Alec Smith.
The Restoration of Rangers Graves Project and Alec Smith. Rangers 1894-1914.
A number of weeks ago we managed to locate in Darvel the final resting place of Rangers great Alec Smith.
we made contact with his Great Grandson who gave consent on behalf of the family for us to restore the plot. This was done yesterday.
Born in Darvel Ayrshire, Alec Smith signed for Rangers in April 1894 from local side Darvel FC having been introduced at the suggestion of Nicol Smith(a defender who had made the same move a year earlier and came from the same village,but was not a relation).
He stayed with Rangers for 21 years until retiring in 1915, was part of Rangers' treble winning teams of 1896–97, 1899–1900 and 1910–11, and played in 69 of the club's 74 matches during their run of four consecutive championships from 1898 to 1902. In total he made 634 appearances for the club (the fourth-highest tally in the history of the club)and scored an incredible haul of 200 goals.
He was described in a publication the Scottish Referee in 1913 as being “a player of magnificence,style and beauty” and a man of “great character”.
Alec received 20 caps in total for Scotland during his career,as well as representing the Scottish League 14 times.He returned to his native Darvel at the end of his footballing career to work in a lace-making business in which he was a partner.
Sadly Alec Smith passed on 12th November 1954 just days after his 74th birthday.
Today we remember Rangers great Alec Smith.