The Thistle Archive

The son of Alexander Allison (farmer/dairyman) and Mary Allison (née McClelland). The young Alex, a full back, was doing well at Peebles Rovers and, early in 1923, Manchester United, Newcastle United & Partick Thistle were clubs that were showing an interest. Robert Ireland of Rangers was loaned to Peebles Rovers for their Scottish Cup tie with Hibs on 31 January 1923 and, in the other direction, Alex Allison tried for Rangers during the following month. George Easton had ventured to Peebles to see Alex in action and, as he so often did, was the one who persuaded Alex to eventually sign with Thistle in June 1923. As it turned out, Alex was largely confined to Reserve duties in the Scottish Alliance, and only featured for the Thistle first team in a few friendly matches.

He made his debut as left back in the Jags 1-0 friendly win against Nithsdale Wanderers at Firhill on 21 August 1923. The match had been arranged as part of the Davie Ness transfer from Wanderers to Thistle, and what a bargain that turned out to be, with Davie playing for the club for more than 11 years, and clocking up just less than 100 goals. Denis O’Hare made way for Alex on that evening. His second and penultimate senior outing was against a Bute Select in Rothesay, a Benefit match for the widow and family of the former Rothesay Royal Victoria player Donald McPhail, a popular player. A crowd of around 1,000 attended, and the Thistle official contingent paid their own transport costs to play. The Jags won 2-0. Alex played as left half in this match. The match was played on Wednesday 14 November 1923, and on the following Tuesday (20 November 1923) Thistle played a Glasgow Select in aid of funds for the St Andrews Ambulance Association against a Glasgow Select. Alex moved back to left back, and a crowd of 4,000 enjoyed a 4-4 draw.

Alex found it hard to dispossess Denis O’Hare or Tom Crichton as left back and, in March 1924, he made the switch to Arbroath. He found his niche at the seaside where he was happy and became their first choice left back until May 1926. After 80+ appearances for the Red Lichties, Alex transferred to St Bernard's to be closer to home. He played regularly for St Bernard's in 1926-27, but fell out of favour in later seasons. He asked for a free transfer, but they put a £300 price on his head, limiting his potential to move. Operating outwith the Football League, Alex had spells down south with Kettering Town & Guildford City, before turning out back home for Chirnside United. Away from the football, Alex worked as a hospital nurse, and he married Isabella Brunton in Edinburgh in July, 1928. Alex died suddenly at his Haddington home in June 1941, his funeral taking place at Haddington New Cemetery on 24th June 1941.