The Mariners wore black armbands in their game against the Young Socceroos to honour McLafferty’s memory. A Glaswegian who migrated to Australia in the 1980s, McLafferty was just 56 when he passed on Wednesday.

Walmsley told FourFourTwo the coach of the year award in the Central Coast Premier League will be named after him.

“John is very highly respected for his work here over many years at local and representative level,” Walmsley said.

“He worked under me then followed me at both Spirit FC and the Mariners National Youth League teams and we shared a lot of success together. We travelled across the country and overseas through football and he was one of the closest friends I had.

“He loved football and cared passionately about the players he worked with. Firm, but gentle, is how I would describe him and anyone who worked under him or with him always felt supported. He had a gift in that way.”

McLafferty was a life member of Wyoming FC and coached the club’s reserve and first-grade sides in the 1990s. He also coached the Central Coast Coasties, Lighting and spent time most recently with Spirit FC.

McLafferty coached Spirit FC to the NPL NSW Men’s 2 Premiership title last year.
 

 

A number of former A-League and Socceroos players have lay tribute to McLafferty on social media.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Walmsley said McLafferty is a loss to the game.

“We had a great working relationship and balanced each other,” he said.

“His more conservative outlook would always prompt him to ask me ‘would you take a draw?’. I'd take a draw any time now if I could get the chance to sit on the sidelines with him again. I miss him terribly.

“I spoke to him on the morning he died and as usual we shared a laugh or two and spoke about the next steps for us both. It's such a shock. And he is such a loss to me and to the game.”