Walter Simpson front row, extreme left

Peterhead FC were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Walter ‘Waltie’ Simpson on Monday 30^th October 2023 Wattie who was from Longside was a gifted winger for The Blue Toon and played in the Highland League with both ourselves and Deveronvale.

Wattie was born in Longside and his talents as a footballer were recognised at an early age. A baker by trade he managed to fit his shifts around playing for Formartine United, who had just transitioned from amateur football to junior football side. His talents continued to attract senior clubs attention, most notably Dundee United. He had a couple of trials also with Brechin City but it was known that he didn’t really fancy a move to Glebe Park and had been watched by East Fife too, all meaning that it would only be a matter of time before making the step up to a higher level.

His teammate at Formartine Colin Middler had joined Recreation Park in November 1961 and his good words of Peterhead spread. Walter’s interest in a move to Recreation Park was peaked when he played as a trialist for Peterhead in the match against Forres Mechanics on the 13^th January 1962. Peterhead trounced Forres that day 8-3. Simpson played well and signed a few days later and was included with the official Peterhead party that travelled to Dingwall in a Highland League game at Ross County. It’s believed that the 20^th January 1962 is when he made his debut in the match that Peterhead eventually won 2-1.

Middler’s deal with Formartine included a match the following season between Peterhead at Formartine which was played at United’s old ground ‘Hotel Park’ in Udny. The result being a comfortable 5-1 win for The Blue Toon. Both Middler and Simpson played in this match.

Waltie became a mainstay in the Peterhead side throughout the decade, his skills on the pitch were matched off the pitch as he was a popular part of a close knit dressing room. He holds 2 Highland League Cup winners medals from the 1962/63 season where we defeated Huntly 6-0 in the final in Banff and from the 1967/68 season where we defeated Keith 1-0 in Elgin. He also tasted Aberdeenshire Cup success in 1964/65, 1967/68 and 1968/69.

Middler would go on to play for Keith and Rothes while Waltie, after leaving Recreation Park, signed for Deveronvale. Waltie died peacefully on Monday 30^th October 2023. Our thoughts are with his immediate family at this difficult time.