Rangers History A tribute to Alec Smith, the first of the great Rangers wingers

dh1963

Well-Known Member
Part 1
There will never be a definitive answer on who has been the greatest player to wear The Rangers colours, it is an impossible task to choose just one. But whenever the debate arises, one name that seems to rarely get mentioned as part of the discussion is that of the first superstar winger to wear the colours, the great Alec Smith.

Rangers have been blessed over the years to have had some truly outstanding wingers. The first in that illustrious long line was born in Darvel, Ayrshire on November 7th 1875. As a teenager, he starred for his local junior side, and was spotted by another son of the town, Rangers full back Nicol Smith, who was no relation. Nicol saw a young player of speed, agility, instant ball control, and an eye for a pass, and he mentioned this to the club, recommending they offer Alec a trial. In early 1894, Rangers had just won the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history, and the club was celebrating the achievement as well as casting an eye out for potential talent to join the following season. A match was organised against FA Cup holders Notts County, and Rangers fielded Smith as a trialist to see if the recommendation of his better known Darvel namesake was worth pursuing.

Alec Smith was sensational. Undaunted by the exalted company he was suddenly playing in, he terrorised the County defence in a 3-1 victory. Rangers immediately offered him a contract, and at the age of just 18 Alec Smith became a Rangers player. Incredibly, he would still be wearing the Royal Blue over 20 years later, during the early days of World War One.

Rangers already had a highly effective goalscoring outside left in John Barker, the first man ever to score a hat trick for Rangers in a competitive Old Firm match. He started season 1894/95 still the man in possession of the jersey, but Smith was in brilliant form for the reserve team, and within the club it was accepted as a matter of time before he was given his chance in the first team, and on October 27th 1894 the 18 year old made his debut in a Glasgow Cup semi final against Partick Thistle. His league bow came a few days later, and he made it a day to remember by scoring twice in an emphatic 5-1 home win over Leith Athletic. On November 18th, he took to the field against Celtic for the first time in the Glasgow Cup Final, but had to settle for a second prize in a 2-0 loss.

Smith wasn’t yet an automatic choice, but in that first season he played 11 times, scoring 3 goals. As well as being a runner-up in the Glasgow Cup, he also played in a losing Charity Cup final to Celtic. He ended the season as the first choice left winger in a Rangers team who finished 3rd in the league behind winners Hearts, and in season 1895/96 he nailed the place down by having a brilliant season.

Rangers didn’t win any trophies in the season, although they improved their league placing to 2nd behind Celtic, but the young Ayrshire winger had did all he could to land a prize. He started in 17 of the 18 league games, scoring a hugely impressive 13 times. This included a 4 goal haul against St Mirren, and strikes home and away against Celtic. Sadly, both those derby matches ended in heavy defeats. He scored in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibs, he scored in the Glasgow Cup defeat to Queens Park, the only competition he failed to score was the Charity Cup, which saw another big defeat to Celtic. Although he was a great creator for others, Smith was also proving to be a goalscoring matchwinner in his own right, his 22 goals in all competitions in 1895/96 remained his highest scoring season for the rest of his career.

1896/97 saw Smith claim his first winners medals at the club, and they would prove to be the first of many. Rangers struggled again for the consistency to mount a serious league title challenge, Smith started 17 league games and scored 5 times in another campaign that ended in 3rd place. But Rangers kept their best for the cup competitions, and completed a memorable clean sweep for the first time. Smith scored in the semi final Glasgow Cup thumping of Linthouse, then lined up in a familiar final against Celtic. After a 1-1 draw, he was part of the team who triumphed 2-1 in the replay on 21st November 1896 thanks to a double by centre forward Peter Turnbull. Partick, Hibs and Dundee were all beaten in the Scottish Cup, setting up a semi final tie with Morton. Smith scored one the 7 goals Rangers scored in a 7-2 rout, and it was old foes Dumbarton who were waiting in the final. On March 20th, Smith ran riot in the second half, scoring once in a 5-1 demolition that featured a 4 goal blitz in just 16 minutes. Then in the end of season Charity Cup, Smith again scored in an emphatic 4-1 semi final thumping of Celtic, and notched another in a 6-1 final victory over Third Lanark. Three winners medals in the one season, scoring in all 3 semi finals and 2 finals.

