ONE of the shining lights of Ardrossan Winton Rovers went out over the weekend with the passing of club stalwart Pat Breen Senior.

Born in Ardrossan in 1931, Pat started his working life in Lee’s Lemonade Factory before moving, like many others, to ICI where he remained for the rest of his working life.

But work was not the main driver for Pat. He was a football man through and through and a keen player with Winton Amateurs but finished his career early when he got married but got involved with Ardrossan Winton Rovers in the late 1950s, joining the committee in 1959 and served for years on the committee and was club secretary and club president.

His drive for coaching left him to start Star Athletic, a well-respected youth team, who were very successful in their own right.

Pat was back at Winton in 1973 and was heavily involved for the next two decades and still supported the club right until his passing, attending home and away games where possible.

Pat’s son, Pat Jr, the current chairman of Winton Rovers, spoke passionately about his dad.

He told the Herald: “He was a father, grandfather, great grandfather and one thing my dad also did was enjoy himself. Even at my 60th birthday a couple of years ago he was up giving it a bit of Jolson laldy, we couldn’t get him off the floor.

“He loved going away on bus runs, whether it the Winton or amateur teams and I remember we went away through to St Andrew’s in the Scottish Cup and we got beat but as soon as we got back to the pub his face lit up like Halloween because it was a sing-song.

“He always said ‘You’ve got to enjoy yourself’ and he always did, no matter where he was, he loved parties with the grandweans, the dogs, cats anything and everything, he was the life and soul. He was always the same.”

Pat Jr added: “I can always say if I live the rest of my life the way my father did, I’ll die a happy man because he always enjoyed his life and I’m quite sure him and Emily will be sitting up there today with their quarter bottle of Whyte & Mackay and saying they’ll need to enjoy themselves.”

Pat will be most well-known by locals for his involvement with Winton Rovers.

Pat Jr said: “He even had a Winton Rovers tattoo on his arm, not many people could say that.”

Pat’s family would like to thank everyone for their kind words and to the carers for all of the support and help.

Father to Pat and John and husband to the late Emily, Pat Sr will be much missed by his family, friends and the wider Ardrossan community.

RIP Pat.