Alec McNair

Alexander McNair (24 December 1882 – 18 November 1951) was a Scottish football player and manager. He played as a defender for Celtic for 21 years and represented the Scotland national team in 15 official internationals between 1906 and 1920. McNair also represented the Scottish League XI 15 times.[4][lower-alpha 1] He then managed Dundee from 1925 until 1927.

Alec McNair
Personal information
Full name Alexander McNair
Date of birth (1882-12-24)24 December 1882[1]
Place of birth Stenhousemuir, Scotland
Date of death 18 November 1951(1951-11-18) (aged 68)
Place of death Stenhousemuir, Scotland
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1900–1904 Stenhousemuir
1904–1925 Celtic 583 (8)
International career
1906–1920 Scotland 15 (0)
1908–1920 Scottish League XI 15 (0)
1918–1919[2][3] Scotland (wartime) 4 (0)
Managerial career
1925–1927 Dundee
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stenhousemuir

McNair began his career at Stenhousemuir. He played at inside right and was a regular goalscorer, helping the club win the Scottish Qualifying Cup in 1901 and 1902.[6] He also played in the Stenhousemuir team that reached the Scottish Cup semi-final in 1903, losing 4–1 to Rangers.[6]

Celtic

In May 1904, McNair signed for Celtic.[7] He initially played in a variety of positions, but when right-back Donnie McLeod left in 1908, McNair made that position his own.[7] He was an integral part of the Celtic side spearheaded by Jimmy Quinn that won six successive league championships from 1904–05 to 1909–10.[8] McNair had exceptional positional sense and ability to anticipate his opponents' moves.[8] He was a precise tackler and had confidence in his ability to dribble the ball out of his own penalty area rather than rashly boot it forward.[8] He was a calm and composed personality, and his demeanour earned him the nickname 'The Icicle'.[7][8] Willie Maley, the Celtic manager, described McNair as "The coolest, most intelligent player I have ever seen."[6]

1908 Celtic team photo with the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup, Scottish Cup and Glasgow Cup trophies; McNair is bottom row, far right

In his 21 years at Celtic McNair played a total of 641 games for the club in major competitions, winning the league championship 12 times and the Scottish Cup six times.[7][8] He played his last game on 18 April 1925, a 1–1 draw with Queen's Park. He was 41 years old and is the oldest player ever to play for Celtic.[9] McNair's appearances, trophy and caps totals might have been even higher had it not been for the interruption of World War I when the League continued but the Cup and internationals were suspended, considering that his success at club level and selection for Scotland continued after the conflict.[10]

He received a benefit match in 1921, in which a combined Rangers/Celtic team played against a Scottish League team (the league also selected Celtic players John McFarlane and Tully Craig, who scored all their team's goals in a 3–1 win).[11]

Later years

McNair became manager of Dundee in June 1925. His first two seasons saw Dundee finish mid-table and then fifth. However, after a poor start to season 1927–28, he left Dens Park in October 1927. He then left full-time participation in football to become a stockbroker, but still kept some involvement in the game by working as a referee supervisor.[12]

Honours

Player

Stenhousemuir

Celtic[17]

Scotland

Manager

Dundee

See also

Notes and references
  1. The source lists 16 matches, but the first cap in 1908 is counted twice;[4] McNair played in defence, but the forward position was occupied by Jimmy McMenemy.[5]
  1. Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. "Scotland player Alexander McNair (including unofficial matches)". London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. 45,000 view the charity 'national match Archived 14 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Sunday Post, 9 June 1918 (via Partick Thistle History Archive)
  4. "SFL player Alexander McNair". London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. League International: England v. Scotland, The Glasgow Herald, 2 March 1908
  6. "Alec McNair". Historic Warriors (History of Stenhousemuir FC). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  7. "Alec McNair "The Icicle" bio". Celtic Wiki. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  8. Campbell, Tom; Woods, Pat (1987). The Glory & The Dream. Grafton. pp. 354–358. ISBN 0-586-20005-3.
  9. "Alec McNair". Celtic FC - Facebook. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  10. Potter, David (2012). The Celtic Miscellany. The History Press. ISBN 9780752490595.
  11. Scottish League Select's Victory, 5 January 1921 (via The Celtic Wiki)
  12. Ross, David (14 November 2011). Gaffers. lulu.com. pp. 358–359. ISBN 978-1470927103.
  13. "FOOTBALL". Falkirk Herald. 19 December 1900. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "FOOTBALL". Falkirk Herald. 18 December 1901. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "The Central Combination". SFHA. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  16. "FOOTBALL". Falkirk Herald. 5 March 1902. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "The 500 Club". ACSOM. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  18. ""The Icicle" Alec McNair – Celtic Historian is trying to locate any of Alec's descendants". Yard Breaker. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. Association football | War Fund Shield–Final Tie, Glasgow Herald, 6 May 1918
  20. "Alec McNair". SFA. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  21. "1924/25 Forfarshire Cup Final". Dee Archive. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
    "1925/26 Forfarshire Cup Final". Dee Archive. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

Alec McNair, Celtic's Icicle David Potter

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