After their cup successes, Rangers started 1897/98 with high hopes they could mount a more successful league challenge, especially after signing the much heralded RC Hamilton. But despite only 2 losses in the league all season, they finished second behind a Celtic team who lost none at all. Smith hit 12 goals in 17 league games, including a fine hat-trick against Clyde. He also helped defeat Celtic in the Glasgow Cup semi final, being the tormentor in chief of the their defence while Hamilton grabbed a double. Smith then scored one of the goals in the 4-0 win over Queens Park in the final, as Rangers retained their trophy. The Scottish Cup was also retained, Smith scoring 6 times in the competition, including a vital strike in a 1-1 semi final draw with Third Lanark and the crucial opening goal in the final against Kilmarnock, which was won 2-0. Smith, incredibly, was one of 7 Ayrshire players in the Rangers team that day. After defeating Celtic in the Charity Cup semi final, Rangers looked odds on to win all 3 cups again, but Smith was shocked in the final when Third Lanark edged it by 1-0.

This was a Rangers team who hadn’t been Scottish Champions since 1891, but whose cup exploits had many neutrals calling the best team in the country. As well as Smith, the side was sprinkled with international class footballers such as John McPherson, Neilly Gibson, Jock Drummond as well as Nicol Smith and RC Hamilton. And Alec Smith himself became an international player on April 2nd 1898, when he lined up at Parkhead against England alongside club teammates Drummond, Gibson and Jimmy Millar in a 3-1 defeat. Alec Smith would go on to represent Scotland 20 times, a huge number of caps back in the days when there were often just 3 international matches per year. He played for Scotland in 3 different decades, his last appearance coming in April 1911, and he scored 3 times for his country. Probably his finest match for his country was in 1900, when he was superb in a 4-1 thrashing of England. At the time, when he won his 20th cap this was a record for any Scottish player. As well as those 20 full caps, he also played 14 times for the Scottish League.

Season 1898/99 was when Rangers finally brought back the title to Ibrox, and they did it in historic style. Played 18, won 18 was the incredible record, and Alec Smith played a huge role in it as one of 5 players who were ever present. He again scored 12 times in the league, his incredible consistency of performance being what helped make him such a special player. As well as weighing in with plenty goals for a winger, he was also the man whose ability to beat an opponent and to find his teammates with a killer pass resulted in him being the main creative force for the other forwards. He had now built an almost telepathic understanding with Hamilton, the captain and centre forward banging in 21 goals in those 18 games. Smith hit 4 goals in a record 10-0 win over Hibs to clinch the title on Christmas Eve, and he scored one of the goals against Clyde on the final weekend of the season to clinch the history making 100% record. With the focus all on the league season, Rangers failed to win any of the cup competitions that season, but the league record will mean Alec Smith and his 1898/99 teammates are Rangers immortals.

Rangers had last lost a league game on 12th February 1898, and amazingly this would be their last league defeat of the 1800s. Smith started in 16 of the 18 league games in season 1899/1900, and it would be match number 15 before they tasted defeat, a 3-2 loss at Parkhead on January 1st 1900, with Alec Smith scoring the first Rangers goal and becoming the first club goalscorer of the 20th century. Overall he hit 13 goals in the league to maintain his excellent goals return. These included a hat trick against Dundee, double against Clyde and Hibs, as well as an Ibrox Old Firm goal to go with his New Year strike at Parkhead. Celtic ended hopes of adding the Scottish Cup, but Smith got his revenge in the other 2 cup competitions, playing in victories over them in both the Glasgow and Charity Cup finals. The Charity final on May 12th saw the season rounded off in particular style, with a 5-1 battering of their deadly rivals.
 
