Great Britain
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Rangers cup shock scorer and Hamilton Accies hero Adrian Sprott passes away, aged 61

Hamilton Accies hero Adrian Sprott has passed away following a period of ill health, the club has announced.

The 61-year-old wrote his name into the history books on January 31, 1987 when he scored the goal that knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup. Accies - who were bottom of the top flight at the time, bottom of the top flight and with a squad of players earning around £50 a week - recorded a 1-0 win at Ibrox.

The former policeman was on target against a line up that included then-England captain Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Davie Cooper, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant.

The goal sent the small band of Accies supporters into raptures and ended Woods’s record of 1196 minutes of football without conceding a goal.

It is considered one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history.

Sprott also played for Stenhousemuir and Meadowbank.

Adrian Sprott celebrates with Hamilton fans in January 1987.

A statement from Hamilton Accies read: "It is with real sadness that we learn of the passing this morning of our former player Adrian Sprott, 61.

"We knew that Adrian hadn’t kept good health recently but we are shocked to hear today.

"Also playing with Meadowbank and Stenhousemuir he is undoubtedly remembered for one particular afternoon on 31 January 1987 when he famously scored our goal at Ibrox to defeat Rangers in the Scottish Cup."

Adrian Sprott stunned Ibrox with the winning goal in a Scottish Cup tie on January 31, 1987

Recounting his goal at Ibrox, Sprott said in a 2008 interview: "That goal at Ibrox has meant that people do recognise my name.

"I've seen the footage as has my family but when you look at the film quality, the strips, the haircuts, it really is from a different era."

All the latest sport news in Lanarkshire

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onTwitter via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.