Boro in mourning for goal star Alex; FOOTBALL.GLOWING tributes have been paid to Alex McCrae Alex McCrae (born 2 January 1920, Stoneburn, Scotland) was an English football player who played for Hearts, Charlton Athletic, Middlesbrough and Falkirk during his career. Playing career McCrae began his career at Hearts in 1941. , the last man to score 20 league goals for the Boro in a top flight season. The forward, from Stoneyburn in Scotland, who scored 49 goals in 130 appearances for Boro between 1948 and 1953, has died aged 89. Signed from Charlton for pounds 10,000, the inside-left was the club's 16-goal joint top scorer in his second season on Teesside and topped the scoring charts in 1950-51 after switching to centre-forward. That season, he scored three hat-tricks before Christmas, scoring his 20th league goal in just 24 games in a 3-3 draw against Burnley on December 30. Genuine title contenders until then, Boro lost top slot that day and never regained it, finishing sixth as McCrae missed most of the second half of the season through injury. He joined Falkirk in 1953 and later had managerial spells with Stirling, Falkirk and Irish side Ballymena United. One of his young stars at Ballymena was teenage goalkeeper Jim Platt James ("Jim") Archibald Platt (born January 26, 1952 in Ballymoney) is a former goalkeeper who played for Northern Ireland. During his career, 'Jim' won 23 caps for Northern Ireland, an amount largely restricted due to the presence of Pat Jennings in the side. , who he recommended to Boro. Platt went on to play almost 500 games for the club. Rolando Ugolini Rolando Ugolini (born June 4 1924 in Lucca, Italy) is a former footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for a number of British clubs. Ugolini moved to Scotland at the age of three and began his career with Celtic, before spending nine years with Middlesbrough. , Boro's goalkeeper in the same side that McCrae starred in, said: "First of all, Alex was a gentleman. He never fouled anyone and, if he was fouled, he wouldn't argue about it. "He was a wonderful footballer, a great dribbler and he knew the game inside out." Team-mate Arthur Fitzsimons added: "Alex's left foot was like a magnet, he wouldn't let the ball go. I learned a lot from him. He wasn't that quick but, by God, he had a great talent. "He was a fantastic player and very consistent too. He always encouraged others around him, there was no shouting and bawling. He was a great lad." Ex-Boro and England centre-forward Alan Peacock Alan Peacock (born 29 October 1937, Middlesbrough) is a former English footballer. He spent the majority of his career at Middlesbrough, also playing for Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle. was coming through the ranks at Ayresome Park when McCrae was a first team star. He said: "I idolised Alex as a kid. He was an inside-forward with a lot of flair who could score goals. "I used to watch him and go home thinking I wanted to be like him. "He was a lovely guy, quiet and unassuming, but what a good ball player he was. Oh, he could play! He was a very creative player with silky movements, much like Bill Harris Bill Harris can refer to several people. In arts:
Platt, who now runs Middlesbrough Former Players Association with Peacock and Gordon Jones, added: "I owe Alex a lot as he started off a brilliant career for me by helping set up my move to Middlesbrough. "He was Ballymena manager when we went to the Irish cup The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State final. He was a quiet guy and a gentleman. Through his connection with Middlesbrough, he got Harold Shepherdson over to see me play in the semi-final. Boro signed me but allowed me to stay on and play in the final." Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said: "All at the club are sad to hear of Alex McCrae's passing. Our thoughts are with his family and friends." Flags at the Riverside have flown at half-mast since news reached the club. |
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