Alex McCrae
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| Alex McCrae | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander McCrae | |
| Date of birth | January 2, 1920 | |
| Place of birth | Stoneburn, Scotland | |
| Playing position | Forward, Inside Left | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1941–xx 19xx–48 1948–53 1953–xx |
Hearts Charlton Athletic Middlesbrough Falkirk |
122 (47) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
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.
[edit] Playing career
McCrae began his career at Hearts in 1941. He later moved to London to play for Charlton Athletic but was unable to settle and was snapped up by Middlesbrough for £10,000 in October 1948.
The versatile frontman could play in any forward position but favoured the inside left role. He began his career with the club in the 1948–49 season in the absence of Wilf Mannion, but his form was poor and soon he was dropped from the side. Eventually, he was recalled alongside Mannion, where he showed his pace, accurate passing and sublime ball skills.
After scoring 16 goals in the 1949–50, including the winner in a home 1–0 victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day, he became a fans favourite. He topped the scoring charts the next season, scoring three hat-tricks before Christmas, but injury robbed him from helping the side finish higher than sixth in the table that season.
He left the club for Falkirk in 1953, and followed this with a spell in Ireland.
[edit] After football
After retiring from playing, he became Middlesbrough's scout in Scotland, where he recommended future legend Jim Platt to the club.
[edit] References
- Heroes: Alex McCrae 1948–53. mfc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
