Mathie, Alex

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Fullname: Alexander Mathie
aka: Alex Mathie
Born: 20 Dec 1968
Birthplace: Bathgate, Scotland
Signed: 1981 (Celtic BC); 15 May 1987 (full)
Left: 10 Aug 1991 (Morton)
Position: Striker
Debut: Celtic 1-2 Motherwell, League, 11 Feb 1989
Internationals: none

Biog

Alex Mathie came through the youth system at Celtic Park and signed professional terms with the Bhoys in May 1987. He was a big tip for the top, but like most of what transpired in what were to be “The Barren Years“ for Celtic, he never reached the heights with Celtic and left early.

Capable of playing up front or outwide the Bathgate-born player made his first team debut as a sub in a 2-1 home league defeat to Motherwell on 11th February 1989. He would make irregular appearances over the next two seasons for the Bhoys after that but never showed enough to suggest he had a long term future at Parkhead.

Celtic were poor throughout that period, unable to compete with the free spending Rangers, whilst Celtic were abject both in the boardroom and on the field. Billy McNeill was not able to adjust in this new environment either and made some poor decisions which the team suffered from (transfers and tactics).

Alex Mathie still managed to play in 12 games for Celtic, and he did play in some fine victories. His last game was a 5-1 victory over Dunfermline in the league in April 1991, so he was to sign off on a good note.

He didn’t want to leave Celtic, and complained that: “I didn’t like it. I think Liam Brady only saw me once before I was sold. When I wasn’t on the Irish tour, I knew it was time to go.” It was typical of the generally poor management and decision-making under Liam Brady who had just come in as manager.

Post-Celtic
He departed in August 1991 to Morton where his impressive form prompted Kevin Keegan to take him to Newcastle, where he was said to have scored a world class goal on his debut v Sheffield Wednesday.

He later enjoyed a long successful spell at Ipswich before moving on to Dundee United and York City. Taking in the paucity of quality at Celtic in the early 1990s, losing Alex Mathie was likely another error amongst the many in those lowly days, although things were poor at Dundee Utd where aggressive chairman Jim McLean dubbed his transfer as “a complete disaster… a dreadful buy“. It was late in Mathie’s career, and such a public rebuke by Jim McLean was not very good management or dignified.

There were some high moments including scoring a hat-trick on his debut for Ipswich v Sunderland, but he also was to play for Ipswich in the record 9-0 defeat to Man Utd in the top tier.

He went on to be player & manager for various lower tier sides with wonderful sounding names: Spennymoor Utd, West Auckland Town and Pickering Town. He then had a spell working for local BBC Radio Suffolk commentating on his former side Ipswich.

He later worked for Royal Mail, as a delivery office manager in the York and Leeds area.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

No Major Honours

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