Partick Thistle football fans held a minute-long applause before kick-off after the death of EuroMillions jackpot winner Colin Weir.
The football club’s owner was also honoured by players who took to the field wearing black armbands for the fixture against Greenock Morton, following Mr Weir’s death from a short illness.
Former TV cameraman Mr Weir, 71, from Largs in North Ayrshire, Scotland, was Britain’s biggest lottery winner up until October this year.
Colin Weir and his now ex-wife Chris won a EuroMillions jackpot of £161 million in July 2011. Mr Weir was Britain’s biggest lottery winner up until October this year
He won the £161million jackpot with his now ex-wife Christine in July 2011.
Mr Weir helped the Jags to set up the Thistle Weir Youth Academy and a section of the club’s Firhill Stadium was named the Colin Weir Stand in his honour.
A statement said: ‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Colin Weir early today after a short illness.
‘We would ask for privacy for his family and friends at this distressing time.
‘No further comment will be made other than to offer sincere thanks to the staff of University Hospital Ayr for their care and compassion.’
Mr and Mrs Weir, 62, were granted a divorce during the summer after 38 years of marriage. They had two children together, Carly, 32, and Jamie, 30.
Football fans at the Partick Thistle game held a minute-long applause before kick-off to commemorate the death of EuroMillions jackpot winner Colin Weir. Last month he secured a majority stake in the Glasgow club in a seven-figure deal
Former TV cameraman Mr Weir won the jackpot with his now ex-wife Christine in July 2011
A section of the club’s Firhill Stadium was named the Colin Weir Stand in his honour. The football club’s owner was also honoured by players who took to the field wearing black armbands
Mr Weir was known for his support for the SNP. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was ‘incredibly sad’ to hear of the death.
She said: ‘Colin’s determination and generosity in the cause of Scottish independence cannot be overstated and was hugely appreciated.
‘The SNP and the independence movement has lost a true friend today and we will miss him dearly.’
Last month he secured a majority stake in the Glasgow club in a seven-figure deal – and promised to give the 55 per cent shareholding to a fans group by March of next year.
Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the Thistle For Ever fan club, said: ‘We are hugely indebted for all he has done for Patrick Thistle. This is incredibly sad news and our thoughts are with his family and friends.’
Partick Thistle FC said: ‘It is with deep sadness we confirm that lifelong Jags fan Colin Weir passed away earlier today.
‘On behalf of everyone at Partick Thistle, our love, thoughts and prayers are with the family and close friends of Colin at this most difficult time.’
The club’s interim director, Alan Caldwell, said: ‘Such sad news about Colin Weir. Thoughts with his family and friends at this time.’
Mr Weir, a former STV cameraman, also made a donation to a community football club in his home town of Largs after setting up the Weir Charitable Trust in 2013 with his wife.
Largs Thistle FC thanked Mr Weir for his services to the club, saying: ‘We are very sad to hear about the passing of Colin Weir.
‘Colin gave back to the club he supported for many years by the installation of our 3G pitch in 2012. RIP Colin.’
The Weirs were known as keen supporters of independence and donated around £1million to the Yes Scotland campaign ahead of the 2014 referendum.
The couple also made substantial donations to the SNP.
SNP Constitutional Relations minister Michael Russell posted a tribute to Mr Weir on Twitter, writing: ‘Sad to see this – remember him very kindly, both of us contesting seats in 1987, working on PPBs for @theSNP when I was VC Publicity & his great generosity after his win.’
Mr Weir signed their £3million mansion (pictured) in Troon over to his wife last August
It is understood that Mr and Mrs Weir, a retired psychiatric nurse, had been living apart for nearly a year.
They had both been forced to give up work early and nursed each other through years of ill health before they became the 22nd richest people in Scotland after their £161,653,000 win in July 2011.
Overnight, they entered the Sunday Times Rich List above Beatle Ringo Starr and singer Sir Tom Jones but shunned the lavish lifestyle and decided to go on holiday to Brighton following their win.
One of the first items Mr Weir purchased was a checked sports jacket similar to the one worn by Scotsport legend Arthur Montford.
After their win, Mrs Weir said: ‘We have both always wanted to see the Great Wall of China and Colin would love to stand at the foot of Ayers Rock in Australia.’
But she added: ‘We love our town and we love our house. We have no plans to move. Except we may buy a second – or a third – home.’
The couple ended up buying a number of homes, including for their son Jamie, now 30, who was working in a call centre, and daughter Carly, 32, who was studying photography. They also bought homes for their close friends.
Soon after the life-changing windfall, they moved out of their own three-bedroom home into Knock House – a mansion set in 23 acres of gardens and woods in the hills above Largs, complete with cinema, pool and stables.
The couple (pictured in 2012) ended up buying a number of homes, including for their son, who was working in a call centre, and daughter, who was studying photography
They bought it for £850,000 before selling it in 2016 to an overseas trust in a £1.4million deal.
They also went on to replaced their humble Suzuki for a £160,000 fleet of cars for the couple, their family and friends.
Instead of selling their old £220,000 house, the pair gifted it to a young mother who lived next door with her parents.
They are thought to have bought five homes, at £230,000 each, for friends in a new development. Mrs Weir, the second of six children, also bought properties for all her siblings.
Stories of their kindness are well-rehearsed by locals: the £50,000 sponsorship for Lee Craigmile to complete a four-year course at the Florence Academy of Art; £102,000 for the National Sports Training Centre at Inverclyde; £750,000 for an all-weather artificial pitch at Largs Thistle.
Football-mad Mr Weir became honorary president.