Paul McGrillen
Encyclopedia
Paul McGrillen was a Scottish
footballer who was playing as a striker
for junior
side Bathgate Thistle
when his death was announced in July 2009.
, being part of Motherwell's Scottish Cup
-winning squad in 1991 (although not appearing in the Final itself
), while also winning the Scottish Challenge Cup with Falkirk in 1997-98
. Following his departure from Brockville
in 1998, McGrillen began a series of spells with lower league clubs, taking up a player/manager role with Bellshill Athletic
between 2006 and 2007. In 2008, McGrillen won the Scottish Junior Cup
with his final club Bathgate.
On 11 September 2008, McGrillen played for a Motherwell side in Dougie Arnott
's belated testimonial match
against an Old Firm
select.
, having committed suicide but without leaving a note, on 29 July 2009.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who was playing as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Bathgate Thistle
Bathgate Thistle F.C.
Bathgate Thistle F.C. are a Scottish junior football club, based in the town of Bathgate, West Lothian. They play in the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League....
when his death was announced in July 2009.
Career
McGrillen spent his early career with MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, being part of Motherwell's Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
-winning squad in 1991 (although not appearing in the Final itself
1991 Scottish Cup Final
The 1991 Scottish Cup Final was played between Motherwell and Dundee United at Hampden Park on May 18 1991. Motherwell held aloft the Cup after a classic encounter finished 4–3, after extra time...
), while also winning the Scottish Challenge Cup with Falkirk in 1997-98
1997-98 in Scottish football
The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland. Celtic halted Rangers in their bid for a record 10-in-a-row.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:...
. Following his departure from Brockville
Brockville Park
Brockville Park was a football stadium located on Hope Street in Falkirk, Scotland, north-west of the town centre. It was the home of Falkirk F.C. from 1885 until the end of 2002–03 Scottish football season. The record attendance at Brockville Park was 23,100 on 21 February 1953 in a match...
in 1998, McGrillen began a series of spells with lower league clubs, taking up a player/manager role with Bellshill Athletic
Bellshill Athletic F.C.
Bellshill Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club, historically based in the town of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, though currently groundsharing with fellow Junior club Vale of Clyde in Glasgow...
between 2006 and 2007. In 2008, McGrillen won the Scottish Junior Cup
Scottish Junior Cup
The Scottish Junior Cup, known as The Emirates Junior Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual football competition organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association for all its member clubs. The competition has been held every year since the inception of the SJFA in 1886 and as of the...
with his final club Bathgate.
On 11 September 2008, McGrillen played for a Motherwell side in Dougie Arnott
Dougie Arnott
Douglas "Dougie" Arnott is a Scottish former footballer who played as a striker. Arnott's entire career was at Motherwell, spending twelve seasons with the Fir Park club before retiring due to an injury in 1998...
's belated testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against an Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
select.
Death
McGrillen was found dead at his home in HamiltonHamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, having committed suicide but without leaving a note, on 29 July 2009.