Alec Herd
Encyclopedia
Alec Herd was a Scottish
professional footballer. Born in Bowhill
, Scotland
, he played as a forward for Hamilton Academicals, Manchester City
and Stockport County
.
in Scotland
in 1911. His football career began at Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish League. In 1933 he transferred to the English team Manchester City
who were then in the first division.
, the team included England
Internationals Eric Brook
, Sam Cowan
, Jackie Bray
, Frank Swift
and Fred Tilson
and former Scotland
captain Jimmy McMullan
. His debut for City came in a 1-0 defeat to Blackpool
. Herd scored his first goal for City in a 2-1 victory against Derby County
. The outside right Ernie Toseland
scored the other goal for City. In his first season for the Manchester team Herd played in 14 league matches and scored 7 goals. He was also part of the City team which was defeated 3-0 by Everton
in the 1933 FA Cup Final
. In his second season at the club, the 1933-1934 season, Herd was City's top scorer with 17 goals. He was also part of the City team which beat Portsmouth
2-1 in the 1934 FA Cup Final with two goals from Fred Tilson
.
In the 1934-1935 football season Herd scored 14 goals and City finished fourth in the league, ten points behind champions Arsenal
. Herd was City's third top scorer that season behind Fred Tilson
who scored 18 goals and Eric Brook
who scored 17 goals. In the following season, Herd was Manchester City's third top scorer with 10 goals, behind Eric Brook
who scored 13 and Fred Tilson
who scored 11. Matt Busby
and Sam Cowan
had left the City team in this season but Sam Barkas
had been brought in from Bradford City and Peter Doherty
was bought from Blackpool
. Doherty had an immediate impact on the team. Doherty scored two goals, Brook scored a hat trick and Herd and Toseland each scored one goal as City defeated Bolton Wanderers 7-0 in March of that season. Herd also scored a brace in a 6-0 victory against Middlesbrough
.
In the 1936-1937 football season Herd was part of the first Manchester City side to win the League Championship. The team went on an unbeaten run after Christmas, winning 14 times and drawing 6 games. The championship was won at Maine Road with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday
. Herd was City's third highest scorer that season behind Peter Doherty
who scored 30 goals and Eric Brook
who scored 20. In the 1937-1938 football season Herd was part of the City team that were relegated from the first division despite scoring more goals than any other team. Herd was again City's third highest scorer that season with 12 goals. In the 1938-1939 season he was City's top scorer with 20 goals. The team finished fourth in division two that season, six points behind winners Blackburn Rovers
. The second world war interrupted Herd's football career but he continued playing afterwards and scored 11 goals for City in both the 1945-1946 and 1946-1947 football seasons. His final season with the Manchester team was the 1947-1948 football season. His last goal for the club came in a 3-0 victory against Stoke City
. In 257 league games for City Herd had scored 107 goals. He also appeared in the 3 games in season 1939-40 expunged from the records..
on a free transfer. In 111 appearances for Stockport he scored 35 goals. He also made history by playing alongside his son, David Herd, in a game against Hartlepool United
in the 1950-1951 football season. He died in Scotland
in 1982 at the age of 70.
. He played for Scotland in several unofficial wartime international matches, his elder brother Sandy
, a left-half with Heart of Midlothian
, played for Scotland in the 1930s and his son David
, the Arsenal
striker, represented Scotland five times between 1959 and 1961.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer. Born in Bowhill
Bowhill
Bowhill may refer to:People:*Frederick Bowhill, RAF officerPlaces:*Bowhill, Fife, Scotland*Bowhill, Scottish Borders, Scotland*Bowhill, South Australia...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, he played as a forward for Hamilton Academicals, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
.
Early life
Herd was born in BowhillBowhill
Bowhill may refer to:People:*Frederick Bowhill, RAF officerPlaces:*Bowhill, Fife, Scotland*Bowhill, Scottish Borders, Scotland*Bowhill, South Australia...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1911. His football career began at Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish League. In 1933 he transferred to the English team Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
who were then in the first division.
Manchester City
When Herd signed for Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, the team included England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
Internationals Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
, Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
, Jackie Bray
Jackie Bray
John Bray was an English football player who played in the left half position. He won 6 caps for England between 1934 and 1937.-Playing career:...
, Frank Swift
Frank Swift
Frank Victor Swift was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City and England. After starting his career with local clubs near his home town of Blackpool, in 1932 he was signed by First Division Manchester City, with whom he played his entire professional career.Swift...
and Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
and former Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
captain Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan
Jimmy McMullan was a Scottish football player and manager. McMullan won 16 Scotland caps as a player at half-back and was part of the famous "Wembley Wizards" side of 1928.-Early life:...
