The war hero with 152 games and 53 goals for Celtic, then 230 games and 68 goals for Rangers

dh1963

Well-Known Member
Born in Rutherglen in 1881, Alec Bennett was an outstanding junior footballer at the turn of the 20th century. A tricky and intelligent forward with an eye for goal, he won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1902 with Rutherglen Glencairn and represented his country at that level, before inevitably joining the senior professional ranks. In May 1903, he joined Celtic, where he quickly became an automatic starter in a team that was on the verge of dominating Scottish football.

Although mainly a centre forward with Glencairn, Celtic had the prolific Jimmy Quinn as their main marksman, so Bennett was utilised as a right winger, where his speed and creativity played a crucial role in a series of trophy wins. He scored a hat trick in his first final, the 1903 Charity Cup, and over the next 5 years Bennett won 4 league titles and 2 Scottish Cups. On April 25th 1908, he scored the only goal at Ibrox to clinch Celtic's 4th successive championship. A thorn in Rangers side, Alec Bennett was a hero to the Celtic support, earning him the nickname The Artful Dodger for his ability on the ball and his consistent goals and assists.

On 2nd May he starred in a Charity Cup win over Partick Thistle but was then mysteriously dropped for Celtic's next match in the competition, with the team line up announced on May 6th with "A.N. Other" on the right wing. The sensational news broke shortly afterwards that after 5 trophy laden years at Parkhead, 152 appearances and 53 goals, Bennett had crossed the Glasgow divide and signed for Rangers.

Celtic were however not prepared to let their right winger go easily.

On Friday May 29th 1908 at the first meeting of the new committee of the Scottish Football Association ...." a letter was afterwards read from Mr William Maley, secretary of the Celtic club in which he stated that he had been authorised by the board of directors to call the attention of the Association Committee to the signing on of Alexander Bennett by the Rangers club. The communication also stated ' This player was asked to re-sign on April 15th but refused to do so and would give no reason but eventually stated that he had received a very big offer.

On 20th April he told Messrs Kelley, Colgan and Dunbar, all members of the board, that he had received such a big offer that it would be ridiculous to ask such terms of Celtic. On April 30th he again refused to sign for us and told our secretary he had decided to sign for another club but could not do so for a fortnight. He signed for Rangers on May 9th according to the evening papers. My club desires your committee to enquire into this case and to find from the player what club he had arranged with or had an offer from on April 15th which offer or arrangement was of course illegal and on learning the name of the club we would seek such club to be punished for infringing rule 55 of your association' "

Mr Mowar (Albion Rovers) moved that the commission be appointed.
Mr Ward (Partick Thistle) seconded adding he knew Rangers desired an enquiry.
Mr Williamson opposed the proposal saying that if they opened up all such questions they would have their hands full.
Mr Robertson (Stenhousemuir) seconded.

By the casting vote of the Chairman it was agreed to grant a special commission to be composed and given full powers under article 7.

The commision sat in private eventually finding no substantiation to Celtic’s charge ‘... The transfer not being one between two clubs but Bennett signing as a free agent’.

Rangers had paid the £50 release fee for the player, who in turn was now earning a far more lucrative salary. But to Bennett's close friends, including some Celtic teammates, his move was no surprise. In private Bennett had been a vocal admirer of the Ibrox club, and he had long been uneasy at the Catholic ethos expected at Parkhead, even if players did not share that faith.

He made his Rangers debut in a 7-0 win over Port Glasgow in August 1908, when he also scored his first goal in Rangers blue. But already the press and public were looking forward to his first appearance against Celtic. It came on September 26th in the semi final of the Glasgow Cup at Parkhead. 42,000 watched on, as Bennett gave a man of the match performance. He scored both Rangers goals in a hard fought 2-2 draw. In his first season at Ibrox, Bennett didn't win the title, but he kept some of his best displays for the Celtic games. In addition to those 2 goals, he also scored against them in the first Scottish Cup Final draw (the trophy eventually withheld after a riot following a drawn replay) and a crucial strike in a 4-2 Rangers victory in the Charity Cup.

