A footballer who went on to report on the sport for three decades has died aged 85.

Tributes have been paid to Doug Baillie, who served as chief football writer at Glasgow’s Sunday Post for 32 years.

Doug played for clubs including Glasgow sides Rangers and Third Lanark, as well as Falkirk and Dunfermline, during his professional career.

He subsequently joined the Post and went on to cover six World Cup Finals, among other important games, before retiring in 2002.

Post sports editor David Walker said: “Wherever he went, laughter was never far behind. Dougie’s sense of humour was legendary, and it transferred itself onto newsprint with a series of catchphrases comedians would envy.

“The ball never entered the net, it was ‘the onion bag’. Players weren’t booked for late or high tackles but for going in or their opponent like ‘a can-can dancer’.

“And ‘but for the net, the ball was heading for Hamilton Cross’ was another of Dougie’s stock phrases, the geography altered to suit the venue.

“He had a unique style of writing which was a cornerstone for his newspaper and a touchstone for Scot football fans on a Sunday morning, whatever team they supported.”

Doug was also a past president of the Scottish Football Writers’ Association.

Football commentator Jock Brown had been a friend of Baillie since they became neighbours in 1969 and they worked together on The Post.

Jock told the Post: “He was loved by many and was a giant presence in the press box.

“He found it easy to get interviews with the big-name footballers and managers of the day because he was so well liked. He will be sorely missed.”

Former Scotland player Kenny Dalglish, himself a Post columnist, added: “Doug was every bit as talented a writer as he was a footballer. He had a lovely way with words and also had a wonderful ability to make you laugh out loud at the appropriate moment.

“I was just starting out in my career when Doug got into The Sunday Post and I was always grateful to him for being gentle on me whenever I had a below-par performance for Celtic.

“The condolences of the Dalglish family go to everyone in the Baillie household.”