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Part 2

Smith enjoyed 3 in a row title success in 1900/01. He again hit double figures in goals, with 10 in all competitions, including one in a thrilling 3-3 Glasgow Cup semi final against Celtic. He picked up yet another winners medal in that competition to go along with that 3rd league badge but the Scottish Cup was again a disappointment with a first round loss at Parkhead.

Still only 25 years old, Smith was a fixture for club and country and now widely regarded as one of the finest players in Scotland. He enjoyed another ever present league season in 1901/02 when Rangers made it 4 successive championships, scoring in the last day win over Dundee that clinched the title. He also won another Glasgow Cup, but in strange circumstances when Celtic refused to play in a replayed final after being ordered to play the match at Ibrox after the original drawn match was also played there. But the entire season at the club was overshadowed by the awful events of April 5th 1902 when a stand collapse at Ibrox during a Scotland v England international caused 25 fatalities. Alec Smith played in that fateful match, and also in the rearranged fixture played at Villa Park the following month. Other Rangers players on the field in the disaster match were Nicol Smith, Jock Drummond and Jacky Robertson.

Rangers immediately decided that their priority had to be raising funds to both rebuild the stadium and to compensate the families of the victims. Numerous fund raising matches were played, with the Charity Cup being expanded to allow non-Glasgow clubs to enter thus increasing the number of matches. Hibs were to win the cup, beating Celtic in the final. Several players were sold, but Smith remained very much a Ranger, and like all his colleagues he was determined to win silverware in season 1902/3 as a memorial to those who had been killed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rangers lost 3 of their first 5 league games, and although regaining their form and focus later in the campaign, the league was lost to Hibs. Smith played in all 22 league games, his 6 goals including the Rangers goal in a 1-1 draw at Parkhead. Neither the Glasgow or Charity Cups saw a Rangers challenge with first round exits, but it was the Scottish Cup that everyone at the club most wanted. Smith scored in an outstanding quarter final win over Celtic away from home, opening the scoring in only 4 minutes in a match Rangers scored 3 times in the first half hour. The opponents in the final were to be Hearts, and it took 3 matches before a winner emerged. Smith was one of the heroes in the 2-0 replay victory, not scoring but playing in a more defensive role for much of the match after Rangers went down to 10 men after losing Jock Drummond to injury. Little did he know at the time, but this would be Alec Smith’s third and last winners medal in the Scottish Cup, as the club then endured a competition jinx that was to last quarter of a century before the trophy was finally reclaimed in 1928.

The next 7 seasons were the most barren spell of Smith’s Rangers career, as the dominant team of the time broke up and manager Wilton searched for the right replacements. The constant over those 7 seasons, though, was the magnificent Alec Smith. He started 32 games in 1903/04, although only scoring 4 times. Rangers ended the season 4th, but came so close to retaining the Scottish Cup after leading Celtic 2-0 in the final. The match swung the other way and ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 reverse, but Smith did gain some revenge a few weeks later when he was outstanding in a 5-2 hammering of the same opponents at Hampden.

Season 1904/05 saw Alec Smith play more games than in any other season in his long Ibrox career, 42 times. A much improved goal tally of 11 wasn’t enough to bring any trophies to the club. The league was particularly painful, Smith playing in the losing Championship Playoff against Celtic after both teams finished on the same points. If either goal difference or goal average had existed back then, Smith would have won a 5th title. To add to the pain, he scored in the Scottish Cup Final replay against Third Lanark, but his 81st minute goal made little difference to a match that was lost by 3-1.

