Renfrew Football Club have paid tribute to a former player following his death at the age of 43.

Mark McCuish passed away on Wednesday, August 21 with his family by his side following an illness.

The tenacious midfielder played for the New Western Park side for six months in 2013 before returning to his beloved St Anthony's, who are based at McKenna Park in Govan.

A spokesperson Renfrew FC added: “We’d like to offer condolences to Mark's family and friends at this sad time.

“He wasn’t at Renfrew for long, but he’ll always be remembered by fans and teammates.

“RIP Cuish.”

As well as being a talented former footballer Mark, who was from Govan, was a well-respected firefighter and officer.

During his career with the fire service, he served at Maryhill Community Fire Station, the Scottish Fire and Rescue (SFRS) National Training Centre and most recently at Govan Community Fire Station.

As a mark of respect, flags at all SFRS premises are to be lowered to half-mast until sundown today (Friday, August 23).

Area commander Andy Kenna, SFRS’s local senior officer for Glasgow City, said: "We mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague, crew commander Mark McCuish. 

"Our thoughts are with Mark's family and our colleagues at Govan Community Fire Station at this very sad time."

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His former club St Anthony's FC also expressed their deep sadness at the passing of their former player and assistant manager.

A tribute posted on their website explained how Mark was more than just this, however.

They told how he was also a much-loved member of the Ants family and his ties with the club went way back to the mid/late 1980s when his dad Alco was the club’s assistant manager.

Mark was signed for the club in 2004 by James McKenna and Dixie Kilcullen and “proved to have the ability to match up to that wee swagger of confidence he had.”

He then became a mainstay of the team until he moved to Bellshill Athletic in 2008 but it was clear his heart still lay at McKenna Park and he moved back to the Ants the following season.

Mark would stay with the Ants for another five seasons before moving to Renfrew, but once again the pull of McKenna Park proved too much for him and he came back after only six months.

He finished his Junior career at Neilston before retiring in 2016.

In October 2020 Mark was appointed as the St Anthony’s assistant manager alongside Danny Taylor and it was a position he held with great pride although he had to leave the role after six months due to family and work commitments.

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Paying further tribute to Mark, the club said: "Sadly Mark became ill a couple of weeks ago and fought the illness with the same spirit and tenacity that had been evident as a player, putting up such a brave fight for his life but sadly there was nothing that could be done and he passed with his family by his side.

"Such a tragedy that a boy with such a zest for life has been taken away from us all and our thoughts, prayers and love are with his wife Natalie, his two daughters Harley-Rae and Lillia Beau, his Mum Anne and his brother Stephen as well as with all of Mark’s family and friends.

"The word legend is thrown about far too easily these days but there could be no more fitting word to describe Mark and the whole club is devastated with his passing.

"All of our matches over the next week will have a minute's applause in celebration of Mark’s life and we will pass on the arrangements for his funeral in due course.

"Fly High Mark, you will be sadly missed around McKenna Park.

"Forever An Ants Man."