Football legend Alex laid to rest

Oct 15 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

TRIBUTES were paid this week to former professional footballer and “gentleman” Alex McCrae.

Alex passed away last week, aged 89, after falling ill last month.

Alex was born in Stoneyburn on January 2, 1920, where he was raised.

He began his footballing career in 1941 at Heart of Midlothian and later moved to London to play for Charlton Athletic before being snapped up by Middlesbrough for £10,000 in October 1948.

The forward also played for Falkirk and Ballymena United and managed Ballymena between 1957 and 1960 and Falkirk between 1960 and 1965.

After retiring from playing, Alex became Middlesbrough’s scout in Scotland, where he recommended future legend Jim Platt to the club.

He also worked as a miner and for the Car Collect motor company.

Alex married his first wife Leticia, who sadly passed away in 1967. They had one daughter, also Leticia.

He remarried Patricia Smith in 1973 and the pair lived happily in Blackburn until her death in 1997.

Before going into hospital, Alex lived in Whitburn’s Redmill House.

He is survived by his daughter, stepson James Smith, five grand children and five great-grandchildren.

Family friend Angela Uttley, from Blackburn, said along with football, Alex had a passion for greyhounds and enjoyed racing his own.

She said: “Alex will be sadly missed by his whole family, he was a lovely man, everybody who met him would say what a gentleman and quiet man he was.”

A funeral for Alex took place on Tuesday at Blackburn Parish Church.