A new £3.5million sports stadium is to be named in honour of community stalwart John Cumming, widely known as Carluke Rovers' greatest ever player.

John, who sadly passed away in December 2008, began and ended his life in Carluke and is remembered with great affection by all.

He began his football career with Carluke Rovers and, in 1948, after being recruited by Manager Davie McLean for the modest fee of £105, John gave up his job in the pits and took a drop in wages to pursue a long and successful career with Hearts of Midlothian.

John made over 600 appearances for the Tynecastle team and was capped nine times for his country. His playing career ended in 1967 but he continued as trainer at Tynecastle for another 11 years and was inducted into the club's hall of fame in 2006.

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When John's football career was over he threw himself into the life of the Carluke community, cutting the grass for the older people of the town and giving football training to the younger ones and the adults in the local hall.

John is remembered, not only for his football career with Carluke Rovers and as the noblest of Hearts' men, but as a pillar of the Carluke community spending his time in retirement helping others.

Councillor Eileen Logan, who proposed the honour, said: "The John Cumming Stadium is a very fitting tribute to such a well regarded member of our community.

"John was a true gentleman, a lovely person and held in high regard by all. I am delighted that it has been agreed to name the stadium after John. This is a lovely tribute for his wife Jane and his family."

Work on the stadium for Carluke got underway last year and is scheduled to be completed by August 2010.

(GK)