LAST WEEK saw the inaugural members inducted into Kilmarnock FC’s Hall of Fame – including Stevenston’s very own Mattha Smith.

Smith was an inside forward in the 1920s and is famed amongst Kilmarnock supporters as the only player ever to win the Scottish Cup twice with the Ayrshire side.

The award was picked up by Mattha’s grandson, former Kilmarnock and Rangers player Gordon Smith, at a ceremony at the Park Hotel earlier this month.

Mattha played a total of 439 games for Kilmarnock scoring 115 goals in the process.

He earlier played for Ardeer Thistle and also played for Kilmarnock’s arch-rivals Ayr United.

He was part of the Kilmarnock side who triumphed in 1920 against Albion Rovers before captaining his side against Rangers in 1929 to another Scottish Cup win.

After retiring from playing, Mattha went on to train Ardrossan Winton Rovers. His son Bill also played for the local side.

Bill met his future wife Edith, who lived in Winton Street, when she went to watch his team play.

Mattha died in 1953 and although Gordon never met his grandfather, he followed in his footsteps by winning the Scottish Cup with Rangers 50 years later in 1979.

Both Mattha and Gordon’s strips are featured in the Hampden museum of Scottish football.

When collecting the trophy from fellow Three Towns footballing legend, Ray Montgomerie, Gordon said: “I grew up being told all about my grandpa and it was fantastic.

"It was one of the things that gave me motivation to be a footballer that somebody in my family had got to that level.

"I’m so sorry my dad couldn’t be here tonight.

"He died in October last year and he spoke so highly of him.” He then showed one of Mattha’s Scottish Cup medals to those in attendance.

Gordon said: “In the Scottish Cup in 1929, my grandpa was captain and having played in the 1920 final when they beat Albion Rovers the crowd was 85,000 at Hampden.

"The final against Rangers in 1929, was after they beat Celtic in the  semi-final.

"That Rangers team had a record number of wins that year and Kilmarnock beat them 2-0 in the final.”