Footballer Jamie Dolan trains to be HGV driver before early death
September 15, 2008
Former Motherwell footballer Jamie Dolan died last Sunday after collapsing while jogging, dying of heart failure. It’s a tragic loss for his family as Jamie was building a career for himself after football as a HGV driver. He’d taken his HGV driver training last year, but sadly wasn’t able to fulfil his new career due to an illness that he’d always featured would cause him to die young, after his father had died of the same thing in 1988.
Jamie was just 39 when he died last week, and his father died aged 44. His widow, Elaine Dolan, said that her husband had always feared an early death after he’d discovered the body of his father when he was only 19.
His dad’s early death was something that was always in the back of Jamie’s mind. He worried he would take after him.
His dad used to smoke like a lum whereas Jamie was fit so we told him he was being silly.
Some of his former teammates also died recently, including Davie Cooper and Phil O’Donnell.
Phil’s death hit Jamie quite hard as he liked him.
Jamie was young when he knew Davie but he looked up to him so that was a shock too.
Jamie has left his wife Elaine and an eighteen-year-old son named Dean. Elaine spoke of Jamie’s plan to become a deliver driver and how he’d taken his HGV driver training last year.
He wasn’t showy or flash. He was just a good traditional man who wanted to provide for his family. He was a hard worker and last year got his HGV licence to become a delivery driver.
Jamie’s funeral took place this week in Lanarkshire, in the same church where the couple were married and where their son Dean was baptised.
Rangers crash out of Europe before season begins
August 5, 2008
Rangers hopes of emulating Celtic’s feat in Europe last season fell apart tonight as they lost 2-1 on the night, and 2-1 on aggregate, to FBK Kaunas, in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Rangers looked like going through with just 4 minutes left as the score was level at 1-1, with the Scottish champions having the away goal.
However a strike from Linas Pilibaitis allowed Kaunas to win the game on the night, and the tie, knocking Rangers out of the Champions League before the season even starts.
It all started well for Rangers as they took an early lead through Kevin Thomson, courtesy of Nacho Novo, on 33 minutes. Rangers lead last just 10 minutes however as Nerijus Radzius scored a 30-yeard free kick to level the game.
Rangers then played for the draw in the second half and paid the price with just 4 minutes remaining on the clock.
Rangers will now go into the UEFA Cup, where they lost last season in the final in Manchester.
