News

Everyone at Cove Rangers was devastated to learn of the death of our good friend, loyal supporter and colleague, Mike Pirie.

Mike passed away suddenly at the weekend at the age of 65 and will be sadly missed by all.

A former coach, physio and kit man at the club, Mike’s association with Cove stretches back decades.

His grandfather, Alex Cowie, was team trainer when the present day Cove Rangers was formed in 1922, and Alex’s daughter Pearl, Mike’s mother, worked behind the scenes, serving food, helping to clean the strips and to raise funds.

His father, Charlie Pirie, was employed as a handyman and kit manager for many years until ill-health forced him to step down in 2018, by which time Mike was well and truly embedded in the club.

More recently, he took on his duties in the boardroom and corporate lounges at Balmoral Stadium on matchdays, joined by his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Shelly, and the trio have provided a warm welcome for countless supporters and sponsors over the years.

Mike summed up his love for the club in the official history, published in 2022:

“My whole family is proud to have such a long-standing connection to Cove Rangers. I used to love hearing the tales about my grandfather being involved when the club first played in the 1920s.”

Cove Rangers Chairman Keith Moorhouse expressed the deep sadness felt by all of us:

“I was absolutely devastated when I got the call on Saturday, and my thoughts are with Mike’s loved ones. I knew him for close on forty years through football, and he was an absolute stalwart for us, turning his hand to anything and everything over the years.

“We are fortunate to have Karen and Shelly on our team, and alongside Mike they have always done an amazing job for us.

“Our thoughts and best wishes are with them at this terrible time, but Mike Pirie will always be part of the Cove Rangers family, his contribution to the club never forgotten.”

Everyone at Balmoral Stadium shares Keith’s sentiments; matchdays will never quite be the same without his smiling face.

RIP Mike.

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