Tributes paid to Glasgow firefighter Mark McCuish

Former St Anthony’s player and assistant manager Mark McCuish passed away yesterday (Wednesday, August 21) with his loved ones by his side.

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 tomorrow (Friday, August 23).

Area commander Andy Kenna, SFRS’s local senior officer for Glasgow City described Mark as a well-respected firefighter and officer, adding: "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 football club St Anthony's, who are based at Govan’s McKenna Park, described the "tenacious" and "talented" former midfielder as a much-loved member of their family.

In a touching tribute, they explained how Mark's ties with St Anthony's went back to the mid/late 1980s when his dad Alco was the club’s assistant manager.

He then returned as a player in 2004 when he was signed by James McKenna and Dixie Kilcullen and proved to have “the ability to match up to that wee swagger of confidence he had.”

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Mark 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 to much for him and he came back after only six months.

The footballer finished his Junior career at Neilston before retiring in 2016.

Despite moving on, Mark would often be spotted at McKenna Park if he did not have a game or latterly when his playing career came to an end on Saturdays if Celtic were not playing or he was not on shift with the fire brigade.

In October 2020, he was appointed as 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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The tribute by St Anthony's added: “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."

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Mark will also be remembered with a minute's silence before Neilston's home match against Lesmahagow this Saturday, August 24.

A spokesperson for the East Renfrewshire side said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Farmer's Boy Mark McCuish.

“Mark came to Brig O’Lea in July 2015 when he signed for us from his beloved St Anthony’s.

"We offer our deepest condolences to Mark's wife Natalie, his two daughters, his family, friends and everyone at St Anthony's FC.”

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.”