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Ayr United in mourning as tributes paid to iconic defender Rikki Fleming
Former teammates have led tributes to one of the stalwarts of Ally MacLeod's famous side.
Ayr United are mourning the loss of another great with the death of iconic defender Rikki Fleming at the age of 78.
Ice cool Rikki, who began his career with Rangers, spent 10 years at Somerset Park after being signed by Ally MacLeod from Kilwinning Rangers in November 1968.
He went on to make more than 350 appearances as an Honest Man and was part of the team widely acknowledged as one of Ayr's greatest ever: Stewart, Malone, Murphy, Fleming, Quinn, Mitchell, Young, Ferguson, Ingram, McCulloch, Rough.
Rikki was a standout in the team which beat Rangers 2-1 in September 1969 before a record crowd of 25,225, a game which is etched in the memory of those privileged to be there.
In March 1974, he played for the Scottish League against the Football League at Maine Road.
He won the Ayr Supporters' Association player of the year award that season for the second time and was revered as a fans' favourite.
Rikki played a key part as Ayr qualified for the inaugural Premier Division in 1975 where they held their own for three seasons.
He was sold to Hibs for £10,000 in 1978 for a £10,000 transfer fee before finishing his senior career with Berwick Rangers.
Former skipper and assistant manager Davie Wells recalled: 'Rikki was totally dedicated, always unflappable and was so good in the air.
"He was a wonderful player and used to share a few laughs with George 'Dandy' McLean, who like him had played for Rangers before joining Ayr.'
Striker Neil Hood was a close pal of Rikki both on and off the park, spending foreign holidays with him when they were Somerset teammates.
He said: 'He was a super guy and a fantastic footballer. It was somewhat ironic that he went on to become a taxi server because when he was at Ayr he couldn't drive and relied on public transport and teammates for lifts.
'We used to go to Glasgow dance halls together and his famous chat-up line was always the same. I'm Rikki, ex-Rangers and now a superstar with Ayr United.'
Former Ayrshire Post Sports Editor Mike Wilson reckons Rikki was one of the classiest players to pull on the black and white.
He said: 'Rikki was a star in a golden era for Ayr in the late 60s and 70s under Ally MacLeod who led them into the Premier Division.
'He formed a formidable partnership with the hard as nails Stan Quinn and they were the perfect foil for each other. Rikki was always unruffled no matter the opponent, a real class act who served the club well for 10 years.'
Rikki and teammate Dick Malone were inducted into the Ayr Hall of Fame in 2010.
Rikki, who had progressed dementia, had spent the last six months of his life in a care home before passing away.
