Tributes have been paid to the esteemed Scottish sports journalist Rodger Bailie, who has passed away at the age of 84.
The Scottish Football Writers’ Association (SFWA) has led the tributes to Baillie, who embarked on his career as a copy boy at Glasgow Evening News at just 15 years old. He later transitioned to a similar role at the Daily Record before joining their sports desk, subsequently rising through the ranks. Baillie ultimately concluded his career as the chief sports writer for The Scottish Sun.
Although Baillie ‘retired’ in 2005, he continued to write until he was 80 for various outlets, including The Scottish Sun, Sunday Times, and News of the World. He also served as president of the SFWA, with the association’s current chief, Chick Young, among many who extolled his virtues. Young remarked, “Rodger had the ear of the great and good of our game, close to giants like Jock Stein and Willie Waddell. He was the owner of an impish sense of fun and a warm love for life. I don’t remember not smiling in his company. He had a contacts book which was an A to Z of the glitterati of the Scottish game and breaking stories streamed from his typewriter.”
In addition to reporting on England’s World Cup victory in 1966, Baillie also covered five World Cups with Scotland and two European Championships. He was present in the dressing room with the Celtic team after their 2-1 victory against Inter Milan in the 1967 European Cup Final in Lisbon, as well as during Rangers’ European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in Barcelona five years later.
The Scottish Sun has also paid homage to Baillie, describing him as a ‘legendary sportswriter.’ Robert Grieve from SunSport noted, “He was class personified. He made an impression on many of us that will last a lifetime.”
Rodger Bailie’s contributions to sports journalism have left an indelible mark on the industry. His legacy as a ‘legendary’ journalist will long be remembered and cherished by colleagues and readers alike.