Hamish McAlpine

Hamish Robert McAlpine (born 21 January 1948) is a

Hamish McAlpine
Scottish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He
played for Dundee United for twenty years, between 1966 Personal information
and 1986. Whilst with the club, he won the Scottish Full name Hamish Robert McAlpine
Football League title once and the Scottish League Cup Date of birth 21 January 1948
twice. Among numerous cup runs in European football he Place of birth Kilspindie, Scotland
played in the 1983–84 European Cup semi-final. Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
He ended his playing career with spells at Raith Rovers and
Arbroath. McAlpine represented Scotland at under-21 Butterburn Youth Club
international level and was named SFWA Footballer of the Senior career*
Year in 1985. Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dundee North End
1966–1986 Dundee United 477 (3)
Early life 1967–1968 → Montrose (loan) 25 (0)
1986 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 1 (0)
McAlpine was born in the village of Kilspindie, 1986–1988 Raith Rovers 72 (1)
Perthshire.[nb 1] His father, Ian McAlpine, was a promising 1988–1989 Arbroath 10 (0)
footballer whose career was disrupted by the Second World Total 585 (4)
War, although he did sign for Dundee in 1946 and played International career
for their reserve team.[1] Although his father had been a
1982–1984 Scotland U21 5 (0)
centre forward, Hamish always played as a goalkeeper *Club domestic league appearances and goals
from primary school onwards.[2] As a teenager, he played
in goal for Butterburn Youth Club.[3]

Club career
McAlpine played junior football for Dundee North End prior to signing provisionally for Dundee United in June
1966. He combined part-time football with a job at United chairman George Fox's accountancy firm until signing a
professional contract in the close season of 1967.[4] Initially third choice goalkeeper behind Donald Mackay and
Sandy Davie, McAlpine spent most of the 1967–68 season on loan to Montrose, and came close to signing for them
permanently.[4] Returning to United, he made his debut appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly against
Hartlepool in August 1968.[5]

Davie left the club in October 1968, which made McAlpine second choice. Following an injury to Mackay, he made
his competitive debut for Dundee United on 8 March 1969, in a 1–0 defeat against Heart of Midlothian at
Tynecastle.[6][5] That proved to be his only appearance that season, and he missed most of the following season
following an operation for ligament damage.[7] In October 1970, McAlpine came on as a substitute for the injured
Mackay in a Fairs Cup tie against Sparta Prague to make his European debut and only his second competitive
appearance overall.[8] That proved to be a breakthrough for McAlpine, who went to make thirty appearances in all
competitions that season and establish himself as first choice. Mackay was allowed to leave the club in 1972 by new
manager Jim McLean, who brought back Davie as competition.[9] McAlpine was still in the team until knee surgery
ruled him out for a spell in 1974, which meant Davie played in United's first Scottish Cup final appearance.[10]
Davie's subsequent departure left McAlpine as the club's undisputed first choice goalkeeper, a position he would
retain for the next decade.[6] In 1977, he set a club record by not conceding a goal for 615 minutes of play.[11] He was
also building a reputation for eccentricity and becoming a cult favourite with United supporters, often leaving his
penalty area to take on opponents.[12] In 1976, United were struggling to avoid relegation and had missed several
penalties. McAlpine volunteered to take over as penalty taker, scoring on his first attempt against Hibernian in the
penultimate match of the season. Another McAlpine penalty, in the final match away to Rangers, was missed, but
United retained their Premier Division status with a goalless draw.[13] McAlpine scored twice more during the 1976–
77 season, but was relieved of penalty duties after further misses. He later came close to scoring another United goal,
hitting the bar with a shot whilst playing outfield in a reserve match.[14]

McAlpine's carefree attitude sometimes put him in conflict with his disciplinarian manager. In his autobiography,
McLean describes his frustration with McAlpine's unwillingness to undertake specialist goalkeeping training, saying,
"Hamish McAlpine was the one player who was able to destroy single-handedly everything I have ever thought or
believed about the game of football".[15] The pair's most serious disagreement occurred in 1979, resulting in
McAlpine being sent home from a tournament in Japan.[2] McAlpine was suspended by the club and temporarily
replaced by former England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti.[5]

