Heartfelt tributes have poured in for a much-loved Bankie described as ‘synonymous’ with Clydebank Football Club.
Stevie ‘Caskie’ McAneney passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 5, sparking condolences and messages of sadness from across Scottish football and beyond.
Fondly remembered as ‘Mr Clydebank’, Stevie had a lifelong relationship with the Holm Park club, from being on the board of directors and working as the editor of the matchday programme to helping out every Bankies manager to date as the long-standing kit man, he did it all.
Clydebank chair Grace McGibbon paid her own personal tribute to a man who certainly left his mark on all who met him.
She told the Post: “On behalf of everyone at the Bankies, I’d like to thank all those across the footballing family who have reached out with their condolences or paid tribute to Stevie McAneney - known to us all as Caskie.
“The volume of messages received over the past couple of days has been overwhelming but is testament to the impact Stevie had on the club, players and opponents alike across the game.
“As a valued member of the club board, Stevie fulfilled a number of roles across his 14 years as a director and made a significant contribution throughout that time.
“Not only did he help bring much-needed funds to the club through his time as commercial director, but he also helped inspire the next generation of Bankies through his work as the club’s community liaison.
“Then, of course, came the programmes. As an avid collector, you could just about count on one hand the number of issues Stevie did not have from the past 50 years, such was his dedication. That led to him producing - and winning awards for - the match day programme that took up much of his week and was often a talking point among supporters of all teams.
“Stevie spent the last seven seasons as the club’s kit man and has been a pivotal part of the club’s evolution that has seen us grow, move towards our Scottish FA license and secure that coveted return to the Scottish Cup.
“The effects of Stevie’s sudden passing are already being felt and he will be sorely missed, not just as a committee member, but even more so as our friend.
“Our thoughts are with his partner Grace and all of his family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
Stevie's first-ever Bankies game was a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa in 1970.
Scotsman Tommy Docherty was the Villa manager at the time and he regularly brought teams to Kilbowie.
Clydebank emerged victorious with a 3-1 win, with exciting young winger Jimmy Caskie scoring the first goal. Thus started a lifelong admiration for the man who would provide Stevie with his nickname.
Stevie spent a significant number of years out of the country - doing DJ work in Greece - only seeing the Bankies occasionally on visits home.
But when he returned home for good, he reignited his love affair with his club, helping to run the supporter’s bus and quickly becoming a very popular figure among the fans.
Stevie had become Caskie.
Life-long friend Fred McCosh, a man who had many nicknames for his pal and whom Caskie started the supporter's bus with, admitted he has been in tears since the tragic news.
Fred said: “When Clydebank scored, we used to sing the Asky Caskie song to Winter Wonderland.
“He had been on a diet and every time Clydebank scored, we would sing ‘There’s only one Asky Caskie, there’s only one Asky Caskie, he’s been losing weight, now he’s looking great, walking in a Caskie Wonderland.’
“It’s absolutely devastating. I had a wee greet. I’ll miss him.”
Caskie then joined the board of directors and was never slow in getting involved with things.
He was the obvious choice as Matchday programme editor when a vacancy arose as he was an avid collector of Bankies programmes.
He was known to only be 14 short of a full complement since the early 1960s.
Caskie then started an online resource called clydebankprogrammesonline.co.uk which gives a comprehensive list of club results, interesting photos and scans of programmes produced. The site is still going strong.
It’s with immense sadness we mourn the sudden passing of Stevie ‘Caskie’ McAneney.
— Clydebank FC (@clydebankfc) July 5, 2023
A man synonymous with the Bankies, from programme editor to commercial director, and the face you saw every time at Holm Park.
Sending all our love to Stevie's family & friends at this sad time. pic.twitter.com/TIOu4HnWNf
He raised thousands of pounds for the club by running a very well-supported Sponsor a Goal - where fans contributed to the club for goals scored, points gained, clean sheets kept and any number of other combinations.
First team manager Gordon Moffat told of his ‘surreal week’, admitting Caskie’s passing hadn’t quite sunk in yet.
He said: “Just such a big part of the club. He epitomised everything that was good about Clydebank as a football club.
“A long-term fan, he was massively known for his stats and his facts and figures. He would tell me stats about our campaign.
“I’d like to think we were on the ball and we record every single stat, but Caskie always seemed to find something that was quite interesting and a wee quirk.”
Before adding: “On a personal level, I’ll really miss him. It will be difficult not having him around the place.
“Most importantly, my thoughts are to his partner Grace and his close family. That’s where the impact will be felt most and as a club, we will try and be around them and make sure they are looked after.
“His funeral will be a sad occasion but also a good chance to celebrate his life.
“We will miss him dearly.”
Caskie was also heavily involved in organising the annual Sporting Dinner - a major club fundraiser - which incorporated the Bankies Hall of Fame - a particular favourite with Caskie as he could indulge another passion - that of speaking to the ex-players.
He was absolutely chuffed to personally hand the Hall of Fame inductee trophy to his now namesake - Jimmy Caskie - in 2014.
Caskie was the club commercial director for a spell - developing a great rapport with main sponsor Clydebank Co-op.
In recent years, he worked for Holm Park Community Football Academy - from whom the Bankies hire Holm Park.
Caskie steered lots of teams through the lockdown period and was a firm favourite with all of the teams who played there regularly.
They speak of the care he took to ensure they made the most of their time at the park.
Following the announcement on the club’s social media accounts, people expressed their shock and sadness at his passing.
One wrote: “I canny believe am reading this. One of the greatest guys I've met through football. Legend. RIP Caskie.”
Another said: “Legend is a word that is used too easily. Caskie mate, that is a word designed for you. You will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with your family and friends.”
The Clydebank Post obtained permission from the family to share this tribute.
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