In the summer of 1909, Rangers brought in 3 players who alongside Alec Bennett would finally bring back the glory days to Ibrox. Goalkeeper Herbert Lock, winger Billy Hogg, and striker Willie Reid just came up short in 1909-10, but over the next 3 seasons Rangers became Scotland's dominant team. The signing of Hogg allowed Bennett to move infield, and as an inside forward The Artful Dodger was to create countless goals for the prolific Reid.

Bennett scored in a 3-1 Glasgow Cup final win over Celtic, and scored 6 goals in 23 league appearances as the title was won with 4 points to spare. He was a regular again the following season as Rangers repeated the League and Glasgow Cup double, and then again in 1912-13, the same double achieved with Bennett scoring in the final success over Celtic. He scored again in the 1913-14 final, this time a 3-0 win over Third Lanark, as Rangers claimed the cup for the 4th year running. There was to be no 4th successive league win, however, as Celtic's 2 league victories over Rangers proved to be the difference.

In August 1914, the world was plunged into war, and although Alec Bennett was to feature for Rangers periodically, he enlisted in the Cameronian Regiment and saw active duty in the trenches. His brother James, a successful footballer with Queens Park, also enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. In 1916 Sergeant James Bennett was seriously injured by a gunshot to his back, which he survived albeit ending his football career.

Alec Bennett also guested for Ayr United during the conflict, and was released by Rangers in 1918 after the end of the War, and played for Dumbarton and Albion Rovers before retiring at the age of 40. He had represented Scotland 11 times, 10 of these while a Rangers player, scoring twice.

In all, Alec Bennett played 230 times for Rangers, scoring 68 goals.

After retiring, he managed Third Lanark and Clydebank, before leaving football to become a sports writer for The Daily Record. He passed away on January 9th 1940, aged only 58.

A multiple league winner for Celtic and Rangers.
A rare direct move between the 2 clubs.
A war hero.

Alec Bennett certainly had a career, and a life, worth remembering.
 
Born in Rutherglen in 1881, Alec Bennett was an outstanding junior footballer at the turn of the 20th century. A tricky and intelligent forward with an eye for goal, he won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1902 with Rutherglen Glencairn and represented his country at that level, before inevitably joining the senior professional ranks. In May 1903, he joined Celtic, where he quickly became an automatic starter in a team that was on the verge of dominating Scottish football.

Although mainly a centre forward with Glencairn, Celtic had the prolific Jimmy Quinn as their main marksman, so Bennett was utilised as a right winger, where his speed and creativity played a crucial role in a series of trophy wins. He scored a hat trick in his first final, the 1903 Charity Cup, and over the next 5 years Bennett won 4 league titles and 2 Scottish Cups. On April 25th 1908, he scored the only goal at Ibrox to clinch Celtic's 4th successive championship. A thorn in Rangers side, Alec Bennett was a hero to the Celtic support, earning him the nickname The Artful Dodger for his ability on the ball and his consistent goals and assists.

On 2nd May he starred in a Charity Cup win over Partick Thistle but was then mysteriously dropped for Celtic's next match in the competition, with the team line up announced on May 6th with "A.N. Other" on the right wing. The sensational news broke shortly afterwards that after 5 trophy laden years at Parkhead, 152 appearances and 53 goals, Bennett had crossed the Glasgow divide and signed for Rangers.

Celtic were however not prepared to let their right winger go easily.

On Friday May 29th 1908 at the first meeting of the new committee of the Scottish Football Association ...." a letter was afterwards read from Mr William Maley, secretary of the Celtic club in which he stated that he had been authorised by the board of directors to call the attention of the Association Committee to the signing on of Alexander Bennett by the Rangers club. The communication also stated ' This player was asked to re-sign on April 15th but refused to do so and would give no reason but eventually stated that he had received a very big offer.

On 20th April he told Messrs Kelley, Colgan and Dunbar, all members of the board, that he had received such a big offer that it would be ridiculous to ask such terms of Celtic. On April 30th he again refused to sign for us and told our secretary he had decided to sign for another club but could not do so for a fortnight. He signed for Rangers on May 9th according to the evening papers. My club desires your committee to enquire into this case and to find from the player what club he had arranged with or had an offer from on April 15th which offer or arrangement was of course illegal and on learning the name of the club we would seek such club to be punished for infringing rule 55 of your association' "

Mr Mowar (Albion Rovers) moved that the commission be appointed.
Mr Ward (Partick Thistle) seconded adding he knew Rangers desired an enquiry.
Mr Williamson opposed the proposal saying that if they opened up all such questions they would have their hands full.
Mr Robertson (Stenhousemuir) seconded.