Having won his place back from Bonetti, McAlpine was part of the United side that reached the club's first ever
Scottish League Cup final in December 1979. After a goalless draw against Aberdeen, a 3–0 replay win at Dundee's
Dens Park gave the club their first ever major trophy.[5] A year later, United were again at Dens in the League Cup
final, this time facing local rivals Dundee. After another 3–0 victory for United, club captain Paul Hegarty was about
to collect the trophy when he stepped aside, instead ushering McAlpine forward to receive it, in recognition of his
service to the club.[6][16] Later the same season, the goalkeeper made his first appearance in a Scottish Cup final,
against Rangers. With the match goalless, McAlpine saved a last minute penalty to secure a replay,[17] but United lost
the second game 4–1. In addition, Sturrock finished in third place for the Scottish Writers' award in 1981.[18]

McAlpine was dropped for a League Cup tie against Falkirk in August 1982, with reserve goalkeeper John Gardiner
taking his place. Despite McLean hinting that Gardiner might be set for an extended run in the first team,[19]
McAlpine was restored to the team for the next match. He went on to be ever-present in League matches during the
1982–83 season as Dundee United won the Scottish Football League title for the first time in the club's history. At the
beginning of the following season, McAlpine's seventeen-year career at the club was marked with a testimonial match
against Tottenham Hotspur.[16]

United's league title success qualified the club for the 1983–84 European Cup, with McAlpine featuring in all eight
matches as the team went on to reach the semi-finals. He faced competition for his place in the side, however, when
McLean signed Scottish international goalkeeper Billy Thomson in June 1984. Although Thomson began the 1984–85
season as first choice, McAlpine had re-established himself in the team by the end of September. He went on to
feature in two more cup finals that season, although United lost to Rangers in the League Cup and Celtic in the
Scottish Cup. McAlpine's performances throughout the season saw him chosen by members of the Scottish Football
Writers' Association as their Footballer of the Year for 1985.[20]

McAlpine was injured in October 1985 and lost his place in the side to Thomson. He played one match on loan to
Dunfermline Athletic in April 1986, shortly before it was announced that he would be leaving Dundee United at the
end of the season after twenty years at the club.[21]

He joined Raith Rovers in the close season of 1986, helping them win promotion from the Scottish Second Division
in his first season. In September 1987, McAlpine added a fourth goal to his career total, scoring directly from a kick-
out for Raith against Kilmarnock.[6][22]

Intending to retire, McAlpine left Raith after two seasons but was asked to assist Celtic during a pre-season tour of
Switzerland in July 1988, as cover for the injured Pat Bonner and Andy Murdoch.[2] He subsequently joined Second
Division Arbroath for a short spell prior to retiring in 1989.[6][16]
International career
McAlpine gained international recognition in his mid-thirties, featuring as a permitted overage player for the Scotland
Under-21 team.[6][16] He made his debut in a 2–0 win over East Germany in Edinburgh on 12 October 1982. The last
of his five appearances came against Belgium on 11 October 1983 when he was 35 years old, in a goalless draw
played on McAlpine's club ground, Tannadice Park.[23]

After playing
McAlpine has worked intermittently for Dundee United in various part-time capacities, including as a goalkeeping
coach, in the commercial department and as a matchday host.[6] He was appointed as a club ambassador in 2014.[22]
He opened a pub called Goalie's in Dundee in 1986.[24] Since retiring as a player he has worked as a sales
representative.

