Stevie Graham

Many of the older school of Forfar Athletic supporters will be saddened to hear of the death yesterday in his adopted home of Derby after a long battle with illness of Stevie Graham at the age of 63.

Stevie was a member of the ‘Loons’ squad under the stewardship of Archie Knox who reached the first national semi final in our history in the 1977/8 season, coming on as a substitute in that dramatic and never to be forgotten extra time defeat in the League Cup against Rangers.

Stevie joined the ‘Loons’ in the summer of 1977 from Auchterhouse Amateurs, the same ‘breeding ground’ from which his lifelong friend Billy Gallacher was to arrive from later in the campaign.

He made his debut on the opening day of that season scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 home win over Raith Rovers.

In a two season stint at Station Park at the time, he made twenty-two starting appearances plus eighteen  from the bench, netting six goals.

He returned to the club for the majority of the 83/4 season by which time Doug Houston was the man in charge but made only three starting appearances in what was our first ever title winning campaign.

‘Loons’ officials learned of Stevie’s terminal illness only early last month, but were delighted to send off a replica home shirt to him, which we know he wore with pride in the final weeks of his life.

At this time the thoughts and sympathy of all at Station Park are with his wife Sandra, family members, friends and his former colleagues at Station Park, many of whom we know were in contact with Stevie and his family in recent trying times.