Smith Alex Image 7 Glasgow Rangers 1909

Description

Darvel born outside left Alex Smith had an incredible career over some 21 years at Glasgow Rangers, having joined them from junior football where he had been playing for Darvel in April 1894. He was the original wing king in the Light Blue, electrifying Rangers fans for all of 21 years with his terrific ability and a fabulous return of goals with a ratio of nearly one in every three games. His reputation was that of an unselfish player who loved to create for others and his low, swerving crosses were said to be a nightmare for opposing goalkeepers and he was blessed with great stamina, setting up countless goals for “RC” Robert Hamilton to typically finish.

He was part of their Scottish Cup winning teams of 1897 and 1898, also 1903, and played in their run of 4 consecutive Scottish Championships from 1899 to 1902 and their triple in 1911, 1912 and 1913. By his retirement in 1915 he had accumulated significant numbers of medals in both competitions as well as several others e.g. The Glasgow Cup, and also 14 representative appearances, scoring twice, for The Scottish League, winning his first League cap in January 1897 when he played against The Irish League in Belfast and playing his last match in March 1913. Furthermore he had amassed 20 full Scotland caps over a 13 year period between his debut against England at Celtic Park in April 1898 and his final appearance, also against The Auld Enemy at Goodison Park in April 1911, scoring 3 times for his country. By the time of his last appearance for Rangers in October 1914 he had scored 152 goals in 481 appearances. An Ibrox legend.

NB this image was actually published in 1912 albeit it’s the same as that published 3 years earlier.