Alexander Harley (20 April 1936 – 24 June 1969) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Third Lanark, Manchester City, Birmingham City, Dundee, Portadown and Cape Town City as a striker.[2]

Alex Harley
Personal information
Full name Alexander Harley[1]
Date of birth (1936-04-20)20 April 1936
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 24 June 1969(1969-06-24) (aged 33)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
195?–1958 Maryhill
1958–1962 Third Lanark 85 (68)
1962–1963 Manchester City 40 (23)
1963–1964 Birmingham City 28 (9)
1964–1965 Dundee 10 (4)
1965–1966 Portadown
1966 Cape Town City 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Harley joined Third Lanark in 1958, and scored 71 goals in two seasons from 1960 to 1962, his 42 goals in the 1960–61 making him the highest scorer in the Scottish Football League First Division. In the 1962 close season Harley signed by English club Manchester City for £19,500. Harley debuted in a 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa on 25 August 1962, and scored his first Citizens goal two games later versus Tottenham Hotspur. Harley scored 31 more goals in all competitions that season, including the winner in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, to become the club's leading scorer, but the Citizens finished the season in 21st place and were relegated.[3]

Harley joined Birmingham City in the close season for £42,000, thereby staying in the top division. He scored 9 goals in 28 League appearances for the Blues and moved back to Scotland in 1965, signing for Dundee. Harley made just ten appearances for the Dee and scored four goals and was then transferred to Northern Irish club Portadown.[2][3]

Harley died in Birmingham in 1969 at the age of 33 after heart failure from a coronary thrombosis.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Alex Harley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Alex Harley". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b Clayton, David (2002). Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC – and more!. Edinburgh: Mainstream publishing. p. 95. ISBN 1-84018-687-9.
  4. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.