. His debut for City came in a 1-0 defeat to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. Herd scored his first goal for City in a 2-1 victory against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. The outside right Ernie Toseland
Ernie Toseland
Ernie Toseland was an English footballer who played in the outside right position. He has been described as 'a flying winger – football's Jesse Owens'.-Early life:Toseland was born in Northampton in 1905...
scored the other goal for City. In his first season for the Manchester team Herd played in 14 league matches and scored 7 goals. He was also part of the City team which was defeated 3-0 by Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the 1933 FA Cup Final
1933 FA Cup Final
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...
. In his second season at the club, the 1933-1934 season, Herd was City's top scorer with 17 goals. He was also part of the City team which beat Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
2-1 in the 1934 FA Cup Final with two goals from Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
.
In the 1934-1935 football season Herd scored 14 goals and City finished fourth in the league, ten points behind champions Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Herd was City's third top scorer that season behind Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
who scored 18 goals and Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
who scored 17 goals. In the following season, Herd was Manchester City's third top scorer with 10 goals, behind Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
who scored 13 and Fred Tilson
Fred Tilson
Samuel Frederick "Fred" Tilson was an association football player for Manchester City and England. He was born in Swinton, South Yorkshire. He was part of the City team that won both the FA Cup and the League Championship in the 1930s...
who scored 11. Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
and Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
had left the City team in this season but Sam Barkas
Sam Barkas
Samuel "Sam" Barkas was an English football player and manager who played at left back.-Career:Born in Wardley Colliery, England, Barkas had worked in the pits and farm before leaving his junior club Middle Dock to join Bradford City in 1928...
had been brought in from Bradford City and Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
was bought from Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. Doherty had an immediate impact on the team. Doherty scored two goals, Brook scored a hat trick and Herd and Toseland each scored one goal as City defeated Bolton Wanderers 7-0 in March of that season. Herd also scored a brace in a 6-0 victory against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
In the 1936-1937 football season Herd was part of the first Manchester City side to win the League Championship. The team went on an unbeaten run after Christmas, winning 14 times and drawing 6 games. The championship was won at Maine Road with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Herd was City's third highest scorer that season behind Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
who scored 30 goals and Eric Brook
Eric Brook
Eric Fred Brook was an English footballer who played in the outside left position. He is the all time record goalscorer for Manchester City in all competitions and was an England international. Brook was a muscular player with 'one of the fiercest shots in pre-war football' and was a good penalty...
who scored 20. In the 1937-1938 football season Herd was part of the City team that were relegated from the first division despite scoring more goals than any other team. Herd was again City's third highest scorer that season with 12 goals. In the 1938-1939 season he was City's top scorer with 20 goals. The team finished fourth in division two that season, six points behind winners Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. The second world war interrupted Herd's football career but he continued playing afterwards and scored 11 goals for City in both the 1945-1946 and 1946-1947 football seasons. His final season with the Manchester team was the 1947-1948 football season. His last goal for the club came in a 3-0 victory against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. In 257 league games for City Herd had scored 107 goals. He also appeared in the 3 games in season 1939-40 expunged from the records..
Stockport County
In 1948 Herd joined Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on a free transfer. In 111 appearances for Stockport he scored 35 goals. He also made history by playing alongside his son, David Herd, in a game against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in the 1950-1951 football season. He died in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1982 at the age of 70.
International
Herd was one of three members of his family to gain recognition for their footballing skills at national levelScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He played for Scotland in several unofficial wartime international matches, his elder brother Sandy
Sandy Herd (footballer)
Andrew "Sandy" Clark Herd was a Scottish professional footballer.A miner by trade, Herd started his senior career with Dundee, who he joined from junior side Hearts of Beath, in 1923. He joined Dunfermline Athletic a year later, helping them to win the Division Two title in 1925-26...
, a left-half with Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, played for Scotland in the 1930s and his son David
David Herd (footballer)
David George Herd is a Scottish former international association footballer. His regular position was as a forward where he was a consistent goal scorer.-Family:...
, the Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
striker, represented Scotland five times between 1959 and 1961.
Legacy
Herd is listed as one of Manchester City's fifty greatest players in Ian Penney's book The Essential History of Manchester City .As a player
Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners: 1934FA Cup Final 1934The 1934 FA Cup Final was won by Manchester City in a 2-1 win over Portsmouth. The cup is most remembered for a young Frank Swift's heroics in goal and the predictions of City forward Fred Tilson. The match was also refereed by future FIFA president Stanley Rous, in his penultimate game as an... - Football League champions: 1936-37