Hair Sandy Image 1 Partick Thistle 1928

Description

Alex “Sandy” Hair was born on 9th March 1902 in Glasgow. His career began with Strathclyde, before he moved to Partick in 1923. A heavy scorer wherever he played, Alex tended to change clubs quickly. Like many players in the depressed twenties, he often moved for the opportunity of a better weekly wage. As a result he played for Partick (three periods), Queen of the South and Third Lanark over a five year period.

His goalscoring exploits finally attracted interest from South of the border, and he signed for Preston in October 1928. The Lancashire Post guide for 1929 described Hair as follows:- “ALEX HAIR, 5ft 6ins, 10st 7lb. Well endowed with pluck for his size, but discovered before being at Deepdale many weeks that slightness of build is not only a handicap but a trial to a centre-forward in the Second Division. Tended to spend a lot of time and energy fruitlessly chasing the ball.

Nevertheless he scored 19 goals in 31 games between arrival last October and the end of the season. Would have done better still had his right foot been as good as his left. A good header and bustler whose spirit against bigger fellows was admirable. In the season’s last game he was tried at outside left and did well.”

Sadly Football League success was not to last. In 1929/30 Alex managed another 13 matches, scoring three goals, before taking his undoubted talents into non-league football with Irish club Shelbourne and thereafter into non league football around the West Midlands.