Hamish McAlpine
Encyclopedia
Hamish Robert McAlpine is a Scottish
former professional footballer
who played as a goalkeeper
. He spent the majority of his career playing for Dundee United
, who he served for twenty years. He represented Scotland at under-21 international level
and was named SFWA Footballer of the Year
in 1985.
, Perthshire
(now part of Perth and Kinross
). He joined Dundee United from local junior
side Dundee North End
in 1966, and after spending a season on loan to Montrose
made his first team debut for the Tannadice
club in March 1969. By 1974 he had established himself as the club's undisputed first choice goalkeeper, a position he would retain for the next decade. This coincided with Dundee United's most successful era, and McAlpine assisted the club to the Scottish League
title in 1982-83
as well as two Scottish League Cup
triumphs. During this period he gained belated international recognition when, in his mid-thirties, he featured as a permitted overage player for the Scotland Under-21 team. In 1986 he played one match on loan to Dunfermline Athletic
before leaving United later that year. He had spells with Raith Rovers
and Arbroath
prior to retiring in 1989.
McAlpine's eccentricities made him very much a cult favourite at Tannadice. A frustrated outfield player, he was often to be found abandoning his penalty area to take on opponents. At one time he was Dundee United's regular penalty taker, netting three times from the spot in League matches. He later took his goal tally to four when he scored directly from a kick out while playing for Raith.
Since retiring as a player, McAlpine has worked intermittently for Dundee United in various capacities: as a goalkeeping coach, in the commercial department and as a matchday host. He also ran a pub
in Dundee
for a while. An all-round talented sportsman, McAlpine was reputedly a good enough golf
er to have turned professional, and he also played cricket
for Perthshire club Rossie Priory. McAlpine also had a song written about him: "Hamish the Goalie", by Dundonian
musician Michael Marra
.
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...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. He spent the majority of his career playing for Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, who he served for twenty years. He represented Scotland at under-21 international level
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
and was named SFWA Footballer of the Year
SFWA Footballer of the Year
The Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
in 1985.
Playing career
McAlpine was born in the village of KilspindieKilspindie
Kilspindie is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is situated on the Kilspindie burn, approximately 5 km Northwest of Errol, 10 km west of Dundee and 10 km east of Perth...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
(now part of Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre...
). He joined Dundee United from local junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Dundee North End
Dundee North End F.C.
Dundee North End Football Club are a Scottish junior football club based in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1895 and nicknamed the Dokens, they play their home games at North End Park which has room for around 2,000 spectators and is within the vicinity of the grounds of both Dundee and Dundee...
in 1966, and after spending a season on loan to Montrose
Montrose F.C.
Montrose Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team, based in the town of Montrose, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division.- Early years :...
made his first team debut for the Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
club in March 1969. By 1974 he had established himself as the club's undisputed first choice goalkeeper, a position he would retain for the next decade. This coincided with Dundee United's most successful era, and McAlpine assisted the club to the Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
title in 1982-83
1982-83 in Scottish football
The 1982–83 season was the 86th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:In a tightly fought contest Dundee United win their first and only title this season. The league remains undecided until the last day of the season with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United in contention...
as well as two 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...
triumphs. During this period he gained belated international recognition when, in his mid-thirties, he featured as a permitted overage player for the Scotland Under-21 team. In 1986 he played one match on loan to 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....
before leaving United later that year. He had spells with 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...
and Arbroath
Arbroath F.C.
Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide...
prior to retiring in 1989.
McAlpine's eccentricities made him very much a cult favourite at Tannadice. A frustrated outfield player, he was often to be found abandoning his penalty area to take on opponents. At one time he was Dundee United's regular penalty taker, netting three times from the spot in League matches. He later took his goal tally to four when he scored directly from a kick out while playing for Raith.
Since retiring as a player, McAlpine has worked intermittently for Dundee United in various capacities: as a goalkeeping coach, in the commercial department and as a matchday host. He also ran a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
for a while. An all-round talented sportsman, McAlpine was reputedly a good enough golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er to have turned professional, and he also played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Perthshire club Rossie Priory. McAlpine also had a song written about him: "Hamish the Goalie", by Dundonian
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
musician Michael Marra
Michael Marra
Michael Marra is a Scottish musician from Dundee.Jenny Marra, the Labour MSP, is his niece.-History:Michael Marra was brought up in the Lochee district of Dundee. His first public performance was at an NCR Christmas party in the 1950s...
.
