Alex Harley
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Alex" Harley (20 April 1936 – 1969) was a Scottish
professional footballer born in Glasgow
who played for Third Lanark
, Manchester City
and Birmingham City
, Dundee
and Portadown
as a centre forward.
Harley joined Third Lanark
in 1958, and scored 71 goals in two seasons from 1960 to 1962, his 42 goals in the 1960-61 making him the highest scorer in the Scottish Football League First Division
. In the 1962 close-season he was signed by English club Manchester City
for £19,500. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa
on 25 August 1962, and scored his first Manchester City goal two games later against Tottenham Hotspur
. He scored 31 more goals in all competitions that season, including the winner in a Manchester derby
at Old Trafford
, to become the club's leading scorer, but Manchester City finished the season in 21st place and were relegated.
Harley joined Birmingham City
in the close season for £42,000, thereby staying in the top division. He scored 9 goals in 28 League appearances for Birmingham, and moved back to Scotland in 1965, joining Dundee
. He made just ten appearances for Dundee, scoring four goals, and was then transferred to Northern Irish club Portadown
.
Harley died in Birmingham in 1969.
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 footballer born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
who played for 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...
, 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...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, 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...
and Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
as a centre forward.
Harley joined 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...
in 1958, and scored 71 goals in two seasons from 1960 to 1962, his 42 goals in the 1960-61 making him the highest scorer in the Scottish Football League First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
. In the 1962 close-season he was signed by English club 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...
for £19,500. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on 25 August 1962, and scored his first Manchester City goal two games later against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. He scored 31 more goals in all competitions that season, including the winner in a Manchester derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, to become the club's leading scorer, but Manchester City finished the season in 21st place and were relegated.
Harley joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the close season for £42,000, thereby staying in the top division. He scored 9 goals in 28 League appearances for Birmingham, and moved back to Scotland in 1965, joining 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...
. He made just ten appearances for Dundee, scoring four goals, and was then transferred to Northern Irish club Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
.
Harley died in Birmingham in 1969.