Alex 'Sandy' MacFarlane
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Sandy" MacFarlane (born 1878 - d. 19??) was a Scottish
professional football
player and manager.
international inside-forward, he played domestically for Airdrie
before moving south to join Woolwich Arsenal
in 1896. He only made seven appearances for Arsenal, his debut coming against Grimsby Town
on November 28, 1896, and returned to Airdrie the following year. His second move, south of the border, was more successful, joining Newcastle
and becoming their first-choice inside-left. In four seasons in the north-east McFarlane made eighty-four First Division appearances, scoring seventeen goals in three consecutive top six finishes, as well as two FA Cup appearances.
He returned to Scotland to play for Dundee
in 1901. During his twelve years there he won a Scottish Cup
in 1909-10
and made five appearances for Scotland between 1904 and 1911, scoring once in a 5-0 victory over Ireland
on 15 March 1909 in the British Home Championship
. He moved to Chelsea
in 1913, but only played sporadically and retired from playing in 1914.
. That summer, Charlton Athletic
tempted him to move south. In January 1928 he returned to Dundee, but only lasted seven months before returning to Charlton. In his first full season back at the club, he led Charlton to the 1928-29
Third Division South
title.
He ledt Charlton in 1932 and a year later joined Blackpool
on a two-year contract. At Blackpool, he dismantled the Seasiders squad, allowing nine players to leave Bloomfield Road
as he brought in fresh faces. One player he signed, Peter Doherty
, cost £1,000 but was sold on to Manchester City
in 1936 for ten times that amount. At the end of the 1934-35
season, Blackpool sat in fourth position in the Division Two
table, just missing out on a return to the top flight.
Blackpool was MacFarlane's last appointment, and he drifted out of football at the age of 57.
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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager.
Playing career
A ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international inside-forward, he played domestically for Airdrie
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
before moving south to join Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1896. He only made seven appearances for Arsenal, his debut coming against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on November 28, 1896, and returned to Airdrie the following year. His second move, south of the border, was more successful, joining Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and becoming their first-choice inside-left. In four seasons in the north-east McFarlane made eighty-four First Division appearances, scoring seventeen goals in three consecutive top six finishes, as well as two FA Cup appearances.
He returned to Scotland to play for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 1901. During his twelve years there he won a 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...
in 1909-10
1909-10 in Scottish football
The 1909–10 season was the 20th season of Scottish League football.-Overview:Celtic extended their record run of consecutive league titles to six, while Dundee were Scottish Cup winners for the first time...
and made five appearances for Scotland between 1904 and 1911, scoring once in a 5-0 victory over Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
on 15 March 1909 in the British Home Championship
1909 British Home Championship
The 1909 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. England dominated the competition with three wins over their opponents. When placed in the context of their overseas tours to Europe in 1908 and 1909, this made a run of ten victories for...
. He moved to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in 1913, but only played sporadically and retired from playing in 1914.
Managerial career
MacFarlane returned to Dundee in 1919 and spent six years in charge of the club, during which time they reached another Scottish Cup final in 1924-251924-25 in Scottish football
The 1924–25 season was the 35th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Ayr United, Third Lanark-Scottish League Division Two:...
. That summer, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
tempted him to move south. In January 1928 he returned to Dundee, but only lasted seven months before returning to Charlton. In his first full season back at the club, he led Charlton to the 1928-29
1928-29 in English football
The 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
title.
He ledt Charlton in 1932 and a year later joined Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on a two-year contract. At Blackpool, he dismantled the Seasiders squad, allowing nine players to leave Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
as he brought in fresh faces. One player he signed, Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
, cost £1,000 but was sold on to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in 1936 for ten times that amount. At the end of the 1934-35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season, Blackpool sat in fourth position in the Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
table, just missing out on a return to the top flight.
Blackpool was MacFarlane's last appointment, and he drifted out of football at the age of 57.
As a player
Dundee- Scottish CupScottish CupThe 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...
winner: 19101909-10 in Scottish footballThe 1909–10 season was the 20th season of Scottish League football.-Overview:Celtic extended their record run of consecutive league titles to six, while Dundee were Scottish Cup winners for the first time...
As a manager
Charlton- Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
championship: 19291928-29 in English footballThe 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...