadowed by the new star player.

Hull City saw the opportunity of obtaining his services, and he duly signed for them in November 1950, for a fee of around £12,000. Sheffield United had also made an offer for the player. He remained with the Tigers until 1957 when he retired.

A move was made back to Inverurie, and employment in the coal trade, meant football wasn’t part of his life anymore.

In January 1968, an offer came his way to manage Brechin City arose, unfortunately fourteen months later he was dismissed. He returned to his former job in Inverurie leaving football behind for the final time.

Syd died on 9th May 2005, aged 77.