Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson
Alex Anderson
1948-49
AppsGoals
League 180
FAI Cup 40
Shield 80
City Cup 90
Leinster Cup 10
Others 40
Totals 440
Date Of Birth: Jan 1922
Place Of Birth: Gorbals, Glasgow
Date Of Death: Oct 1984
Place Of Death: Southport, Ainsdale
Total Appearances: 44
Position: GK
Nationality: SCO
Debut: 22-Aug-48, City Cup, (A) v. Limerick

Bio:

Signed by Hearts in 1941, and only 5ft 9in., goalkeeper Alex Anderson played regular League football before being posted to Ceylon on Army duty with the Royal Marines. During the war he guested with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Unable to regain his place afterwards with Hearts, he had short spells with Stirling Albion and Third Lanark, before signing in February 1948 for Rochdale where he played in 4 League games by season end.

Dundalk’s failure to agree terms with Freddie Kiernan led to a call from new Scottish coach Ned Weir and in August 1948 Alex headed for Dundalk—he was the last of the ‘Scottish’ team to report for duty to Oriel Park.

In a memorable year, Alex was the only ever-present during a season that delivered the FAI Cup and Dublin City Cup, runner up in the Inter City Cup and pipped on goal average from runner up spot in the League Championship.

A brilliant season start earned Alex his selection to the League of Ireland team, along with four club mates, to play the Scottish League at Ibrox Park at the end of September, before an attendance of 57,600.

By this stage the Dublin City Cup was at Oriel Park, the first Trophy win in six years, thanks to an undefeated 9-match run, with a goal record of 27 for and 7 against.

Anderson’s confident goalkeeping continued to underpin the Dundalk defence through a successful FAI Cup campaign and finally to runner up spot in the Inter-City Cup.

The break-up of the successful squad at the end of the season, because of financial difficulties, left Alex clubless but a 2 month’s trial with Southport in November 1949 led to a contract and before the season had closed he had made his Southport League debut and where, in two seasons, he made 21 League appearances.

In the days when only green was fashionable for goalkeepers he became notable for wearing a yellow jersey—the one he had worn for the League of Ireland team.

When his English League career came to an end Alex continued to play in the Cheshire and Lancashire Leagues, having spells with Bangor City (1951/52 57 aps; 1952/53 46 aps), Runcorn (1953-54) and Lancaster City (1954-57). In his first Bangor season Peter Corr was player-manager.

He married a Bolton girl and settled in Southport working as a painter and decorator. After a long illness, he died at his home in Ainsdale when only 62.

What They Said About Him

Active … eager … shows intelligence in positioning and in advancing … and most importantly, in my view, he is daring … and his penchant for coming out of goal to narrow the marksman’s view of it stood him well. Everything he does is capable and workmanlike and he inspires confidence in his defenders. Dundalk Democrat

Honours:

2 Wins: FAI Cup and City Cup 1948-49.

1 Runner Up: Inter City Cup 1948-49.

1 League of Ireland Cap