By 1905/06, Rangers were virtually unrecognisable from the team who had won 4 successive titles. Smith now shared the forward line with the likes of Archie Kyle, Alex Speirs and RS McColl alongside the evergreen RC Hamilton, finishing the season a distant 4th behind Celtic. Smith scored 7 times in 37 starts, the only trophy he won was the Charity Cup when he scored in the 5-3 semi final win at Parkhead and played in the final victory over Queens Park.

The Charity Cup was his only success again the following season, Smith starting in a 1-0 final win over Celtic with a goal by ex Celtic player and future Rangers director Bob Campbell. He scored a total of 8 goals over the season in 32 starts, with the only other real highlight being an unexpected but deserved New Year win in the Old Firm derby. Celtic easily retained their title and also knocked Rangers out the Scottish Cup.

Things somewhat repeated in 1907/08, Smith again starting 32 games, again finishing behind Celtic in the title race, and again suffering a Scottish Cup defeat to them. He played in the painful 1-0 loss to them at Ibrox on April 25th 1908 that meant Celtic won the title, and ended the season with no more medals. The following season saw Alec Smith rack up another 40 first team appearances, and adding 9 more goals to his club tally. Celtic were clear champions again, with Rangers losing 8 league games over the season. But they did reach the Scottish Cup Final, and Smith played in both drawn matches before the cup was withheld after serious rioting by both sets of supporters when no extra time was played after the second draw. He did get his hands on some silverware, though, enjoying a fine game in a 4-2 defeat of Celtic in the Charity Cup final in mid May.

By season 1909/10 starting, Smith was now well in his 30s but as indispensable as ever. Manager Wilton had decided to look south for new players, and there was much excitement at the purchase of English international Billy Hogg, English goalkeeper Herbert Lock and free scoring Scottish centre forward Willie Reid, signed from Portsmouth. Along with ex Celtic forward Alec Bennett, signed the previous year, Rangers now had what appeared to be a fearsome forward line. But the season was to be a big disappointment, both for Rangers and for Smith. He suffered some niggling injuries, restricting him to 25 appearances, and his goal tally of 2 was his lowest of his Rangers career. He was now, however, a different player to the explosive winger of his younger days, now a more measured and thoughtful footballer who relied more on craft than on pace. Rangers ended the season 3rd and trophyless, losing to Bill Struth’s Clyde team in the Scottish Cup, and losing to Celtic in a Glasgow Cup final that Smith missed through injury.

But season 1910/11 would see Alec Smith finally be a champion again. Despite his advancing years, he remained the first choice outside left at the club, starting 29 times in the league. Although only scoring 4 league goals, these included important strikes in wins over Hibs and Third Lanark in the run-in as Rangers took the title by 4 points. Smith may not have been the goalscorer he once was, but he created plenty for the incredible Reid, who hit a scarcely believable 38 league goals in 33 games, and ended the season with 48 goals in all competitions. Apart from an unexpected defeat at Dundee in the Scottish Cup, Rangers dominated the season. Smith opened the scoring in the Glasgow Cup Final where Celtic were beaten 3-1, and he also started in the Charity Cup final win over them, Reid scoring both in a 2-1 success.
 
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Part 3

This was to be the second period of league domination of Smith’s long Rangers career, as the title was retained in 1911/12. Smith only scored twice in 34 games, but he had a hand in many of the 39 plundered by the prolific Reid. Rangers could afford to lose 3 of the last 5 league matches and still cruise to the title, and Smith added another Glasgow Cup badge to his bulging personal trophy cabinet when he played in a final win over Partick. The annual Scottish Cup heartbreak was again provided by Clyde, who also ended the Rangers interest in the Charity Cup.