By the casting vote of the Chairman it was agreed to grant a special commission to be composed and given full powers under article 7.

The commision sat in private eventually finding no substantiation to Celtic’s charge ‘... The transfer not being one between two clubs but Bennett signing as a free agent’.

Rangers had paid the £50 release fee for the player, who in turn was now earning a far more lucrative salary. But to Bennett's close friends, including some Celtic teammates, his move was no surprise. In private Bennett had been a vocal admirer of the Ibrox club, and he had long been uneasy at the Catholic ethos expected at Parkhead, even if players did not share that faith.

He made his Rangers debut in a 7-0 win over Port Glasgow in August 1908, when he also scored his first goal in Rangers blue. But already the press and public were looking forward to his first appearance against Celtic. It came on September 26th in the semi final of the Glasgow Cup at Parkhead. 42,000 watched on, as Bennett gave a man of the match performance. He scored both Rangers goals in a hard fought 2-2 draw. In his first season at Ibrox, Bennett didn't win the title, but he kept some of his best displays for the Celtic games. In addition to those 2 goals, he also scored against them in the first Scottish Cup Final draw (the trophy eventually withheld after a riot following a drawn replay) and a crucial strike in a 4-2 Rangers victory in the Charity Cup.

In the summer of 1909, Rangers brought in 3 players who alongside Alec Bennett would finally bring back the glory days to Ibrox. Goalkeeper Herbert Lock, winger Billy Hogg, and striker Willie Reid just came up short in 1909-10, but over the next 3 seasons Rangers became Scotland's dominant team. The signing of Hogg allowed Bennett to move infield, and as an inside forward The Artful Dodger was to create countless goals for the prolific Reid.

Bennett scored in a 3-1 Glasgow Cup final win over Celtic, and scored 6 goals in 23 league appearances as the title was won with 4 points to spare. He was a regular again the following season as Rangers repeated the League and Glasgow Cup double, and then again in 1912-13, the same double achieved with Bennett scoring in the final success over Celtic. He scored again in the 1913-14 final, this time a 3-0 win over Third Lanark, as Rangers claimed the cup for the 4th year running. There was to be no 4th successive league win, however, as Celtic's 2 league victories over Rangers proved to be the difference.

In August 1914, the world was plunged into war, and although Alec Bennett was to feature for Rangers periodically, he enlisted in the Cameronian Regiment and saw active duty in the trenches. His brother James, a successful footballer with Queens Park, also enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. In 1916 Sergeant James Bennett was seriously injured by a gunshot to his back, which he survived albeit ending his football career.

Alec Bennett also guested for Ayr United during the conflict, and was released by Rangers in 1918 after the end of the War, and played for Dumbarton and Albion Rovers before retiring at the age of 40. He had represented Scotland 11 times, 10 of these while a Rangers player, scoring twice.

In all, Alec Bennett played 230 times for Rangers, scoring 68 goals.

After retiring, he managed Third Lanark and Clydebank, before leaving football to become a sports writer for The Daily Record. He passed away on January 9th 1940, aged only 58.

A multiple league winner for Celtic and Rangers.
A rare direct move between the 2 clubs.
A war hero.

Alec Bennett certainly had a career, and a life, worth remembering.

Great story.
Definitely a career, and life worth remembering.
Thanks for sharing this.
 
I knew of the name Alec Bennett from Rangers : The New Era and that he had a somewhat “unorthodox” route to eventually playing for The Rangers but not much else. Great stuff @dh1963. I can appreciate the time it takes to research and type up these articles but keep them coming whenever you can.

Totally agree with your appreciation of @dh1963 efforts in researching and educating us in all things Rangers. He's a top poster and contributes a lot to FF. More power to his elbow.
 
It's just a shame that a thread on a washed out drug addled poet attracts far more responses :(

To be honest mate, I have no idea to which thread you are referring to. I am doing my best to be Rangers positive, therefore ignoring Tim threads.
I agree though that good Rangers threads are often overshadowed by "Tims are so much better" threads.
 
