Reilly was born to Irish parents in Dundee, the eldest of five children.
The family lived in the West End of the city, where Reilly had a cycle shop on Perth Road.
A two-year spell aside, when he remained club secretary, Reilly was in charge for the first thirteen years of Dundee Hibs' existence, leaving just before the name change to Dundee United.
It is widely acknowledged that Reilly was instrumental in forming the club, and that without him, there would have been no Dundee United.
[2] He donated a bicycle to the player who scored the first goal at Tannadice Park, John O'Hara of Hibernian.