Alan Mackay (footballer)

Alan Mackay (born 11 January 1943) is a Scottish former football player and coach.[2] He played for Third Lanark, Motherwell and Dumbarton in the Scottish Football League. After retiring, he worked as a coach with Dumbarton for five years.

Alan Mackay
Personal information
Full name Alan Mackay
Date of birth (1943-11-01) 1 November 1943 (age 80)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Left half / Left back
Youth career
Third Lanark
Glasgow United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Strathclyde
1963–1967 Third Lanark 71 (2)
1967–1969 Motherwell 39 (0)
1969–1974 Dumbarton 106 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Mackay was born in Glasgow; he started his senior career with Third Lanark in 1963, moving from local junior team Strathclyde alongside Tony Connell. The Cathkin Park club were relegated to Scottish Division Two in his second season. He played 71 times for Thirds, scoring twice before moving to Motherwell after the club went bust in 1967.[3][4] He stayed at Fir Park for two years, making 39 appearances, and had a role in the squad that won the Division Two title in his second season, although by its end he had left the club.[5]

After being released by Motherwell, Mackay moved to Dumbarton where he played until retiring in 1974.[6] He played 106 times there, scoring twice and winning Division Two in his third season with the club. While at Dumbarton he played with many notable players such as Murdo MacLeod, John Cushley, Willie Wallace and Ian Wallace[7]

Coaching career edit

He was a coach at Dumbarton for five years after retiring, working as reserve and youth coach as well as scouting the opposition for manager Alex Wright, who described his work as "invaluable" to the club in their attempts to challenge the Old Firm.[8]

Personal life edit

Mackay worked in insurance and as a salesman during his playing career. After retiring, he worked as an insurance broker before founding his own company.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Alan McKay, MotherWELLnet
  2. ^ Litster, John. Record of Post-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  3. ^ "THIRD LANARK : 1946/47 - 1966/67". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  4. ^ Third Lanark [documentary], BBC Alba, 27 January 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2021
  5. ^ "MOTHERWELL : 1946/47 - 2010/11". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  6. ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
  7. ^ "DUMBARTON : 1946/47 - 1953/54 & 1955/56 - 2010/11". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  8. ^ "MacKay - the so-thorough super spy". Evening Times. 18 October 1974. Retrieved 19 June 2012.