Alex McCrae

Alexander McCrae (2 January 1920 – 8 October 2009) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Hearts, Charlton Athletic, Middlesbrough and Falkirk during his career.

Alex McCrae
Personal information
Full name Alexander McCrae[1]
Date of birth (1920-01-02)2 January 1920
Place of birth Whitburn, Scotland
Date of death 8 October 2009(2009-10-08) (aged 89)
Place of death Livingston, Scotland
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1941–1947 Heart of Midlothian 156 (62)
1947–1948 Charlton Athletic 43 (8)
1948–1953 Middlesbrough 122 (47)
1953–1957 Falkirk 94 (33)
– Ballymena United
Teams managed
1957–1960 Ballymena United
1960 (Jan-Mar) Stirling Albion
1960–1965 Falkirk [2]
1969–1971 Ballymena United
1972 Glentoran
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

McCrae began his career at Hearts in 1941. He later moved to London to play for Charlton Athletic but was unable to settle and was snapped up by Middlesbrough for £10,000 in October 1948.

The versatile frontman could play in any forward position but favoured the inside left role. He began his career with the club in the 1948–49 season in the absence of Wilf Mannion, but his form was poor and soon he was dropped from the side. Eventually, he was recalled alongside Mannion, where he showed his pace, accurate passing and sublime ball skills.

After scoring 16 goals in the 1949–50 season, including the winner in a home 1–0 victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day, he became a fans favourite. He topped the scoring charts the next season, scoring three hat-tricks before Christmas, but injury robbed him from helping the side finish higher than sixth in the table that season. McCrae then scored 21 goals in the 1950/51 season.[3] As of 2009, he was the last player to score 20 goals in a season for Middlesbrough while playing in the top division of the English football league system.[3]

He left the club for Falkirk in 1953, and followed this with a spell in Northern Ireland with Ballymena.[4] During his stint with Ballymena, McCrae made one appearance for the Irish League representative team.[1]

After football

After retiring from playing, he became Middlesbrough's scout in Scotland, where he recommended future legend Jim Platt to the club.

Honours
Falkirk

References
  1. "Alex McCrae". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. Falkirk FC Managers
  3. Ponting, Ivan (17 October 2009). "Alex McCrae: Striker who remains the last man to score 20 top-flight League goals in a season for Middlesbrough". The Independent. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  4. http://www.ballymenaunited.co.uk/history/alex_mccrae.html%5B%5D
  • Alex McCrae at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  • Obituary in The Herald
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