Ballymena Guardian The Legacy of the days of David McWilliams Tributes have flowed in for Ulster singer/songwriter David McWilliams - author of the worldwide hit The Days of Pearly Spencer - following his sudden death in Ballycastle at the age of 56. David was born in Belfast and grew up in Ballymena, attracted the interest of Manchester United as a teenage soccer player. Back in 1970-71 David played football for Saturday Morning League side Broadway Celtic. "He was a useful player recalled long serving League official Brian Montgomery. ...show more

Ballymena Guardian The Legacy of the days of David McWilliams Tributes have flowed in for Ulster singer/songwriter David McWilliams - author of the worldwide hit The Days of Pearly Spencer - following his sudden death in Ballycastle at the age of 56. David was born in Belfast and grew up in Ballymena, attracted the interest of Manchester United as a teenage soccer player. Back in 1970-71 David played football for Saturday Morning League side Broadway Celtic. "He was a useful player recalled long serving League official Brian Montgomery.

And when in his 20s David switched from playing outfield to keeping goals he made several appearances with Linfield. When he lived in Ballymena he was an apprenticeship fitter in the torpedo factory at Antrim. Quoted as the Dylan Thomas of Ulster, David McWilliams once said " I listen with my eyes and I sing what I see." And it was his lyrical talent which saw him pursue a music career with his original "Pearly" selling over one million following its release in 1967, before catching another wave of success under former Soft Cell front man Marc Almond 25 years later. Told then how the new Almond version had rocketed into the Top 10, David said: "I don't know whether to be flattered or not.

I've never had any interest in trying to write the sort of songs that might end up in the charts nowadays. "To be honest I haven't even heard the version. Now that it's doing so well I'll have to listen out for it. Do they still have Top of the Pops?" BBC radio presenter, Gerry Anderson, described the Ballymena song smith as a true home-bred original. ...show less