Alistair John Dawson (25 February 1958 – 26 July 2021) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent most of his career at Rangers.

Ally Dawson
Personal information
Full name Alistair John Dawson[1]
Date of birth (1958-02-25)25 February 1958
Place of birth Johnstone, Scotland
Date of death 26 July 2021(2021-07-26) (aged 63)
Place of death Johnstone, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1987 Rangers 218 (6)
1987–1990 Blackburn Rovers 40 (0)
1990–1991 Limerick 3 (0)
1990–1991 Airdrieonians 10 (1)
1991–1992 St. Andrews 6 (0)
1993–1995 Dingli Swallows 14 (3)
Total 277 (7)
International career
1980–1983 Scotland 5 (0)
Managerial career
1991–1992 St. Andrews
1999–2002 Hamilton Academical
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In 2011, Dawson was inducted into Rangers' Hall of Fame.[2]

Playing career

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Dawson was signed as a sixteen-year-old in 1975 by manager Jock Wallace Jr. and made his debut in a pre-season tour in Canada. He was a full back who could play on either side of the pitch.

He sustained a serious injury during a club tour of Canada, when he fractured his skull. He recovered, and became a centre back. He made a total of 316 appearances for Rangers, scoring eight goals. He received two Scottish Cup winner's medals, in 1979 and 1981, and four League Cup winner's medals – in 1979, 1984, 1985 and 1987. He was capped five times by Scotland, all while at Rangers.[3]

After 12 years at the club, Dawson left Rangers for Blackburn Rovers in 1987 for £25,000, equivalent to £88,821 in 2023. He signed for Limerick in 1990 and returned to Scotland later that season with Airdrie, before becoming player/manager of Maltese league club Luxol St. Andrews. He later also played for Dingli Swallows, another Maltese team, in their historic 1994/1995 season in First Division.[4][5]

Managerial career

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Dawson went on to manage Hamilton Academical for a three-year spell between 1999 and 2003 where he won the Scottish Third Division title.

Death

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Dawson died on 26 July 2021, aged 63.[6][7]

Honours

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As manager

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Hamilton Academical

References

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  1. ^ "Ally Dawson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Hall of Fame inductees". Rangers Football Club. Rangers.co.uk. 5 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Ally Dawson". londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Former Luxol St Andrews coach Ally Dawson dies". Times of Malta. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Dingli Swallows FC on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  6. ^ "Ally Dawson Obituary". Rangers Football Club. 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Ally Dawson: Former Rangers and Scotland player dies aged 63". BBC Sport. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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