Club 13/11/2023
A tribute to Gordon Wallace
Gordon Wallace (Mark II)
1970- 1977
318 appearances, 104 goals
It is with great sadness that the Club have learned of the passing of former player Gordon Wallace.
Gordon was aged 74 and had moved to live in Australia in 1981.
He is survived by his wife Diane, daughter Karen and sons Dean and Bradley. His grandchildren are Danny, Jordan, Ryan, Brittany, Millie, Scarlett, Corbin and Matilda. The family home is in Safety Bay, Western Australia.
A native of Edinburgh, Gordon was brought up in the Clermiston area of the city.
Gordon played for Penicuik Athletic juniors and reached the Scottish Cup final in 1970. Blantyre Victoria won a 1-0 replay after a 1-1 draw.
He played alongside goalkeeper Murray McDermott and winger Malcolm Robertson, whom both joined Gordon in signing for Raith Rovers.
Jimmy Millar signed Gordon for Raith Rovers on the 4th of April 1970, but the transfer was delayed due to Penicuik’s cup-run, and at the time Jimmy commented, “Gordon Wallace is a hard-working inside-forward, with great stamina. He never gives up and uses the ball well.”
Gordon made his Rovers debut in a pre-season friendly against Hartlepool at the Victoria Ground. He scored his first goal for us four days later, in a return friendly. He went on to score 12 goals in his first season with the Club.
Over the next seven seasons, Gordon proved himself to be very popular and a prolific goalscorer – a true fans’ favourite. Gordon scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Montrose in January 1972 and was part of the team that won promotion to the Scottish First Division in season 1975/76 under Andy Matthew.
His goal scoring record caught the attention of Dundee United manager Jim McLean and he purchased him for £12,000 in October 1977. Unfortunately, his time at Tannadice was blighted by injuries and he made only 15 appearances and scored three goals. He was then transferred to Berwick Rangers where he made 19 appearances and again scored three goals.
His final club in Scotland was Cowdenbeath, where he made 11 appearances, scoring one goal.
He then emigrated with his family to Australia, where he played for the Melbourne club Green Gully.
Gordon Wallace’s popularity at Raith Rovers has lasted to the present day. He was always a welcome visitor to Stark’s Park on return journeys to Scotland. He attended games and dinners hosted by Rovers Down South and the Raith Rovers’ Former Players’ Association. His daughter Karen was in regular contact with various supporters of Raith Rovers and kept him informed of the Club’s fortunes in recent times as his health deteriorated.
Karen explained, “Raith Rovers meant the world to him.”
Gordon Wallace – he was one of our own!
Written by Club Historian, John Greer