A woman known to scores of football fans as “Mrs Lossiemouth FC” has died – just three months after being re-diagnosed with cancer.
Lorna McIntosh spent decades on the committee of Highland League team Lossiemouth, welcoming visiting sides from across the north and north-east to Grant Park.
Hundreds of tributes flooded in for the 53-year-old last night, with her heartbroken husband Alan saying her absence would be felt “from Wick to Aberdeen”.
Mrs McIntosh became involved with the club in 1976, when she was only 13, and began working at the ground’s pie hut with her mum.
After 10 years selling refreshments, she joined the Lossiemouth FC committee and soon became the public face of the club.
Mr McIntosh, who serves as secretary for the Coasters, said his “caring and loving” wife was known for her generosity of spirit.
He said she was “like a mother” to all of their daughters’ friends, and carried that warmth into her dealings with football officials.
Mr McIntosh added: “She was always the first person that the visiting committees and directors would meet in the boardroom, and she made sure they had plenty sandwiches and soup.”
The couple were childhood sweethearts, after getting to know one another as neighbours on Lossiemouth’s Macdonald Drive.
Mr and Mrs McIntosh, married in 1982 and had daughters Kevan and Kara in the following years.
The proud mum and granny overcome breast cancer three years ago, but the disease returned in March and she lost her battle on Wednesday.
Lossiemouth manager Charlie Charlesworth described Mrs McIntosh as a “stalwart” of the club.
Mr Charlesworth said: “She was an integral part of Lossiemouth FC, she was there day in and day out.
“Mrs McIntosh gave the players a huge amount of support, this is a sad time for us all.”
Highland League president Dennis Bridgeford said clubs from all over the region had been left shattered by the tragic news.
He added: “Mrs McIntosh was a well-respected lady, this is very tragic for Lossiemouth and for everybody involved with the league.
“She really was Mrs Lossiemouth FC, and was a great ambassador for the town as well as the club.
“She always had a cheery smile and welcome for everybody.”
