Alec Boden
Encyclopedia
Alec Boden was a Scottish
footballer who played at centre-half, most notably for Celtic
. He starred for Duntocher St. Mary's, a boys' guild team, before signing for Celtic in 1943. Called up for military service in November that year, he became a PT instructor in the British Army
, where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant
.
Boden spent a short time on loan to Cowdenbeath
before returning to Celtic Park
. His league debut however, was at right-back, in the second game of the 1947–48 season, a 4–0 home victory against Queen's Park
. His only other league appearance that season was at right-half, in a 3–2 home win against Morton
that October. He also made two appearances at full-back in the League Cup.
Boden suffered a broken knee-cap and had two pieces of cartilage removed during his playing career. He played in the club's 1951 Scottish Cup
final victory over Motherwell
, but missed the 1956 final due to injury. He later joined Ayr United in 1956, and received an English FA coaching certificate by passing the Lilleshall
coaching course. Along with John Higgins, he coached the Celtic Reserves in the 1960s.
Boden died on 24 January 2011, aged 85.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who played at centre-half, most notably for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He starred for Duntocher St. Mary's, a boys' guild team, before signing for Celtic in 1943. Called up for military service in November that year, he became a PT instructor in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
.
Boden spent a short time on loan to Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
before returning to Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. His league debut however, was at right-back, in the second game of the 1947–48 season, a 4–0 home victory against Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
. His only other league appearance that season was at right-half, in a 3–2 home win against Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
that October. He also made two appearances at full-back in the League Cup.
Boden suffered a broken knee-cap and had two pieces of cartilage removed during his playing career. He played in the club's 1951 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final victory over Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, but missed the 1956 final due to injury. He later joined Ayr United in 1956, and received an English FA coaching certificate by passing the Lilleshall
Lilleshall
Lilleshall is a village in Shropshire, England.It lies between the towns of Telford and Newport, on the A518, in the Telford and Wrekin borough and the Wrekin constituency....
coaching course. Along with John Higgins, he coached the Celtic Reserves in the 1960s.
Boden died on 24 January 2011, aged 85.