Mark McCuish was more than just a former Ants player and assistant manager. He was a much loved member of the Ants family and his ties with the club go way back to the mid/late 80s when his dad Alco was the clubs assistant manager. He spent the occasional day or two in the summer back then picking up stones from the old Helen Street pitch as his dad and Felix McKenna Jnr plotted how to improve the squad for the coming season.
He then returned as a player in 2004 when he was signed by James McKenna and Dixie Kilcullen where he proved to have the ability to match up to that wee swagger of confidence he had. Mark became a mainstay of the team until he moved to Bellshill Athletic in 2008 but it was clear his heart still lay at McKenna Park and he moved back to the Ants the following season. He would stay with the Ants for another 5 seasons before moving to Renfrew, but once again the pull of McKenna Park proved to much for him and he came back after only 6 months, before leaving to finish his Junior career at Neilston where he moved in 2015 before retiring in 2016.
Despite moving on, Mark would often be spotted at McKenna Park if he didn’t have a game or latterly when his playing career came to an end on Saturday’s if Celtic weren’t playing or he wasn’t on shift in the fire brigade.
A tenacious yet talented midfielder Cuish always gave his all on the park although sometimes his emotions would get the better of him and he found himself either in the referees book or in the changing room, but it was never malicious, he just wanted to give everything he had for his team-mates and the club.
In October 2020 Mark was appointed as the Club’s assistant manager alongside Danny Taylor and it was a position he held with great pride although he had to leave the role after 6 months due to family and work commitments.
Sadly Mark became ill a couple of weeks ago and fought the illness with the same spirit and tenacity that had been evident as a player, putting up such a brave fight for his life but sadly there was nothing that could be done and he passed with his family by his side.
Such a tragedy that a boy with such a zest for life has been taken away from us all and our thoughts, prayers and love are with his wife Natalie, his two daughters Harley-Rae and Lillia Beau, his Mum Anne and his brother Stephen as well as with all of Mark’s family and friends
The word legend is thrown about far too easily these days but there could be no more fitting word to describe Mark and the whole club is devastated with his passing.
All of our matches over the next week will have a minutes applause in celebration of Mark’s life and we will pass on the arrangements for his funeral in due course
Fly High Mark, you will be sadly missed around McKenna Park
Forever An Ants Man 🐜💚
