Alan Anderson (footballer)

Arthur Alan Duncan Anderson (21 December 1939 – 27 February 2022) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre half for Alloa Athletic, Falkirk, Millwall, Scunthorpe United and Hearts.

Alan Anderson
Personal information
Full name Arthur Alan Duncan Anderson[1]
Date of birth (1939-12-21)21 December 1939
Place of birth Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Date of death 27 February 2022(2022-02-27) (aged 82)
Position(s) Centre half
Youth career
United Crossroads[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dalkeith Thistle
1958–1959 Falkirk 0 (0)
1959Alloa Athletic (loan) 3 (1)
1959–1962 Millwall 74 (0)
1962–1963 Scunthorpe United 6 (0)
1963–1976 Heart of Midlothian 352 (21)
Total 435 (22)
International career
1967 Scotland 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Anderson joined Millwall from Falkirk in October 1959 and helped the London club to win the championship of Division Four before being transferred to Scunthorpe United in 1962. However, Anderson could not settle in England.[why?] In November 1963 he was transferred to Heart of Midlothian.[3] Anderson was the Hearts team captain for over 200 games. After long service and 38 goals for the club, he ended his career in May 1976.[4]

He played seven times for a Scotland XI during their 1967 tour of Asia and Oceania, playing alongside Alex Ferguson.[5] The Scotland XI won every game with Anderson at centre-half.[6] He was awarded a cap for the tour by the Scottish Football Association in 2020,[2] and the SFA announced in October 2021 that five of the tour matches (all of which Anderson played in) had been reclassified as full internationals.[7]

Personal life edit

Anderson died in February 2022, at the age of 82.[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ "Alan Anderson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b Long Awaited Cap For Anderson, Heart of Midlothian FC, 18 March 2020
  3. ^ Soccer Who's Who compiled by Maurice Golesworthy The Sportsmans Book Club London 1965
  4. ^ (Hearts player) Alan Anderson Archived 21 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine, London Hearts Supporters Club
  5. ^ (Scotland player including unofficial matches) Alan Anderson, London Hearts Supporters Club
  6. ^ Scotland XI Tour of Asia and Oceania 1967, RSSSF
  7. ^ "Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  8. ^ Pilcher, Ross (2 March 2022). "Former Hearts captain Alan Anderson sadly passes away aged 85 as Jambos pay their respect to loyal club servant". Football Scotland. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Alan Anderson: Former Hearts captain dies at age 82". BBC Sport. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

External links edit

  • Alan Anderson at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database