Alan Cousin

Alan Cousin (born 7 March 1938 in Alloa)^[2] is a Scottish former footballer, who played for Dundee, Hibernian and Falkirk.^[2][3][4]

Career

At the age of 16, Cousin played rugby in the mornings and football in the afternoons, for Alloa Y.M.C.A. He was noticed within a year of helping out the Central Scottish side and played for Scotland Under 16s, where as a Centre Forward, he was in the side that beat England 8-1.

Scouts from various clubs sought his skills, but it was Dundee manager Willie Thornton who succeeded in signing him. Cousin made his debut when first team regular George Merchant was injured and one month later, he scored his first goal for Dundee. The match was a 5-1 friendly victory against Manchester United, who had just become the English champions.

After establishing a first-team place, Cousin attended St. Andrews University to study Greek and Latin for an Arts Degree, whilst combining this with his early professional footballing career. Often his training would involve running on the St. Andrews beach later made famous in the film Chariots Of Fire.

Cousin was Dundee's top goalscorer three years in a row from 1958 to 1960. He played in attack for Dundee alongside Alan Gilzean in a team considered by Bob Crampsey to be the best produced in Scotland since the Second World War.^[5] Dundee won the Scottish League championship in 1962 and then reached the semi-final of the European Cup in the following season.^[5] Cousin played in every match of the championship-winning season.^[5]

Cousin was dubbed the 'King of the double shuffle' ^[6] because of his ability to repeatedly outwit opposing players, by stepping over the ball. He was inducted into the Dundee F.C. Hall Of Fame in a tribute dinner in 2011, to salute his contribution to football at the club.

References