Alex Bennett (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Alex" Bennett (20 October 1881 – 9 January 1940) was a Scottish
footballer who played for Celtic
, Rangers
and the Scotland national team
. A small right-winger, he was described in contemporary reports as "...a veritable artful dodger with rare speed and command of the ball."
Bennett joined Celtic in May 1903 from Rutherglen Glencairn and was a fixture in the side which won the League Title
for four consecutive years between 1905 and 1908. In the latter two years of this streak Bennett also collected Scottish Cup
winners medals. He joined Rangers as a free agent, having left Celtic in May 1908, and remained with the club until 1918. He won a further three League Championships while at Ibrox
.
Bennett was capped
11 times for Scotland, gaining three caps while at Celtic and the remaining 8 while at Rangers. He made his Scotland debut against Wales
in March 1904 and scored his first international goal, again against Wales, four years later. He scored his second international goal in his final Scotland appearance, against Ireland
in March 1913. He also appeared 10 times in representative matches for the Scottish Football League
.
After leaving Rangers, Bennett played on until his fortieth birthday, with firstly Dumbarton
then Albion Rovers
. He was later manager of Third Lanark
and Clydebank
.
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 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...
, Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and the Scotland national team
Scotland 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...
. A small right-winger, he was described in contemporary reports as "...a veritable artful dodger with rare speed and command of the ball."
Bennett joined Celtic in May 1903 from Rutherglen Glencairn and was a fixture in the side which won the League Title
Scottish football champions
The Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
for four consecutive years between 1905 and 1908. In the latter two years of this streak Bennett also collected 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...
winners medals. He joined Rangers as a free agent, having left Celtic in May 1908, and remained with the club until 1918. He won a further three League Championships while at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
.
Bennett was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
11 times for Scotland, gaining three caps while at Celtic and the remaining 8 while at Rangers. He made his Scotland debut against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in March 1904 and scored his first international goal, again against Wales, four years later. He scored his second international goal in his final Scotland appearance, against 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...
in March 1913. He also appeared 10 times in representative matches for the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
.
After leaving Rangers, Bennett played on until his fortieth birthday, with firstly Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
then Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)
Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division...
. He was later manager of Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
and Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
.