Personal life
Amongst his other sporting interests, McAlpine has appeared for Rossie Priory Cricket Club, where his brother Derek
McAlpine was a long-serving player.[25] Also a keen golfer, McAlpine became captain at Alyth Golf Club in 2010.
His son Kevin McAlpine was Scottish Amateur golf champion in 2006,[26] subsequently turning professional and later
caddying for Lexi Thompson,[27] Amy Yang and Martin Laird. Kevin is engaged to Swedish golfer Anna
Nordqvist.[28]
Career statistics

League Cup Lg Cup Other Total

Club Season
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1966–
Dundee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
67
United
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1967–
Montrose 68 25 0 N/A N/A 0 0 25 0
(loan)
Dundee 1968–
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
United 69
1969–
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
70
1970–
24 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 30 0
71
1971–
29 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 36 0
72

1972–
24 0 1 0 8 0 0 0 33 0
73
1973–
19 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 27 0
74
1974–
34 0 3 0 6 0 4 0 47 0
75
1975–
36 1 3 0 6 0 4 0 49 1
76
1976–
36 2 1 0 6 0 0 0 43 2
77
1977–
35 0 4 0 8 0 2 0 49 0
78

1978–
36 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 41 0
79
1979–
29 0 2 0 7 0 4 0 42 0
80
1980–
36 0 7 0 11 0 4 0 58 0
81
1981–
34 0 5 0 10 0 8 0 58 0
82
1982–
36 0 1 0 9 0 8 0 54 0
83
1983–
34 0 4 0 10 0 8 0 56 0
84
1984–
25 0 6 0 3 0 5 0 39 0
85

1985–
8 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 14 0
86
 Total 477 3 45 0 103 0 52 0 677 3
Dunfermline
1985–
Athletic 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
86
(loan)
1986–
37 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 41 0
87
Raith
1987–
Rovers 35 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 39 1
88
Total 72 1 5 0 3 0 0 0 80 1
1988–
Arbroath 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
89

Career total 585 4 50 0 106 0 52 0 793 4

[6]

Honours and accolades

The song "Hamish (the Goalie)", by Dundonian singer-songwriter Michael Marra (though a Dundee F.C.
supporter),[29] was originally written to mark McAlpine's testimonial year. It was later released on Marra's 1991
album, On Stolen Stationery,[6] and has also been covered by Leo Sayer.[30] The lyrics of the song pay tribute to
McAlpine's goalkeeping prowess as well as alluding to Grace Kelly's appearance as a spectator at Tannadice for a
UEFA Cup tie against AS Monaco.[2]

Club

Dundee United

Scottish Football League Premier Division: 1982–83

Scottish League Cup: 1979–80, 1980–81

Individual
SFWA Footballer of the Year: 1985

See also
List of footballers in Scotland by number of league appearances (500+)
List of goalscoring goalkeepers

Notes
1. Now in the Perth and Kinross council area.