Alec Smith was by the summer of 1912 heading towards his 37th birthday. He was determined to continue playing for as long as he could, and had no interest in wearing the colours of any other team. So he started his 19th season as a Rangers player and showed he was still a force to be reckoned with by hitting the net 4 times in his first 7 starts of season 1912/13. These included one in an amazing Glasgow Cup final against Celtic on 12th October 1912. Rangers were a goal down at half time, and lost defender John Robertson to a serious injury meaning they played most of the second half with 10 men. Rather than accepting defeat, the team were inspired by their veteran winger, and Smith created an equaliser with a perfect cross for Hogg, then he scored one himself when knocking in a rebound after his initial shot was parried by the Celtic goalkeeper. The 10 men clinched a memorable win with a 3rd goal by Bennett, and it was Alec Smith named best player on the field as he won yet another medal. He ended up playing 32 times that season, scoring 7 goals, as the title was won for a 3rd straight year. He was awarded a benefit match by the club, and such was his popularity that 35,000 paid to see him play for Rangers against an International Select team, who won the game 5-1.

Time was now catching up with Smith, and he missed the start of season 1913/14 through injury then the great form of his replacement on the left wing, Jimmy Paterson. He did come back into the team in the second half of the season, but by then the title looked a forlorn hope as Rangers found themselves too far behind a very consistent Celtic team. He played in 11 league games after New Year 1914, and scored a creditable 5 times including a last day double in a 3-2 win over Hearts. He then started season 1914/15 as first choice again, but after 8 appearances, a combination of injuries, age and the excellence of Paterson meant that Alec Smith played his last game for Rangers on October 24th 1914 at Ibrox in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Raith Rovers. He was almost 39 years old, and it had been 20 years since his debut for the club.

Smith retired from the game in early 1915. He was never booked or sent off in 624 first team games for Rangers, the only senior club he ever played for. Those 624 games put him in the top 5 all-time Rangers record appearances, and his 200 goals put him in the top 10. 21 seasons a Ranger, he was described in the publication “The Scottish Referee” in 1913 as being a player of “magnificence, style and beauty” and a man of “great character”.

After his playing career ended, he became a partner in a lace making business in his home town of Darvel. He died on November 12th 1954, just a few days after his 79th birthday.

A Ranger for 21 seasons, and a one club man.

624 appearances and 200 goals.

At the time, Scotland’s record cap holder.

7 league titles, including an ever present in the only ever 100% league season.

3 Scottish Cups, and multiple medals in the Glasgow and Charity Cups.

League winner, Scotland international, and Old Firm goalscorer in 3 different decades.

A genuine footballing superstar of his era.

Alec Smith may or may not have been our greatest ever winger. But his place in our Hall of Fame is richly deserved, and his name should always be mentioned alongside the very best players in our unparalleled history.

Alexander Smith, Rangers royalty.
 
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Part 3

This was to be the second period of league domination of Smith’s long Rangers career, as the title was retained in 1911/12. Smith only scored twice in 34 games, but he had a hand in many of the 39 plundered by the prolific Reid. Rangers could afford to lose 3 of the last 5 league matches and still cruise to the title, and Smith added another Glasgow Cup badge to his bulging personal trophy cabinet when he played in a final win over Partick. The annual Scottish Cup heartbreak was again provided by Clyde, who also ended the Rangers interest in the Charity Cup.

Alec Smith was by the summer of 1912 heading towards his 36th birthday. He was determined to continue playing for as long as he could, and had no interest in wearing the colours of any other team. So he started his 19th season as a Rangers player and showed he was still a force to be reckoned with by hitting the net 4 times in his first 7 starts of season 1912/13. These included one in an amazing Glasgow Cup final against Celtic on 12th October 1912. Rangers were a goal down at half time, and lost defender John Robertson to a serious injury meaning they played most of the second half with 10 men. Rather than accepting defeat, the team were inspired by their veteran winger, and Smith created an equaliser with a perfect cross for Hogg, then he scored one himself when knocking in a rebound after his initial shot was parried by the Celtic goalkeeper. The 10 men clinched a memorable win with a 3rd goal by Bennett, and it was Alec Smith named best player on the field as he won yet another medal. He ended up playing 32 times that season, scoring 7 goals, as the title was won for a 3rd straight year. He was awarded a benefit match by the club, and such was his popularity that 35,000 paid to see him play for Rangers against an International Select team, who won the game 5-1.

