Deveronvale's Executive Secretary Stewart McPherson added, " We are saddened to hear that Norman has passed away. He was a member of the successful side in the late 40s / early 50s, which won both the Qualifying Cup and Aberdeenshire Cup in season 1951/52, the first time the Vale won two trophies in the same season. His loyal service was rewarded with a joint testimonial match against Rangers in April 1952, together with teammate Jimmy Williamson, and the match was played in front of a record attendance of 5000 people. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Meanwhile John Innes paid tribute to the late George Reid with the following piece: One of the most poignant occasions in Inverurie's football history occurred this lunchtime (Tuesday 27^th) as the funeral took place of one of its own favourite sons, a man who can unquestionably be described as a real Scottish football legend.

George(Dod) Reid MBE passed away last Wednesday night aged 61 leaving great legacy of being a founder member of Colony Park Boys Club way back in 1978 and Honorary President for the past 20 years.

Only four years earlier, he had been consigned to a wheelchair for life after a scaffolding accident at the age of 27 left him with a fractured spine. With a wife and  two very young children to look after, he found a mission and joined together with three other parents to set up the professional set  up that continues to be a huge success story, and also became a founder member of the Central Grampian Boys Football League

Over the years he picked up well earned honours including the Paul Harris fellowship by Rotary International in 1998 but the pinnacle was in 2000 when he travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE by Prince Charles.

Over the years he has seen so many players come through the ranks and go on to play at a high level. His son George excelled for Inverurie Locos at junior and Highland League level, probably the club's model gentleman in their history as well as prolific scorer season after season.

Current Locos players include Steven Park, Craig Ross, who have both gone through Testimonial seasons, Neil McLean has been Semi Professional Captain of Scotland while former player Stuart McKay also played for his country at that level and has been a star for with Peterhead for the past three seasons in Division 2

A great desire was to see a Colony player go on to pick up a full national cap for Scotland. Dons striker Darren Mackie looked like being the first but the accolade fell to Barry Robson, now of Celtic, Dod had seen him go through a short spell at Rangers in the late 90's before being released by Dick Advocaat. With some words of wisdom from the great man helping lift his spirits, he was to be finally blossoming at Inverness Caley Thistle and Dundee Utd then finally standing out as a key player at Parkhead and helping them to League Championship success and victories in the Champions League

Looking back on the club formation on 1978 as if it was yesterday, Locos InterimChairman Eddie Innes said:

"It was a pleasure knowing George Reid MBE I can still see him at Colony Park with their first team Surrounded by Wattie Strachan, Bob Gibb and the late Frank Hildreth, a team full of Inverurie loons including young Dod who went on to be a Loco's stalwart but his legacy has seen many others follow

He was a true gent in every way and a legend that will never be replaced, I think we should all take a leaf out of Dod's  style , he unfortunately spent many years in a wheelchair , but that did not deter him at all, as he achieved and gave more to Inverurie than anyone else who is and was fully mobile."

Close friend Roger Langtree paid the following tribute:

"As Honorary Vice President and Past Chairmanof Colony  it has been a privilege to work with Dod Reid over the years. Not only an inspiration to the players he coached but everyone round about him. His outstanding qualities as a person were his enthusiasm for football and his love for his family. But Dod also had a great deal of common sense which is sadly lacking in football today.His willingness to offer help and advice when needed was never in question

It is doubtful whether Dod and his colleagues in 1978 could have imagined that the seed they sowed would grow into one of the biggest clubs in Scotland, something everybody in the town should be grateful for."

Current Colony Chairman Ian Hird succeeds a whole list of proud people who have carried on the mantle of maintaining and keeping improving on the standards over 31 years:

"I have known Dod for over fifteen years,he has brought a great deal of joy to kids and their families. Not many families in Inverurie have been untouched by his presence, it is a real travesty to lose him so early. A thoroughly well respected man, I have heard of nobody who has had a bad word to say about him, only admiration."

While Robson is in the forefront of the current club scene and national team in Scotland, many years ago Mike Cormack became the first Colony player to progress fully at a senior club.Now Assistant Manager at Inverurie Locos, Cormack feels the loss really badly:

"We all knew he wasn't well but it still came as a shock hearing the news of his passing Dod always encouraged me in my football wherever I was and he was the first to congratulate me when I got fixed up at Motherwell. I was in his first team at Colony Park and when I met up with him at the many successful Fund Raising Colony Dinners, we never ever forgot that in our conversations. "

Locos boss Dave Cormie has been delighted to help progress the young talent of Inverurie into his various football teams over the years but never forgets the man who made it all possible:

"I am indebted to Dod for his help and to Sheila as well, the whole family, a fantastic family.I will miss him as a friend as well as a football person. What he has done over the past 35 years is give not only the boys but girls as well the opportunity to play for Colony Park and to represent Inverurie.

He didn't label anybody , he gave everybody a chance ,a second chance and more to help them.He was just as happy to work with players he could see as going on to be  be superstars as those  who couldn't kick a ball

I found him to be a football guru,but also a wonderful person, the world is a sadder place without George Reid MBE that's for sure"

Fellow Colony stalwart and close family friend Paul Douglas sums him up:

I first met Dod Reid at Port Elphinstone park in May 1985. He struck me immediately as one of life's unforgettable characters. We all meet people in life sometimes who became good friends and some casual acquaintances, some you never meet again.

Even if Dod fell into the last category, it was clear he would be hard to forget. He saw himself an ordinary loon no better or worse than any other. He never sought the limelight far less centre stage, hated public speaking but loved "newsing" with folk.

You would never be stuck for conversation with Dod. He loved his football but his family were always the most precious thing for him . It took me several months to realise why he had such a fantastic rapport with the football kids particularly very young kids - the dawning on me that he never looked down on them, he always met them face to face.

He never claimed to have any special gift , but he undoubtedly had. He has helped shape countless young lives as well as helping a few of us older folks to appreciate the important things in life.

That first day I met him I instantly recognised that this was no disabled person, far from it, he clearly was very able and had an understanding that he had things to achieve. Some might see them as of little magnitude but I think it fair to say they would be mistaken.

He had a vision which was not about building a football empire, the biggest or best club. It was about helping others to achieve what they could and to strive towards their own goals. People will say that having a Colony loon play for Scotland was an ambition but it was never about his ambition , it was always about others achieving their potential

He is survived by his loving wife Sheila, son George, daughter in law Zoe and their young children Matthew and Jessica. Daughter Eleanor and son in law Dave who has maintained the family tradition at Colony as a stalwart in coaching and secretarial duties and their teenage son Joe playing with the same enthusiasm now as day one in front of his Grandad