Alec McClure

Alec McClure

Personal information
Full name	Alexander McClure
Date of birth	(1892-04-03)3 April 1892
Place of birth	Workington, England
Date of death	2 October 1971(1971-10-02) (aged 79)
Place of death	Birmingham, England
Height	5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m)
Position(s)	Centre half
Youth career
–	Grangetown Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1912–1923	Birmingham	192	(4)
1923–1924	Aston Villa	7	(0)
1924–1926	Stoke	28	(0)
1926–1928	Coventry City	49	(7)
1928	Walsall	11	(0)
Total		287	(11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander McClure (3 April 1892 – 2 October 1971) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He played for Birmingham both before and after the First World War, making 198 appearances in all competitions, and helped them win the championship of the Second Division in 1920–21. He also played in the Football League for Aston Villa, Stoke, Coventry City and Walsall.

Career

McClure was born in Workington, Cumberland, on 3 April 1892. He was a powerful player with good positional ability, who captained Birmingham's reserve team before establishing himself as club captain and linchpin of the first team's defence. He played for the Football League XI in 1921–22 against the Irish Football League. After leaving Birmingham he went on to play for four other Midlands teams, Aston Villa, Stoke, Coventry City and Walsall. On retiring from playing he worked for short periods as trainer at various clubs, including as trainer of Birmingham's juniors, and in 1932 he was appointed assistant manager of the club under Leslie Knighton and later under George Liddell.

During the First World War McClure served in the Royal Navy and was involved in the Zeebrugge Raid. After leaving football he worked for Rudge motorcycles and went on to run a successful haulage business in Small Heath, Birmingham. The 1939 Register finds him living with his wife, Amy, in Kenelm Road, Small Heath, and engaged in war work, collecting scrap metal from factories. He was still resident at that address at the time of his death in Birmingham on 2 October 1971 at the age of 79. A nephew, Joe McClure, also became a professional footballer.

Career statistics

Source:

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Birmingham	1911–12	Second Division	7	0	0	0	7	0
	1912–13	Second Division	19	0	0	0	19	0
	1913–14	Second Division	16	0	2	0	18	0
	1914–15	Second Division	4	0	0	0	4	0
	1919–20	Second Division	24	0	2	0	26	0
	1920–21	Second Division	40	2	1	0	43	2
	1921–22	First Division	35	1	0	0	35	1
	1922–23	First Division	38	1	1	0	39	1
	1923–24	First Division	9	0	0	0	9	0
	Total		192	4	6	0	198	4
Aston Villa	1923–24	First Division	5	0	0	0	5	0
	1924–25	First Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	7	0
Stoke	1924–25	Second Division	24	0	1	0	25	0
	1925–26	Second Division	4	0	2	0	6	0
	Total		28	0	3	0	31	0
Coventry City	1926–27	Third Division South	35	6	1	0	36	6
	1927–28	Third Division South	14	1	1	0	15	1
	Total		49	7	2	0	51	7
Walsall	1927–28	Third Division South	11	0	0	0	11	0
Career total			287	11	11	0	298	11