Bradford City stalwart Malcolm Scott has died aged 85

It was a small private gesture caught on camera in the moments after Millwall’s 2017 play-off victory that summed up such a stalwart of the club behind the scenes.

City have today announced the death of Scott aged 85 – 16 months after the passing of his late wife Margaret. The club will rename the press facilities at Valley Parade as the Scott Media Suite in honour of the couple who did so much.

Malcom Scott’s passing ends an association with City spanning not far off half a century for the former bank manager.

From being lobbed in the team bath during the celebrations at Wembley in 1996 to making sure there was a club official at every funeral in the wake of the fire disaster, Scott experienced the full gamut of emotions.

When Scott was invited to take a more active role with City in 1978, the first thing he did was ditch his season-ticket - at Elland Road.

"I was a fanatical football man and the moment I started going to Bradford City, I fell in love with the place, " he said in an interview with the Telegraph & Argus in December 2006.

"They were in the old fourth division at the time but I had no hesitation in chucking my ticket for Leeds."

Seven years later, Scott was invited by the chairman Stafford Heginbotham to become one of six associate directors.

"Stafford wanted to bring in new business people from the outside who he felt could use their expertise to help the three existing board members, " said Scott.

"At first, I was made the director in charge of the second team and had to travel with the reserves all the time. I also got involved organising sportsmen's dinners and golf days - anything that could earn the club a few quid.

"Right from the start, I have enjoyed every minute of it. Of course, nothing is honey all that time and there are occasions when you have disagreements with people but they have been very few and far between.

"I've seen the disasters and highs and been very privileged to be involved. I've had to put a lot of my own time and effort in but that has been rewarded.

"Sometimes you ask yourself if it's all worth it - but my answer is always 'yes'."

City chief executive Ryan Sparks said: “We are devastated to hear of Malcolm’s sad passing.

“He is a true stalwart of Bradford City AFC and his association with the club - which will certainly be a darker place without him - goes back decades.

Malcolm Scott regularly travelled with the team to away games

“When I first arrived at the club in 2018, Malcolm and his late wife, Margaret, were extremely welcoming and made me personally feel at home. I will never forget that.”

Scott was introduced to the Queen, Prince Philip and Margaret Thatcher at Valley Parade and fondly recalled the emotional moments after City had been promoted to the Premier League when he walked across the Molineux pitch with Paul Jewell's children.

But there were also the darker times - none more difficult than in the aftermath of the fire when he had to co-ordinate the club's involvement at the many memorial services.

"When you are getting undertakers ringing you up to say who had lost their lives and talking about children, then it is very difficult,” he said in 2006.

"I had to ensure that a representative of Bradford City was always there and that was a very delicate situation.”

McCall remained Scott's favourite City player, having seen him progress from youth-team hopeful to established Scottish international. He was also a keen supporter and confidante during McCall’s three spells at the Valley Parade helm.

McCall was one of 26 different managers during Scott’s time at the club.

Travelling regularly on the team coach to away games and working up close with them, Scott appreciated the huge demands on those in the hot-seat.

"It's very difficult because football managers have all got qualities. If the average spectator was able to see how hard these people work, they would realise they aren't all gloriously overpaid.

"Different managers might have different priorities but that does not mean that some do not put in as much work as others.

"It's a smashing club with so much history but you feel that your part in it has counted.

"There are people who go back a lot further than me but I don't think there is anyone more passionate about wanting to see Bradford City do well."

A minute’s applause will be observed in tribute of Scott ahead of City’s meeting with his hometown club Scunthorpe on Saturday, April 23.