Billy Dunn
The club was deeply saddened by news today of the passing of former Director and Vice Chairman Billy Dunn at the age of 90.
William J Dunn, known as Billy, was appointed as a Director of the club in January 1970, and sat on the board for 22 years, stepping down from his post as Vice Chairman at the conclusion of the 1991/92 season, while the club was ground sharing at Douglas Park.
Billy, along with his fellow Directors, had steered the club through difficult times arising from the population migration from the club’s Oatlands base in the mid to late sixties, and then the search to find a new home when the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) served twelve months notice on the club in 1985 to leave Shawfield.
Billy had assumed the post as Vice Chairman and by the time he stepped down from the Board in May 1992, the club was just eighteen months away from finding a new permanent home in Cumbernauld in February 1994. Gerry Dunn seamlessly stepped in to replace Billy as a Director, and Frank Dunn was then appointed to the board which he served with distinction from 2005 to 2012.
Beyond The Bully Wee, Billy also gave sterling service to the Glasgow Football Association, holding the post of President during which time he celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 when an English Football League XI played a Glasgow Select side at Hampden Park.
The Dunn name has, of course, been synonymous with The Bully Wee, with Billy’s father William P Dunn, joining the Board as a young man in 1924 and going on to attend no fewer than 51 Clyde Annual General Meetings as a Director of the club. He also occupied the Chair during part of Billy’s tenure as a Director.
Director and General Manager, John Taylor, a Board member since 1986, admitted:-
“This is another extremely sad day for the club, coming so soon after the passing of Craig Brown. Billy was such an energetic, enthusiastic and engaging Clyde man. He was great company and a true ambassador for the Bully Wee.
“The Dunn family have committed themselves to Clyde for almost a century, and we must never underestimate the pivotal place they hold in the proud history of our club.
“I have been privileged to sit on Clyde Boards with Billy, Frank and Gerry Dunn at various stages of the club’s journey, and of course, Billy’s sister Frances, who along with husband John, steered the ship for so long, and who still retain their passion for our club to this day.”
The thoughts of all at Clyde Football Club go out to Billy’s wife Sue and the entire Dunn family at this desperately sad time