Everyone at Dundee Football Club were saddened to learn of the death of former player Billy Ritchie who passed away yesterday in hospital.

Billy was a centre forward who joined Dundee from Osborne in 1955 where he played alongside a young Bobby Cox. He brought much needed dig into the attack of a struggling side when he made his debut for Willie Thornton’s Dark Blues which was a debut to remember as Billy scored twice in a 3-0 win at St Mirren in the final sectional League Cup tie on September 3rd 1955.

His home debut was equally memorable a fortnight later with another two goals at Dens in a 3-0 win against Dunfermline playing alongside such legends as Bill Brown, Doug Cowie and Tommy Gallacher and he would go on to score 8 goals in his only season with the Club.

Billy competed alongside the ‘Merchant of Menace’ George Merchant for the centre forward spot and with little chance of a regular first team berth, he moved onto Second Division Stirling Albion.

Our thoughts are with Billy’s friends and family at this time.