Alex Smith (footballer born 1940)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Smith is a former professional Scottish
footballer who played for both Rangers
and Dunfermline Athletic
. He played as an inside-forward
.
Smith was signed to Dunfermline
in May 1958 by then manager Andy Dickson from junior side Dunbar United
. He made his debut in September that year against Raith Rovers
, however the game was later abandoned.
During his eight year spell at East End Park
he made 298 appearances and scored 98 goals. He won the 1961 Scottish Cup and played in the Scottish Cup final 1965 and Europe
an matches against the likes of Valencia
and Athletic Bilbao
.
In August 1966, Smith signed for Rangers
for a then Scottish record transfer fee of £55,000. He made his debut on 13 August in a Scottish League Cup
match versus Hibernian
. He would stay at the club until in 1969 and make 68 appearances and score 26 goals, including playing in the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. Indeed in that season
he was top scorer for the club with 23 goals.
He left Ibrox
for a brief spell at Aberdeen
before becoming a landlord of a pub in Coaledge.
In 2010, a short documentary was made about Alex Smith and his football career.
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...
footballer who played for both Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
. He played as an inside-forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Smith was signed to Dunfermline
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
in May 1958 by then manager Andy Dickson from junior side Dunbar United
Dunbar United F.C.
Dunbar United Football Club are a Scottish Junior football club from the town of Dunbar, East Lothian. Formed in 1925, they presently compete in the East Region. They play their home matches at New Countess Park, to which they moved in 2001. New Countess Park is within a sports centre and has a...
. He made his debut in September that year against Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
, however the game was later abandoned.
During his eight year spell at East End Park
East End Park
East End Park is a football stadium situated in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland with a seating capacity of 11,380.The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League side, Dunfermline Athletic F.C. It currently comprises four stands: East Stand, Main Stand, SGM Stand and the Norrie...
he made 298 appearances and scored 98 goals. He won the 1961 Scottish Cup and played in the Scottish Cup final 1965 and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an matches against the likes of Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
and Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
.
In August 1966, Smith signed for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for a then Scottish record transfer fee of £55,000. He made his debut on 13 August in a Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
match versus Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He would stay at the club until in 1969 and make 68 appearances and score 26 goals, including playing in the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. Indeed in that season
Rangers F.C. seasons
This is a list of seasons played by Rangers Football Club in Scottish and European football, from 1890 to the present day. It details the club's achievements in major competitions, and the top scorers for each season.-Overview:...
he was top scorer for the club with 23 goals.
He left Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
for a brief spell at Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
before becoming a landlord of a pub in Coaledge.
In 2010, a short documentary was made about Alex Smith and his football career.