Career statistics
| Club | |League | |Lg Cup | |Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dundee United Dundee United F.C. Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923... |
1966–67 1966-67 in Scottish football The 1966–67 season was the 70th season of Scottish League football.-Overview:A number of significant events occurred during the season... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967–68 1967-68 in Scottish football The 1967–68 season was the 71st season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Motherwell, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Montrose Montrose F.C. Montrose Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team, based in the town of Montrose, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division.- Early years :... (loan) |
25 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| Dundee United Dundee United F.C. Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923... |
1968–69 1968-69 in Scottish football The 1968–69 season was the 72nd season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Falkirk, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Motherwell, Ayr United-Cup honours:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969–70 1969-70 in Scottish football The 1969–70 season was the 73rd season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Raith Rovers, Partick Thistle-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Falkirk, Cowdenbeath-Cups:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1970–71 1970-71 in Scottish football The 1970–71 season was the 74th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Aberdeen, with a 15 game unbeaten run, led the league from December until the last week of the season... |
24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 1971–72 1971-72 in Scottish football The 1971–72 season was the 75th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Clyde, Dunfermline-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Dumbarton, Arbroath-Cup honours:... |
29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 1972–73 1972-73 in Scottish football The 1972–73 season was the 76th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic... |
24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 1973–74 1973-74 in Scottish football The 1973–74 season was the 77th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: East Fife, Falkirk-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock... |
19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 1974-75 in Scottish football The 1974–75 season was the 78th season of Scottish league football. It was the final season of the old, two-division set up. At the end of the season, the top ten teams in Division One formed the new Premier Division. The remaining eight teams, together with the top six from Division Two went... |
34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| 1975–76 1975-76 in Scottish football The 1975–76 season was the 79th season of Scottish league football. It was the first season in the new, three-tier setup. Division One was no longer the top division in Scottish football, although all three divisions are still part of the Scottish Football League.The Premier Division... |
36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| 1976–77 1976-77 in Scottish football Season 1976–1977 was the 80th season of Scottish league football.After the failure of the Spring Cup and the 26 game season in the 1st & 2nd Divisions, a 39 game season was instituted in these divisions with a slight imbalance in the amount of home and away games played by each team; however,... |
36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 1977–78 1977-78 in Scottish football The 1977–78 season was the 81st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: RangersRelegated: Ayr United, Clydebank-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Morton, Hearts... |
35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| 1978–79 1978-79 in Scottish football The 1978-1979 season was the 82nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Hearts, Motherwell-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Dundee, Kilmarnock... |
36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 1979–80 1979-80 in Scottish football The 1979–80 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dundee, Hibernian-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hearts, Airdrieonians... |
29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| 1980–81 1980-81 in Scottish football The 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee... |
36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 0 | |
| 1981–82 1981-82 in Scottish football The 1981–82 season was the 85th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Motherwell, Kilmarnock... |
34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58 | 0 | |
| 1982–83 1982-83 in Scottish football The 1982–83 season was the 86th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:In a tightly fought contest Dundee United win their first and only title this season. The league remains undecided until the last day of the season with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United in contention... |
36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 54 | 0 | |
| 1983–84 1983-84 in Scottish football The 1983–84 season was the 87th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: St... |
34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 0 | |
| 1984–85 1984-85 in Scottish football The 1984–85 season was the 88th season of competitive football in Scotland. This is the last time a non Old Firm club has won the Scottish Premier title.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dumbarton, Morton.... |
25 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 1985–86 1985-86 in Scottish football The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,... |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 477 | 3 | 45 | 0 | 103 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 677 | 3 | |
| 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.... (loan) |
1985–86 1985-86 in Scottish football The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 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... |
1986–87 1986-87 in Scottish football The 1986–87 season was the 90th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:In the first full season under the management of player-manager Graeme Souness, Rangers won their first league title since 1978, and also won the League Cup.... |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
| 1987–88 1987-88 in Scottish football The 1987–88 season was the 91st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Billy McNeill's second spell back in charge of Celtic began in style as they finished the season by winning the double of the league title and Scottish Cup... |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||
| Total | 72 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 1 | |
| Arbroath Arbroath F.C. Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide... |
1988–89 1988-89 in Scottish football The 1988–89 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Rangers regained their league title and retained the League Cup, but defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final ended their hopes of a domestic treble.... |
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | 505 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 103 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 705 | 4 | |
Dundee United
- Scottish Premier Division: 1
-
- 1982-831982-83 in Scottish footballThe 1982–83 season was the 86th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:In a tightly fought contest Dundee United win their first and only title this season. The league remains undecided until the last day of the season with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United in contention...
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe 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...
: 2
- Scottish League Cup
- 1979-801979-80 in Scottish footballThe 1979–80 season was the 83rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dundee, Hibernian-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hearts, Airdrieonians...
, 1980-811980-81 in Scottish footballThe 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee...
- 1982-83