HUNDREDS of mourners, many of them from Scottish football, are expected to turn out this afternoon for the funeral of Dumbarton FC chief executive Gilbert Lawrie.

The funeral at Cardross Crematorium takes place is will be at 2.15pm.

Those attending will then move to Dumbarton FC’s Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium to pay their respects to the man who served the club for more than a quarter of a century in a number of roles, including company secretary, and football secretary, before taking up the reins as chief executive in 2008.

Mr Lawrie, who lived in Renfrewshire and was a qualified surveyor, passed away on January 21, aged – he was aged just 55 years old.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken said had responded to the news of his death, saying: “It gave us all a huge shock and it’s hit the club hard”.

Former players paid tribute to the man who was the face of the club on a day-to-day basis, with tributes following news of his death describing him as “one of the nicest guys in football” and a “true gentleman”.

Supporters also paid their respects: a minute’s applause was held a few days after his death prior to the away match in Kircaldy against Raith Rovers where players also wore black arm bands as a further mark of respect. And a minute’s silence was impeccably observed at the Sons’ first home match against Livingston the following week.

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

Simon Barrow of the Sons Supporters Trust, thinks it is fitting that mourners will bid their final farewells to the chief executive at the stadium.

He said: “It’s absolutely what Gilbert would have wanted and he would be delighted with the results the team has produced in recent weeks; he was every inch a Dumbarton man in everything he done.

"It is going to be the saddest moment imaginable but people realise that, Dumbarton are a real family club. There will be representatives from every area of the club, and from right across Scottish football. He was very highly regarded in football. People have been sending their condolences and a message has been received from the club’s owners. The message from Chris Stainton at Brabco said that they really appreciated working with Gilbert, that they are terribly sad but had been honoured to work with him. They have sent their condolences to his family and everyone else at Dumbarton Football Club.”

An only child, Mr Lawrie's survived his wife Fiona who passed away a few years ago earlier. He is survived by his parents.

A statement issued on behalf of the club at the time of Mr Lawrie’s death said: “Gilbert will be hugely missed by everyone connected to the club, among the football community in Scotland and by the large number of people who knew and valued him in his neighbourhood and well beyond."