References
1. "Screwy – Did You Say?" (http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000566/19461006/079/
0011). The Sunday Post. 6 October 1946. Retrieved 22 October 2014 – via British Newspaper Archive.
 2. Pattullo, Alan (13 April 2013). "Hamish McAlpine on Celtic, United, and that song" (http://www.scotsma
n.com/sport/football/spfl/hamish-mcalpine-on-celtic-united-and-that-song-1-2893686). The Scotsman.
Retrieved 22 August 2014.
3. Brown, John (17 May 2020). "Blether: The story of the first Butterburn player to star for Celtic" (https://w
ww.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/blether-the-story-of-the-first-butterburn-player-to-star-for-celtic/). Evening
Telegraph. Dundee. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
4. Gracie, p.145
5. Gracie, p.314
6. "Tannadice Legends: Hamish McAlpine" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131021180335/http://www.dun
deeunitedfc.co.uk/legends_hamishmcalpine.asp). Dundee United F.C. official website. Archived from
the original (http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/legends_hamishmcalpine.asp) on 21 October 2013.
Retrieved 21 October 2014.
7. Gracie, p.148
8. Gracie, p.154
9. Gracie, p.165
10. Gracie, pp.176–177
11. Nicolson, Eric (10 December 2019). "Benjamin Siegrist still hungry for shut-outs after falling short of
Dundee United club record" (https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-united/1037840/benj
amin-siegrist-still-hungry-for-shut-outs-after-falling-short-of-dundee-united-club-record/). The Courier.
Dundee. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
12. Smith, pp.48–49
13. Gracie, p.190
14. Smith, p.55
15. McLean, Jim; Gallacher, Ken (1987). Jousting With Giants: The Jim McLean Story. Edinburgh:
Mainstream Publishing. p. 162. ISBN 1-85158-088-3.
16. Gracie, p.315
17. Reynolds, Jim (11 May 1981). "McAlpine spoils a fairy-tale ending" (https://news.google.com/newspape
rs?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19810511&printsec=frontpage&hl=en). Glasgow Herald. Retrieved
2 November 2014 – via Google News Archive.
18. "Writers' award for Rough" (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19810428/41
1/0027). Press and Journal. 28 April 1981. Retrieved 5 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
19. Reynolds, Jim (23 August 1982). "United demote McAlpine" (https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid
=2507&dat=19820823&id=Yvk9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=WkkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4484,3801755). Glasgow
Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015 – via Google News Archive.
20. "Writers vote Hamish Player of the Year" (https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=198504
29&id=Ye89AAAAIBAJ&sjid=10gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6643,6334051&hl=en). Glasgow Herald. 29 April
1985. Retrieved 20 April 2015 – via Google News Archive.
21. "McAlpine to be freed by United" (https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19860412&id=u
wI-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=bkkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873,3134230&hl=en). Glasgow Herald. 12 April 1986.
Retrieved 17 May 2015 – via Google News Archive.
22. Webster, Graeme (24 November 2017). "Hamish McAlpine, the goalscoring goalie who inspired a piano
ballad" (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/24/hamish-mcalpine-goalscoring-goalkeeper-ba
llad-song-dundee-united-raith-rovers). The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
23. "Scotland U21 Player Details: Hamish McAlpine" (http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?pla
yerid=95). Fitbastats. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
24. "November 1986" (http://bygone.dundeecity.gov.uk/bygone-news/november-1986). Bygone Dundee.
Dundee City Council. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
25. "Rossie Priory toast distinctive history and fresh achievements" (http://www.scotsman.com/sport/cricket/
rossie-priory-toast-distinctive-history-and-fresh-achievements-1-1400183#axzz3qLfjeSgV). The
Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
26. Bannerman, Gordon (24 December 2010). "Hamish the Goalie takes over at Alyth" (http://www.dailyrec
ord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/hamish-goalie-takes-over-alyth-2741363). Daily Record. Retrieved
3 November 2015.
27. Dempster, Martin (2 August 2017). "Son of ex-Dundee United keeper caddies for World No 2 golfer" (htt
ps://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/son-of-ex-dundee-united-keeper-caddies-for-world-no-2-golfer-1-452
0661). The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
28. Dempster, Martin (18 February 2021). "Kevin McAlpine swaps LPGA for PGA Tour to work for Martin
Laird" (https://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/kevin-mcalpine-swaps-lpga-for-pga-tour-to-work-for-martin
-laird-3139728). The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
29. Michael Marra with Mr McFalls Chamber (2010). Recorded Live on Tour 2010 (CD). track 4: Delphian.
Event occurs at 13s. "I was asked many years ago by a great footballer called Ralph Milne if I would
make something to celebrate the testimonial year of the great goalkeeper and entertainer Hamish
McAlpine. I admired Hamish, although I was a Dundee supporter..."
30. "Sayer tells McAlpine: You make me feel like singing" (https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competi
tions/premiership/sayer-tells-mcalpine-you-make-me-feel-like-singing-1-1096207). The Scotsman.
Edinburgh. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

Sources

Gracie, Steve (2009). The Rise of the Terrors: Dundee United FC, a Comprehensive History 1945–
1979. Dundee: Arabest Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9558341-1-0.
Smith, Paul (2010). Tannadice Idols: The Story of Dundee United's Cult Heroes. Edinburgh: Black &
White Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84502-317-1.

External links
Hamish McAlpine (http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/hamishmcalpine.html) at Post War
English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database

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