Time was now catching up with Smith, and he missed the start of season 1913/14 through injury then the great form of his replacement on the left wing, Jimmy Paterson. He did come back into the team in the second half of the season, but by then the title looked a forlorn hope as Rangers found themselves too far behind a very consistent Celtic team. He played in 11 league games after New Year 1914, and scored a creditable 5 times including a last day double in a 3-2 win over Hearts. He then started season 1914/15 as first choice again, but after 8 appearances, a combination of injuries, age and the excellence of Paterson meant that Alec Smith played his last game for Rangers on October 24th 1914 at Ibrox in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Raith Rovers. He was almost 38 years old, and it had been 20 years since his debut for the club.

Smith retired from the game in early 1915. He was never booked or sent off in 624 first team games for Rangers, the only senior club he ever played for. Those 624 games put him in the top 5 all-time Rangers record appearances, and his 200 goals put him in the top 10. 21 seasons a Ranger, he was described in the publication “The Scottish Referee” in 1913 as being a player of “magnificence, style and beauty” and a man of “great character”.

After his playing career ended, he became a partner in a lace making business in his home town of Darvel. He died on November 12th 1954, just a few days after his 78th birthday.

A Ranger for 21 seasons, and a one club man.

624 appearances and 200 goals.

At the time, Scotland’s record cap holder.

7 league titles, including an ever present in the only ever 100% league season.

3 Scottish Cups, and multiple medals in the Glasgow and Charity Cups.

League winner, Scotland international, and Old Firm goalscorer in 3 different decades.

A genuine footballing superstar of his era.

Alec Smith may or may not have been our greatest ever winger. But his place in our Hall of Fame is richly deserved, and his name should always be mentioned alongside the very best players in our unparalleled history.

Alexander Smith, Rangers royalty.


Glasgow Herald of 13th November 1954 states he is buried at Darvel New Cemetery @The Moonlighter
 
I should just keep this statement as a copy and paste : another great article @dh1963.

Alec Smith is another example of how it is impossible to name the best Rangers eleven, the best outside left etc. Amazing to think he played for us until he was nearly 40. This also seemed to be a relatively common occurrence with us and in particular in the Bill Struth sides of the late 20’s and 30’s.

A wonderful tribute to a Rangers great.
 
I should just keep this statement as a copy and paste : another great article @dh1963.

Alec Smith is another example of how it is impossible to name the best Rangers eleven, the best outside left etc. Amazing to think he played for us until he was nearly 40. This also seemed to be a relatively common occurrence with us and in particular in the Bill Struth sides of the late 20’s and 30’s.

A wonderful tribute to a Rangers great.
One other probable record Alec Smith will hold, because of when he played and the amazing length of Rangers career he had, is the number of competitive games he played against Celtic. In the late 1800s and the very start of the 1900s, as well as the Glasgow and Charity Cups there were also minor competitions like the Glasgow League and the Inter City League.
This meant that Smith played an unbelievable 87 times in competitive games against Celtic.

I haven't trawled through the records of all our other longest serving players, but I would be surprised if we have anyone who played in more of those games.

He scored 14 times against them.
 
Part 3

This was to be the second period of league domination of Smith’s long Rangers career, as the title was retained in 1911/12. Smith only scored twice in 34 games, but he had a hand in many of the 39 plundered by the prolific Reid. Rangers could afford to lose 3 of the last 5 league matches and still cruise to the title, and Smith added another Glasgow Cup badge to his bulging personal trophy cabinet when he played in a final win over Partick. The annual Scottish Cup heartbreak was again provided by Clyde, who also ended the Rangers interest in the Charity Cup.

