Alex Christie (footballer, born 1896)

Alexander Gray Christie (27 June 1896 ;– 22 May 1981) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half back for various clubs in the 1920s, spending most of his career in the Football League Third Division North with Rochdale.

For other people with the same name, see Alex Christie.

Alex Christie
Personal information
Full name Alexander Gray Christie
Date of birth (1896-06-27)27 June 1896
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 22 May 1981(1981-05-22) (aged 84)
Place of death Reading, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Half back
Youth career
Royal Navy Barracks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Hamilton Academical
1919–1921 Reading 31[1] (1)
1921–1922 Walsall 30 (1)
1922–1924 Southampton 5 (0)
1924–1928 Rochdale 137 (5)
1928–1929 Exeter City 4 (0)
1929–19?? Aldershot
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Christie was born in Glasgow and, after serving in the Royal Navy,[2] started his football career with Hamilton Academicals.[3] In 1919, he moved to England to join Reading, then playing in the Southern League, and remained with them for their first season in the Football League.

In June 1921, he moved to Walsall for a season, before moving to the south coast to join Southampton of the Football League Second Division in May 1922.[2] At The Dell, he was used mainly as cover for Bert Shelley and Alec Campbell.[2] Described as "coolness personified",[2] he made his debut at right half in place of Campbell in a 2–1 victory at Manchester United on 3 March 1923, with Shelley moving to centre half. Christie retained his place for the next two matches before he was dropped in favour of Ted Hough. Although Christie made two further appearances in April,[4] he spent the 1923–24 season on the retained list without any further first-team appearances.[2]

In July 1923, he was transferred to Norwich City where he spent a season in which he made five appearances,[5] before moving on to Rochdale.[3]

At the Spotland Stadium, he became an established first-team player and over four years with Rochdale he made 137 league appearances.[3]

He wound up his career with a season at Exeter City before dropping down to non-league football with Aldershot.[3]

References
  1. Football League appearances only
  2. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 73. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  3. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 53. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  4. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. p. 69. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  5. "Norwich City Appearances". Sing Up the River End!. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
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