To be honest mate, I have no idea to which thread you are referring to. I am doing my best to be Rangers positive, therefore ignoring Tim threads.
I agree though that good Rangers threads are often overshadowed by "Tims are so much better" threads.

To be fair, threads that are about the season about to start and our quest for title 55 will always get more interest than ones about events of more than a century ago.

There's plenty room for both.
 
They haven’t changed, they sent a letter asking for clarification ffs.
“Mr Ward (Partick Thistle) seconded adding he knew Rangers desired an enquiry.”
Ha ha ha, we weren’t getting slandered by those smelly bassas!!
As for the bold Alec, he knew!! A rancid club.
 
Born in Rutherglen in 1881, Alec Bennett was an outstanding junior footballer at the turn of the 20th century. A tricky and intelligent forward with an eye for goal, he won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1902 with Rutherglen Glencairn and represented his country at that level, before inevitably joining the senior professional ranks. In May 1903, he joined Celtic, where he quickly became an automatic starter in a team that was on the verge of dominating Scottish football.

Although mainly a centre forward with Glencairn, Celtic had the prolific Jimmy Quinn as their main marksman, so Bennett was utilised as a right winger, where his speed and creativity played a crucial role in a series of trophy wins. He scored a hat trick in his first final, the 1903 Charity Cup, and over the next 5 years Bennett won 4 league titles and 2 Scottish Cups. On April 25th 1908, he scored the only goal at Ibrox to clinch Celtic's 4th successive championship. A thorn in Rangers side, Alec Bennett was a hero to the Celtic support, earning him the nickname The Artful Dodger for his ability on the ball and his consistent goals and assists.

On 2nd May he starred in a Charity Cup win over Partick Thistle but was then mysteriously dropped for Celtic's next match in the competition, with the team line up announced on May 6th with "A.N. Other" on the right wing. The sensational news broke shortly afterwards that after 5 trophy laden years at Parkhead, 152 appearances and 53 goals, Bennett had crossed the Glasgow divide and signed for Rangers.

Celtic were however not prepared to let their right winger go easily.

On Friday May 29th 1908 at the first meeting of the new committee of the Scottish Football Association ...." a letter was afterwards read from Mr William Maley, secretary of the Celtic club in which he stated that he had been authorised by the board of directors to call the attention of the Association Committee to the signing on of Alexander Bennett by the Rangers club. The communication also stated ' This player was asked to re-sign on April 15th but refused to do so and would give no reason but eventually stated that he had received a very big offer.

On 20th April he told Messrs Kelley, Colgan and Dunbar, all members of the board, that he had received such a big offer that it would be ridiculous to ask such terms of Celtic. On April 30th he again refused to sign for us and told our secretary he had decided to sign for another club but could not do so for a fortnight. He signed for Rangers on May 9th according to the evening papers. My club desires your committee to enquire into this case and to find from the player what club he had arranged with or had an offer from on April 15th which offer or arrangement was of course illegal and on learning the name of the club we would seek such club to be punished for infringing rule 55 of your association' "

Mr Mowar (Albion Rovers) moved that the commission be appointed.
Mr Ward (Partick Thistle) seconded adding he knew Rangers desired an enquiry.
Mr Williamson opposed the proposal saying that if they opened up all such questions they would have their hands full.
Mr Robertson (Stenhousemuir) seconded.

By the casting vote of the Chairman it was agreed to grant a special commission to be composed and given full powers under article 7.

The commision sat in private eventually finding no substantiation to Celtic’s charge ‘... The transfer not being one between two clubs but Bennett signing as a free agent’.

Rangers had paid the £50 release fee for the player, who in turn was now earning a far more lucrative salary. But to Bennett's close friends, including some Celtic teammates, his move was no surprise. In private Bennett had been a vocal admirer of the Ibrox club, and he had long been uneasy at the Catholic ethos expected at Parkhead, even if players did not share that faith.