Alec Smith was by the summer of 1912 heading towards his 37th birthday. He was determined to continue playing for as long as he could, and had no interest in wearing the colours of any other team. So he started his 19th season as a Rangers player and showed he was still a force to be reckoned with by hitting the net 4 times in his first 7 starts of season 1912/13. These included one in an amazing Glasgow Cup final against Celtic on 12th October 1912. Rangers were a goal down at half time, and lost defender John Robertson to a serious injury meaning they played most of the second half with 10 men. Rather than accepting defeat, the team were inspired by their veteran winger, and Smith created an equaliser with a perfect cross for Hogg, then he scored one himself when knocking in a rebound after his initial shot was parried by the Celtic goalkeeper. The 10 men clinched a memorable win with a 3rd goal by Bennett, and it was Alec Smith named best player on the field as he won yet another medal. He ended up playing 32 times that season, scoring 7 goals, as the title was won for a 3rd straight year. He was awarded a benefit match by the club, and such was his popularity that 35,000 paid to see him play for Rangers against an International Select team, who won the game 5-1.

Time was now catching up with Smith, and he missed the start of season 1913/14 through injury then the great form of his replacement on the left wing, Jimmy Paterson. He did come back into the team in the second half of the season, but by then the title looked a forlorn hope as Rangers found themselves too far behind a very consistent Celtic team. He played in 11 league games after New Year 1914, and scored a creditable 5 times including a last day double in a 3-2 win over Hearts. He then started season 1914/15 as first choice again, but after 8 appearances, a combination of injuries, age and the excellence of Paterson meant that Alec Smith played his last game for Rangers on October 24th 1914 at Ibrox in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Raith Rovers. He was almost 39 years old, and it had been 20 years since his debut for the club.

Smith retired from the game in early 1915. He was never booked or sent off in 624 first team games for Rangers, the only senior club he ever played for. Those 624 games put him in the top 5 all-time Rangers record appearances, and his 200 goals put him in the top 10. 21 seasons a Ranger, he was described in the publication “The Scottish Referee” in 1913 as being a player of “magnificence, style and beauty” and a man of “great character”.

After his playing career ended, he became a partner in a lace making business in his home town of Darvel. He died on November 12th 1954, just a few days after his 79th birthday.

A Ranger for 21 seasons, and a one club man.

624 appearances and 200 goals.

At the time, Scotland’s record cap holder.

7 league titles, including an ever present in the only ever 100% league season.

3 Scottish Cups, and multiple medals in the Glasgow and Charity Cups.

League winner, Scotland international, and Old Firm goalscorer in 3 different decades.

A genuine footballing superstar of his era.

Alec Smith may or may not have been our greatest ever winger. But his place in our Hall of Fame is richly deserved, and his name should always be mentioned alongside the very best players in our unparalleled history.

Alexander Smith, Rangers royalty.
Superb.

Not long after I joined FF on the internet I did a multi pager on our wingers. Alec Smith definetely got a mention but not as in depth as your article.

I've not been in the bear pit yet, but I do hope to see a helluva lot of replies.

For the record bud, I thought my reply was part of our Private Messages. I didn't think it would be on the actual thread, so I don't know what's happened here.

Still a wonderful read.
 
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One other probable record Alec Smith will hold, because of when he played and the amazing length of Rangers career he had, is the number of competitive games he played against Celtic. In the late 1800s and the very start of the 1900s, as well as the Glasgow and Charity Cups there were also minor competitions like the Glasgow League and the Inter City League.
This meant that Smith played an unbelievable 87 times in competitive games against Celtic.

I haven't trawled through the records of all our other longest serving players, but I would be surprised if we have anyone who played in more of those games.

He scored 14 times against them.
Probably the closest to that number of games against Celtic would be Dougie Gray although maybe the games played during the Second World War would be termed as unofficial.
 
Great read,
when getting to the end and his passing, I immediately thought of his resting place, and lo and behold, moonlighter did the business.
another excellent piece of history dh1963.
 
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