Alex McSpadyen explained

Alex McSpadyen
Fullname:Alexander McCluckie McSpadyen
Position:Outside right
Birth Date:19 December 1914
Birth Place:Holytown, Scotland
Death Place:Bellshill, Scotland
Youthyears1:1933
Youthclubs1:Chapelhall Juveniles
Youthyears2:1934
Youthclubs2:Newarthill Hearts
Youthyears3:1934–1935
Youthclubs3:Holytown United
Years1:1935–1948
Clubs1:Partick Thistle
Caps1:123
Goals1:12
Years3:1948–1949
Clubs3:Portadown
Years4:
Nationalyears1:1938–1941
Nationalteam1:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:1938–1939
Nationalteam2:Scotland
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1940
Nationalteam3:Scotland (wartime)
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0

Alexander McCluckie McSpadyen (19 December 1914 – 1978) was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside right, mainly for Partick Thistle as well as for Aberdeen as a guest player during World War II[1] and Portadown after the conflict ended.[2]

Having been brought in to the Partick squad as an inexperienced teenager to potentially replace the long-serving Davie Ness,[3] McSpadyen won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup at the end of his first season with the Jags[4] quickly became a first-team regular and gained international recognition[5] before his career progress was halted by the outbreak of war, which occurred when he was aged 24 and appeared to be coming to the peak of his abilities. He joined the Army and appeared for their select team in charity matches,[6] while also finding time to play for Partick Thistle in wartime competitions when possible. This brought his total number of appearances for the club to 297 with 33 goals,[7] although his official SFL and Scottish Cup totals were less than half of that (130/13).[5] After playing for Portadown, he returned to Holytown United as trainer until the club folded a year later.[8]

McSpadyen represented Scotland twice,[9] also playing in one unofficial wartime match,[10] and making three appearances for the Scottish Football League XI,[11] all between 1938 and 1941.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.afcheritage.org/Team/CurrentSquad/player_show.cfm?player_id=932 Alex McSpadyen
  2. Web site: Alex McSpadyen. Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database . 9 September 2012.
  3. http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/photo/14265345/1935+-+Alex+McSpadyen+Article Rapid Rise
  4. http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/1934-35+Glasgow+Charity+Cup Queen's in too big a hurry
  5. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  6. http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/Player+Representative+Honours Player Representative Honours
  7. http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/Players+Mac+%2F+Mc Players Mac / Mc
  8. 'The Men Who Made Scotland: The Definitive Who's Who of Scottish Football Internationalists 1872-1939' by Andrew Mitchell, p.144 (published 2021)
  9. Web site: [Scotland player] Alex McSpadyen ]. London Hearts Supporters Club . 9 September 2012.
  10. https://www.11v11.com/matches/irish-xi-v-scottish-xi-28-april-1940-269767/ Irish XI v Scottish XI, 28 April 1940
  11. http://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/alecmcspadyen.html (SFL player) Alec McSpadyen