I consider it an honour to type this for those who can't get the Tele.

BRAVE DUNDEE FAN WILLIE HAS JUST TWO MONTHS TO LIVE BUT WANTS TO CELEBRATE

By Katie Smyth

A diehard Dark Blue who famously left his own wedding to go to a match is prearing his final party – after being given only two months left to live.

Willie Reilly (59), from Wishart Yard by Dundee’s East Marketgait, has terminal cancer of the oesophagus.

But instead of being downhearted Willie is looking forward to Willie’s Last Waltz.

“I want two wakes” the Dundee fan said.”One I’m going to and one I’m not.”

“It’s going to be in Lyrics and I want everyone I know to come down.”

The party will kick off at 2pm on Sunday.

His friend Sandra Young who is organising the bash said: “we want to do it early so Willie doesn’t get too tired but it’s going to be great.”

Willie is a cousin of the musical Marra family, who will kick off the party, but over the years he has made friends with a great number of Dundee musicians so entertainment won’t run dry.

Diagnosed in April 2010, Willie has always been very matter of fact about his illness.

“A few years ago I was having difficulty swallowing”, he said.

“They put a tube down my throat, widened my gullet and discovered I had acid on the stomach.”

He was given tablets and thought nothing more of it until 2010.

“I thought it was the same thing but when I woke up from the procedure they told me it was cancer.

“My neighbour Sarah Michael, who was with me, started greetin.

“I told her to cut that out.”

Sarah took Willie to each of his 20 radiotherapy sessions but last week he was told he only had two months left.

“It never shocked me”, he said. “I was expecting it.”

Born in the Perth Road to William and Agnes Reilly, Willie attended St Josephs and St Pius primaries before going to Lawside Academy.

A keen footballer from an early age Willie played alongside Rangers legend Derek Johnstone for the St Francis Saturday team.

But Dundee FC has always been his big love.

Even when he worked as a labourer in England he always managed to come up for crunch matches.

When he was living in London in 1978 Willie was finishing his first nightshift when he was run over around the Hyde Park Underpass.

He was rushed to hospital and spent the next seven hours in surgery to put a metal plate in his leg.

When he woke up Joanna Lumley was visiting patients in the ward, dressed in a bright yellow catsuit.

“She didn’t look so good when she left though” Willie said. Feeling woozy from the anaesthetic he was promptley sick all over her.

“She took it well though” he said.

He left London shortly after.

He married wife Christine back in Dundee but even his wedding could not keep him away from his beloved team.

“I was standing at the altar and my aunties were saying “Willie, your Dundee scarf’s hanging oot your back pocket!”

“I went to the match straight after the wedding and Christine and her mum went back home but I met them in the Queens Hotel after.”

It was a Dundee match that eventually brought Willie back to his home town.

He travelled up fron Guernsey for a quarter final and when they got through to the semis that was it.

“I would have had to go back and come up again for the semi final so I just stayed and left all my clothes and all”, he said.

A famous fan throughout the city, everyone knew how passionate he was about his team. On one occasion Willie’s good friend Dave Young wrote to the Tele letters page pretending to be Willie and congratulating Dundee United on a glorious win.

“I went ballistic” Willie said. “I got an apology at Dens over the tannoy saying I did NOT write that.

But as well as poking fun at him Willie’s friends also know how to make the big gestures.
When he was first diagnosed with cancer they clubbed together to make him the official sponsor of a match.

Willie thought it was treat enough to receive the VIP champagne treatment at Dens but nothing could prepare him for what came next.

“The guys said there’s someone we want you to meet and in walked Charlie Cooke” he said.

“I started greetin, it was such a surprise.”

The club’s then owner Peter Marr had been speaking to Charlie in Canada on the run up to the big day and he flew home specially for him.

“He was one of the greatest players” he said.

“He was only with us for a season and was voted player of the year He signed for Chelsea the next day.”

Now Willie is hoping as many of them can join him for his big send off.

Friends are asked to bring a donation Willie will present to the MacMillan nurses.

I first met Wullie in the Penman the night of the big meeting there when we first went into admin, just over a year and a bit ago.

I'd heard of Wullie Reilly but never met him but when I did that night I knew right away here was a genuine guy. I don't suffer fools gladly and know a real man when I meet one. We blethered about Dundee and I made a good friend then that I'm proud to say is still one today.

I've no funny stories to tell, I've never been in the terracing with him or bought a burger from his caravan. But he's a genuine friendly, caring guy who I'm proud to have known and still know.

My wee team play on Sunday but I'll be there at one point if it means turning up windswept and my chair covered in mud (from the Drumgeith pitches, not any lack of washing).

I've seen Wullie at awa days ower the years and chatted on the bus a few times too. I mind him when I was a bairn. Always a hoot.
Even bumped intae him ootside his hoose once and jist a "hello" in the passing near enough ended up in the pub. Always has the time tae chat, always a true gent. Seriously hates the froots and big up tae ye Wullie, for that alone. Yer exploits are legendary.
The thing aboot Sunday is Wullie's abidy's mate. Be hard tae no be.

I don't seriosly believe Wullie Reilly hates anyone. He may dislike the fruits and love Dundee witha passion but I've never encountered hate in my short time knowing him. The wonderful comments from next door seem to certify that he was a man loved by all. His invitation is for all who know him, I think Wullie knew this might mean a few arabs in attendance on Sunday in Lyrics. I'm wearing my Dundee scarf just in case.

Dont know Wullie well but have encountered him many times over the yrs supporting the Dee.What a top,top bloke.Remember my wife returning to her seat in the stand at Dens with the wee lass a few yrs ago and they were both grinning from ear to ear.What'r you so happy about i said,"oh we just met this really nice man,funny and a bit of a charmer".Allthough she did'nt know it,it was Wullie.He'd recognised her and the wee lass from the Penman.Every home game after he allways took time out to say hello.My wife was at work last yr in Ninewells and was in the main concourse with colleages when one of them told her there was a man,with one of the hospital porters,trying to get her attention and waving frantically.Again it was Wullie,happy to see a fellow Dee.It was like he'd seen a long lost relative."Thats Wullie...Wullie Reilly" the wife said to the rest of the women from her office,fully expecting them to have heard of him.
The word legend is all to readily used in football terms nowadays but in the rollercoaster that is Dundee Football Club there will allways be a place for a true legend,a man every Dee would recognise or know the name.Wullie Reilly,legend:star:

Someone should write a book on Wullie between the stories on here and next door over the last 2 days.

I've been in stitches reading every one of them!

The world needs more Wullie Reilly's though it would appear he is a total one off!

was speaking to a lad in my work about wullie, he knows him a lot better than me and stayed or worked with him in London and has known him for years/used to go to Dens etc with him...wee story i thought i'd share

met him in London in the late 70's/early 80s for a England v Scotland game, think it was the same weekend they went Hammersmith Palais to see Eric Clapton...

said Wullie always tried to blag it in places using his 'kirriemuir free press' pass and was succesful in this occasion...only when they got in the 2 of them got taken into an area where they were meant to interview him...only to be met by more security

this bouncer became more suspicious and asked to see the 'pass' again and said to them..
'kirriemuir free press..whats this, never heard of it?'

only for wullie to reply...

'never f'ing heard of it?..bet there's plenty people in kirrie no heard of the fecking fulham chronicle'

needless to say they got lobbed oot lol