Alec Fraser (footballer) should not be confused with Alex Fraser (Scottish footballer).
Alec Fraser | |
Fullname: | Alexander Fraser |
Birth Date: | 1883 |
Birth Place: | Inverness, Scotland |
Position: | Forward |
Clubs1: | Inverness Thistle |
Years2: | 1903–1904 |
Caps2: | 0 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Years3: | 1904–1908 |
Caps3: | 10 |
Goals3: | 5 |
Years4: | 1908–1909 |
Caps4: | 17 |
Goals4: | 6 |
Years5: | 1909–1911 |
Goals5: | 35 |
Years6: | 1912–1913 |
Caps6: | 5 |
Goals6: | 0 |
Years7: | 1913–191? |
Clubs7: | Newcastle City |
Alexander Fraser (1883 – after 1914) was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League for Fulham, Bradford Park Avenue and Middlesbrough.[1] He also played for Inverness Thistle, Newcastle United, Darlington and Newcastle City. During the majority of his career he played as a forward, in either the centre forward or inside left position.
Fraser was born in Inverness,[1] where he began his football career with his hometown club, Inverness Thistle of the Highland League.[1] In late December 1903, he signed for English First Division club Newcastle United.[2] His play improved while with Newcastle, to the extent that he was described as "a goal-getter much above the average", but he never played first-team football for that club, and moved on to Fulham of the Southern League in October 1904.[3]
He earned himself a good reputation as a centre forward, but refused to re-sign for Fulham at the end of the season and was reported likely to resume his career back in Scotland with Aberdeen.[4] No such move took place, and by January 1906 Fraser was back at Fulham.[5] helping them win the 1906–07 Southern League title,[6] After the club's election to the Football League in 1907, he scored five goals from ten Second Division appearances,[1] and replaced the injured Fred Threlfall in the team that beat Manchester United 2–1 to reach the semi-finals of that season's FA Cup.[7] [8]
In April 1908, Fraser joined Bradford Park Avenue of the Southern League as a makeweight in the transfer of Harry Brown in the other direction.[8] Bradford were elected to the Football League for 1908–09, and Fraser scored six goals from seventeen League appearances.[1] He was transfer-listed at the end of the season, and signed for North-Eastern League club Darlington in late September 1909.[9] [10] He was the club's top scorer in each of his first two seasons,[11] and in February 1912, he returned to the Football League with First Division club Middlesbrough.[12]
He made his first appearance at that level on 5 April, deputising for the rested George Elliott at inside right in a 1–0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion.[13] [14] He injured a knee on the opening day of the 1912–13 season,[15] [16] and was not retained for the next;[17] he had played five league matches without scoring. His last club was Newcastle City of the North-Eastern League.[1] [18]