He made his Rangers debut in a 7-0 win over Port Glasgow in August 1908, when he also scored his first goal in Rangers blue. But already the press and public were looking forward to his first appearance against Celtic. It came on September 26th in the semi final of the Glasgow Cup at Parkhead. 42,000 watched on, as Bennett gave a man of the match performance. He scored both Rangers goals in a hard fought 2-2 draw. In his first season at Ibrox, Bennett didn't win the title, but he kept some of his best displays for the Celtic games. In addition to those 2 goals, he also scored against them in the first Scottish Cup Final draw (the trophy eventually withheld after a riot following a drawn replay) and a crucial strike in a 4-2 Rangers victory in the Charity Cup.

In the summer of 1909, Rangers brought in 3 players who alongside Alec Bennett would finally bring back the glory days to Ibrox. Goalkeeper Herbert Lock, winger Billy Hogg, and striker Willie Reid just came up short in 1909-10, but over the next 3 seasons Rangers became Scotland's dominant team. The signing of Hogg allowed Bennett to move infield, and as an inside forward The Artful Dodger was to create countless goals for the prolific Reid.

Bennett scored in a 3-1 Glasgow Cup final win over Celtic, and scored 6 goals in 23 league appearances as the title was won with 4 points to spare. He was a regular again the following season as Rangers repeated the League and Glasgow Cup double, and then again in 1912-13, the same double achieved with Bennett scoring in the final success over Celtic. He scored again in the 1913-14 final, this time a 3-0 win over Third Lanark, as Rangers claimed the cup for the 4th year running. There was to be no 4th successive league win, however, as Celtic's 2 league victories over Rangers proved to be the difference.

In August 1914, the world was plunged into war, and although Alec Bennett was to feature for Rangers periodically, he enlisted in the Cameronian Regiment and saw active duty in the trenches. His brother James, a successful footballer with Queens Park, also enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. In 1916 Sergeant James Bennett was seriously injured by a gunshot to his back, which he survived albeit ending his football career.

Alec Bennett also guested for Ayr United during the conflict, and was released by Rangers in 1918 after the end of the War, and played for Dumbarton and Albion Rovers before retiring at the age of 40. He had represented Scotland 11 times, 10 of these while a Rangers player, scoring twice.

In all, Alec Bennett played 230 times for Rangers, scoring 68 goals.

After retiring, he managed Third Lanark and Clydebank, before leaving football to become a sports writer for The Daily Record. He passed away on January 9th 1940, aged only 58.

A multiple league winner for Celtic and Rangers.
A rare direct move between the 2 clubs.
A war hero.

Alec Bennett certainly had a career, and a life, worth remembering.

Did a bit of digging and found the announcement of his death in The Glasgow Herald of 11th January 1940.



It does not give details of the funeral or burial place. It does however state he resided at 970 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, so I decided to check the nearby cemeteries.

He was buried on 12th January 1940 at Eastwood Cemetery in Section H, Lair No. 1287 (entry no. 4).



Perhaps one for The Rangers Grave Restoration Project to look at. @The Moonlighter
 
Did a bit of digging and found the announcement of his death in The Glasgow Herald of 11th January 1940.



It does not give details of the funeral or burial place. It does however state he resided at 970 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, so I decided to check the nearby cemeteries.

He was buried on 12th January 1940 at Eastwood Cemetery in Section H, Lair No. 1287 (entry no. 4).



Perhaps one for The Rangers Grave Restoration Project to look at. @The Moonlighter


Great find CS9 , well done.
 
Did a bit of digging and found the announcement of his death in The Glasgow Herald of 11th January 1940.



It does not give details of the funeral or burial place. It does however state he resided at 970 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, so I decided to check the nearby cemeteries.

He was buried on 12th January 1940 at Eastwood Cemetery in Section H, Lair No. 1287 (entry no. 4).



Perhaps one for The Rangers Grave Restoration Project to look at. @The Moonlighter

Brilliant find.
 
Willie Maley must have been raging, I'm sure I read somewhere he was a bitter bastard.
Maley owned the Bank pub on Queen Street. Celtic players used to drink in it after training. Remember the old licensing laws had pubs closing between 2 and5pm. Imagine that today.
 
Maley owned the Bank pub on Queen Street. Celtic players used to drink in it after training. Remember the old licensing laws had pubs closing between 2 and5pm. Imagine that today.


This was the difference with Rangers and Septic's boards, Rangers board was all business men where as Septic's board was all associated with the Licensed Bar trade
 
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