TRIBUTES have been paid to a football legend hailed ‘one of the finest ball and creative players’.
Lammie Roberston, 76, settled in Goostrey more than 30 years ago, after playing for Brighton and many other clubs across the country.
He was appointed player manager at Northwich Victoria in July 1981.
Christened Archibald Lamond, he was known fondly as ‘Lammie’, inheriting football genes from his grandad who played for Sunderland before the war.
A popular player among fans, he began his career with Glasgow Benburb and was signed by Burnley as a 19-year-old in 1966.
It was only in 1968 that he made his league debut when he transferred to Bury.
His playing career included spells with Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City, Halifax Town, Peterborough, Bradford City and Exeter City where his prowess on the field helped the team to promotion.
Lammie made 132 appearances for the Grecians, scoring 25 times.
The Scot spent four years at St James Park between 1974 and 1978.
He was a key part of the team that was promoted from the fourth division in the 1976/77 season.
A statement from Exeter City said: “All at Exeter City are saddened to hear of the passing of former player Lammie Robertson.
“Lammie made 132 appearances for the Grecians, scoring 25 times.
“Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time.”
A spokesman for Halifax Town said: “He became a fans’ favourite as he created lots of opportunities for those around him with his clever, brave, uncompromising hold-up play.
“Robertson was regarded as one of its finest ball and creative players to have worn the City shirt.”
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Albion said: “Lammie was a centre-forward of the old school variety – tough, rugged, selfish when he needed to be in front of goal.
“Unselfish in terms of putting his body on the line for the benefit of others, a master of the dark arts of attacking play.
“’A bit of an assassin’, as he once put it.
“And yet a lovelier man you could not wish to meet.”
When his playing career was over he became an independent financial advisor and scout for Sheffield United.
Lammie died in December, only 13 months after he and his wife, Mary, left Goostrey to live in Congleton.
He had previously been married twice when he met his wife on an early online dating site in December 1989 and moved to Goostrey from Lach Dennis after retiring as the manager of Northwich Victoria.
Lammie was persuaded to revive his playing career and joined a local senior football team.
But his reappearance on the field was short-lived after a particularly hard tackle when he sustained broken ribs.
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