Bennett, Alec – The Celtic Wiki

Personal

Fullname: Alexander Bennett
aka: Alec Bennett, Alex Bennett
Born: 20 October 1881
Died: 9 January 1940
Birthplace: Rutherglen
Signed: 21 April 1903
Left: 9 May 1908 (to Rangers)
Position: Forward
Debut: Celtic 2-1 Partick Thistle, League, 15 Aug 1903
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 11 in total, 3 with Celtic (other international caps with Rangers)
International Goals: 2 goals (1 whilst with Celtic)

Biog

A member of arguably Celtic’s greatest ever forward line (Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton), Alec joined Celtic from Ruthergien Glencairn in 1903 and renewed his outstanding attacking partnership with Jimmy McMenemy, which had been so rewarding for the junior side.

Slight in build, Alec Bennett created havoc in the final third of the pitch with an array of attributes which included great speed and trickery on the ball allied with an ability to score important goals. Initially a centre forward, he made way for Jimmy Quinn and moved out on to the wing, where he became an elusive and often brilliant outside right.

Alec Bennett certainly set the heather on fire, and after being a hat—trick hero as the Celts walloped St Mirren 5-2 in the Glasgow Charity Cup final of 1903, Alec made his international debut for Scotland during his first full season at Parkhead (a 1-1 draw against Wales in Dundee on 12 March 1904).

He won four Championship medals with Celtic (1905-08) and two Scottish Cup winner’s medals (1907, 1908), before joining Rangers as a free agent under an agreement of an L50 release clause.

Adored by the Celtic supporters (well at least until he joined Rangers), one fan penetrated the pavilion, enquired which were Bennett’s boots and began to extract the laces. He winked to Alec ‘Icicle’ McNair and proclaimed:

‘I’ll keep these. Just a wee souvenir’.

According to one source, Alec Bennett did seem to have his differences with Celtic, not only having an uncertain relationship with manager Willie Maley but, as a non-Catholic, feeling uncomfortable with the decidedly pro-Catholic ambience prevalent at Celtic Park at that time. However, this didn’t seem to bother others such as Sunny Jim Young who was also a non-Catholic at the club. More likely, Rangers had financially induced Alec Bennett, and regardless of all else, this was the crux to his departure. Celtic had reported Rangers on their approach, but lost the appeals.

One report, which is according to the family records of Willie Kivlichan, that a key reason of the transfer of Alec Bennett to Rangers was that Willie Kivlichan (then at Rangers) was found out to be ‘Catholic‘. So on realisation of their ‘error‘, to correct this issue at Ibrox, a transfer out was needed. In due course an unofficial swap involving Bennett was arranged, with Willie Kivlichan heading to Celtic and Alec Bennett to Rangers.

Alec Bennett won further honours with the Ibrox club, received eleven Scotland caps and also represented the Scottish League on ten occasions. Celtic lost out on this fine player, but Willie Kivlichan was to be a great player & club servant for the remainder of his life.

During the First World War Alec Bennett played for Dumbarton and ended his playing career at Albion Rovers in 1920/21.

Alec Bennett subsequently managed Third Lanark and Clydebank, and wrote a column for the Sunday Mail titled ‘Send Your Football Problems – conducted by Alec Bennett‘.

He died on 9 January 1940, aged fifty-eight.

His grandson, Sandy Carmichael, was to become a famous Scotland rugby international in the 1970s. Sandy Carmichael’s full name was Alexander Bennett Carmichael, likely named in honour of his grandfather.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1903-08	126	26	n/a	n/a	152
Goals:	47	6	–	–	53

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

1904-05, 1905-06, 1906-07, 1907-08

Scottish Cup

1907, 1908

Pictures

Player Pictures

Articles

The Scotsman – Friday, 5th June 1908, page 5

Scottish Football Association

The Celtic Football Club Complaint.

At a meeting of the Scottish Football Association, held last Thursday, a Special Commission was appointed to make inquiry into a complaint from the Celtic Football Club regarding the signing on of Alexander Bennett, one of their last season’s players, for the Rangers. This Commission met last evening – Mr John Liddell presiding.

It will be remembered that the Celtic in their letter of complaint stated that when on the 20th April, they asked Bennett to sign on with them for the coming season, he refused, and said that it would be ridiculous for him to expect from them such a big offer as he had been given by another club. Subsequently on May 9th, he signed on with the Rangers. The Celtic appealed for the Commission to inquire with the view of finding what club had made an offer to Bennett in April, thus violating the rules applicable to the close season.

Last evening the following parties were examined :- For the Celtic – W. Maley, M. Dunbar, T. Colgan, J. Kelly, and the player Bennett; for the Rangers – W. Wilton, secretary. Ultimately it was found not proved that Bennett had been approached by any other club than the Celtic during the month of April.

Medals

Art Deco Necklase Sold for £5,400
Alec Bennett’s Scottish Football League versus Southern Football League medal, awarded to the player on the 14th October 1912, made in nine carat gold Note: Alec Bennett was born in 1881, signed for Glasgow Celtic Football Club in 1903 where over the five seasons he played there won four Scottish League Championships as initially a centre forward and later outside right. He won three full international caps with Scotland during his Celtic career, before signing for Glasgow Rangers in May 1908, ten days after scoring the winning goal against them, becoming the first footballer to play for both Celtic and Rangers. This transfer caused an enquiry to be called for though Celtic’s complaint that the player had been approached by Rangers was found without substantiation owing to a clause in the players contract. He continued to play for Rangers until 1914, winning three more league championship medals and eight further full international caps. Quotes of the period in respect of the player included “A veritable artful dodger with rare speed and command of the ball” and “He had a rare and speedy stride and when he ran it took a good man to catch him”. He died in 1940

Anecdote on medal
A funny story (not to the buyer) about this medal when it came up for auction.

I was in the sale room when this medal came up for sale in a Glasgow Auction, estimated £300/500, when i viewed it seen Rangers FC inscribed on the reverse and thought ” may go the £300 as he did play for the tic at one time”, when the lot came up bidding was ferocious between the porter who was holding what we would call a buy me bid (no final price given) for someone who could not make it to the sale, the other bidder had a representative bidding on their behalf (again no final price given) when the bidding was up at £5200 the guy who left the porter with his bid walked in and asked a pal of his who was in the room to buy furniture “whats that they are bidding on” his pal told him “some rangers medal” when he heard this he could not let the porter know quick enough to stop bidding, the hammer then went down at £5400 + 15% commission, OUCH!!! the rep being the winner (or should that be loser) i know of the the guy who jumped out at the last minute and hes a millionaire who gifts rangers memorabilia to his blue nose accountant , the winning bidder is also a millionaire who you would know as a ex Celtic director and has probably the best Celtic collection bar none, (bet that medal does not sit well in his collection) i was hoping the wee hun was the buyer as i have no time for him, (just as well he walked in) and it just shows you what can happen when 2 millionaires collide at Auction.