Tributes have poured in from across the football community for Gerard ‘Busty’ McClintock, a gentleman both on and off the pitch, who passed away on Wednesday from cancer.

A renowned soccer player, Busty was also a talented GAA player, representing Fermanagh at Gaelic football and hurling.

But it was for Enniskillen Town United that he is best known as a player, manager and chairman.

His son, Neil, told The Impartial Reporter that football was his father’s passion, describing Busty as “a people-person, a good character, always up for a joke and bit of craic”.

Neil continued: “He was a dedicated Enniskillen United Town club manager, chairman and player with a passion for football and the club itself.

Neil added: “In almost his 50 years supporting the club, he rarely missed a match.

“His greatest achievement was winning the Mulhern Cup for the first time in 1989/90 as club Manager as well as winning the Irish Junior Cup in 93/94 for the first time in the club’s history as club Manager.

“He will be sorely missed.”

The phone has not stopped with messages of condolences to the McClintock family for 67-year-old Busty, who was well known through football and his work as a site manager with Treacy Bros.

It is comforting for the family, said Neil, to see and hear all the messages from people as far away as Belfast and Strabane, and he added the family were very grateful for them.

“It is very comforting. He was a well-liked character.”

Well-known figure

Chairman of the Fermanagh and Western Football League, Neil Jardine, sent his sincerest sympathies to Busty’s wife, Thelma, and the entire McClintock family.

“He was a very, very well-known figure throughout the Fermanagh and Western for many, many years and it was very fitting that we honoured him in 2020 when himself and his brother Jim were both given merit awards in the Fermanagh and Western,” said Jardine.

“It’s very, very sad. He is definitely one of the characters, and one of the good guys in local football.

“He was a Town man through and through, but he was also a sportsman through and through.

“If he won, he won. He was magnanimous in victory, he was magnanimous in defeat, and that’s a big, big thing.

“If the team were better, they were better, but he was always very, very fair, and it was the sport but it was the camaraderie and the love of the game that drove Busty on as well and to see people develop.

“All the things that you want sport to be, he epitomised that.”

Jardine also knew Busty on a personal level from working on building sites: “I’d have known Busty for the guts of 35 years or more through football and through work.

“I just always found him to be a great man to deal with, a gentleman who would always look to help you.”

Enniskillen Town and Enniskillen Rangers released statements paying tribute to Busty.

“The death took place earlier this morning, after a long illness, of former Club Chairman and First Team Manager Gerard ‘Busty’ McClintock,” Town’s statement said.

“The club extends its deepest sympathies to his loving wife Thelma, son Neil, daughter Karen, Mark, Lorraine and families, grandchildren Ryan, Abigail, Kasey and Lily, brothers Brian, Kevin and Jim, sisters Maria and Denise and the large family circle. May he rest in peace.”

In their statement, Enniskillen Rangers said: “All at Enniskillen Rangers were saddened to hear of the passing this morning of Gerard ‘Busty’ McClintock, a stalwart of our neighbours Enniskillen Town United and a giant of local football.

“We remember with fondness his last visit to the Ball Range in March when he performed our half-time draw.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the family circle and to all at his club. He will be greatly missed.”

Busty's funeral will take place on Saturday, August 6 at 11am in St. Michael's Church, Enniskillen followed by interment in Cross Ceremony.

Funeral arrangements by John McKeegan Funeral Undertaker.