Jim McAlpine
Encyclopedia
James Walker McAlpine was a Scottish footballer
, who played as a half back
for Southampton
in the Southern League
before playing for Football League clubs Millwall
and Gillingham
.
he played for various local clubs, including Strathclyde where he was spotted by scouts from Southampton. Along with team-mate Andrew Gibson
, he signed for The Saints in May 1911 and was considered to be one of new manager George Swift
's better signings. Swift was Southampton’s first appointment as manager and promptly embarked on a spending spree, signing eleven players in six weeks.
Playing alongside the ever-dependable Bert Lee
, he became a virtual ever-present up to the suspension of football in 1915. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints", McAlpine was "rather small for a left half, (but) made up for his lack of stature with a determined and forceful temperament that made him a firm favourite with the Saints crowd."
During World War I
he remained on Saints' books, but joined local shipbuilders Harland and Wolff
and turned out for their works football team, often against the Saints. He briefly returned to his native Scotland, playing for Kilmarnock
and Wishaw Thistle.
After the war he moved to Millwall
where he was part of their first ever Football League side in 1920–21
. In July 1921 he moved on to Gillingham
for a couple of seasons before retiring.
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 half back
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
before playing for Football League clubs Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
.
Football career
Born in CoatbridgeCoatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
he played for various local clubs, including Strathclyde where he was spotted by scouts from Southampton. Along with team-mate Andrew Gibson
Andrew Gibson (footballer)
Andrew Gibson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the 1910s.-Playing career:Born in Glasgow he was playing for Strathclyde and was attracting the attention of both Celtic and Rangers when he was signed in May 1911 by Southern League Southampton...
, he signed for The Saints in May 1911 and was considered to be one of new manager George Swift
George Harold Swift
George Harold Swift was an English footballer who won the FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was later the first secretary-manager of Southampton.-Playing career:...
's better signings. Swift was Southampton’s first appointment as manager and promptly embarked on a spending spree, signing eleven players in six weeks.
Playing alongside the ever-dependable Bert Lee
Bert Lee (footballer)
Ernest Albert "Bert" Lee was an English professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton, and also made one appearance for England in 1904...
, he became a virtual ever-present up to the suspension of football in 1915. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints", McAlpine was "rather small for a left half, (but) made up for his lack of stature with a determined and forceful temperament that made him a firm favourite with the Saints crowd."
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he remained on Saints' books, but joined local shipbuilders Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
and turned out for their works football team, often against the Saints. He briefly returned to his native Scotland, playing for Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
and Wishaw Thistle.
After the war he moved to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
where he was part of their first ever Football League side in 1920–21
1920-21 in English football
The 1920–21 season was the 46th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League Third Division is introduced, expanding the League's operational radius south of Birmingham...
. In July 1921 he moved on to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
for a couple of seasons before retiring.