Obituary: Thomas ‘Red’ Imrie 1937-2020

He began his career as a Falkirk Lion at the ice rink in Grangemouth Road and went on to become a legend in his sport.

As a youth Red played many sports, excelling at tennis, golf and football as well as ice hockey where he was equally capable at centre or on defence.

He broke into the Canadian dominated Falkirk Lions aged of 17 and scored a remarkable 51 points (18 goals) in 54 Scottish National League games. Unfortunately, that was Falkirk’s last season and he was forced to play the next few years as an amateur in Edinburgh and Paisley.

Called up for National Service in 1959, he served in Colchester, Essex and persuaded his commanding officer to let him play ice hockey for Streatham in the 1959-60 season. That, too, turned out to be the swansong of both the club and the British League. But Streatham went out on a high, pulling off the league and Autumn Cup double and Red made a success of his new role as a defenceman, being voted the Best British Player.

His high standing in the game made him a target for Brighton Tigers and Red was a fixture on West Street until the old jinx struck and Tigers’ home, the Sports Stadium, was demolished in 1965.

Now settled in south London with a job in insurance as a motor assessor, Imrie played three-and-a-bit seasons with Wembley Lions in front of 5,000-plus crowds, only to fold in mid-season of 1968‑69.

Imrie took on a cpoach role when they returned in the 1970s and guided the Redskins to three league titles and two play‑off triumphs. He retired after taking them to the semi-finals of the 1985 Heineken British Championships

He competed for GB in the 1961 and 1962 World Championships and voted the the tournament’s best defenceman, the first Brit ever to receive the honour in 1966. He was capped 19 times for Britain, tallying 11 points (six goals).

He was recruited in 1986 by BBC-TV as a colour commentator, working alongside Alan Weeks and later with Barry Davies. During the 1980s and 1990s the BBC screened several Wembley finals on Grandstand and a ‘game of the month’.

Red spent his retirement in Coulsdon, Surrey where he played his beloved golf - his handicap was in single figures - almost every day until he became unwell in his eighties.

Thomas (Red) Imrie was born in Falkirk, Scotland on July 15, 1937 and died on 24 August 2020.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.