Gordon Strachan pays tribute to Lawrie Reilly

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has paid tribute to Lawrie Reilly after the former Hibernian striker died earlier today aged 84.

Reilly scored 22 goals in 38 matches for the national team, as well as a club-record 187 league goals in 253 appearances for Hibs, helping them to three league titles in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Strachan, who is a Hibernian fan, grew up listening to his father's tales of Reilly's exploits and was keen to focus on his good memories of the legendary striker.

"I used to see Lawrie regularly when I went to Easter Road. He was a big hero of my father and it's not great news. But he has left us with some fantastic memories," said Strachan.

"He scored five times [against England] but, even though I met him so many times, he never mentioned that. It's a measure of how much a gentleman he was that he never mentioned that.

"Great players never tell you what they did - people already know. And he was a great player, that's for sure."

Reilly played a big part in a golden era for Hibs, creating the 'Famous Five' alongside Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond.