B | Player Pics | A-Z of Players
Personal
Fullname: Alexander Byrne
aka: Alec Byrne
Born: 4 June 1933
Died: 9 November 2020
Birthplace: Greenock
Signed: 25 September 1954 (from Royal Engineers)
Left: 22 June 1963 (to Morton)
Position: Outside-Left
Debut: East Fife 2-0 Celtic, League, 9 Mar 1957
Internationals: N/A
International Caps: N/A
Biog
Having first started at Gourock Juniors, he signed for Celtic in 1954 from Royal Engineers, after having had trials with Motherwell, Stirling Albion and Third Lanark, and would remain at the club until 1963 before departing for his hometown side Morton. He made his first team debut in season 1956-57 but throughout his Parkhead career he never managed to command a regular starting spot. It was a poor time to play for Celtic, as after the league cup win in 1957, Celtic did not win another trophy until 1965.
On his joining, John McPhail had pointed him out as “Byrne is assured of a great future at Paradise“. It wasn’t to be.
Celtic were at their worst and really were very poorly managed, not an environment for any aspiring players. ‘An Alphabet of the Celts‘ described him as symbolising the Seven Lean Years.
Despite the lack of opportunities and the poor set-up, he still managed to notch up an impressive 31 goals so he was able to hold his head up high and be proud of his achievements.
Alec Byrne was also part of the first Celtic team to play a competitive European football tie when Valencia beat the visiting Hoops 4-2 in the first round, first leg tie of the Inter City Fairs Cup on 26 September 1962. A good milestone for this fine gentleman, but it is a little footnote to what else he likely deserved to achieve and be part of.
However, Alec Byrne was often childishly referred to by some as ‘Alice Byrne’, mainly because he wasn’t exactly keen on the old 50-50 tackles.
He was said to be destroyed by barracking (sledging) even when it was directed at colleagues and not at him, which likely shows a good but soft heart. A football atmosphere can be a real cauldron. He is remembered with respect by the long-suffering support of the time, despite the lack of success.
He was noted to have been a fine gentleman of a player who worked full shifts daily in the shipyards at Greenock and trained the nights at Port Glasgow and Cappielow.
A winger with dazzling speed and control, but the promise didn’t pay out.
He played 100 times in nine years at Celtic, leaving for Morton in 1963. He was to be part of the famous Morton side of 1963-64. He helped them win the Second Division and get to the League Cup final against Rangers, which Morton sadly lost 5-0 (although he didn’t play in the final). He didn’t stay with Morton for long though.
After joining Queen of the South for a season in February 1964, he later moved Down Under to play for Hellas FC in Australia, where afterwards he went on to coach them. The club is known today as West Adelaide Soccer Club.
He died in November 2020 at the age of 87 in Adelaide, in part from the impact of dementia which sadly had also impacted the lives of some of his peers in football from his playing days (e.g. Billy McNeil).
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1954-63 | 70 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 100 |
| Goals | 22 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 31 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Anecdotes
1) Just heard the sad news that Alex Byrne has died in Australia. A Greenock man, he was a skilful footballer who played forward for @CelticFC from the mid 50’s to mid 60’s. He died in Adelaide at the ripe old age of 87 with dementia a contributory factor RIP Alex
Twitter: EFM @EFM_1 Source: https://twitter.com/EFM_1/status/1328102756641550336?s=20 ; poster is a family friend of the Byrne family
Pictures
Articles
Celtic Football Club condolences
By: Newsroom Staff on 09 Nov, 2020 14:31
Tweet
EVERYONE at Celtic Football Club is saddened to hear of the death of former player, Alec Byrne, who has passed away at the age of 87.
Alec signed for Celtic in September 1954 from youth side Royal Engineers, and left for Greenock Morton in June 1963. During this time, the outside-left was best known for his fine close control and speed down the wing, accruing 100 appearances and scoring an impressive 31 goals during his time at the club.
After spending one year at Greenock Morton, Alec spent a season at Queen of the South before swapping Scotland for Australia, playing for (and latterly coaching) Hellas, known today as West Adelaide Soccer Club.
The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Alec’s family and friends at this very sad time.
Alec Byrne – A talented left winger at a difficult time for Celtic
By David Potter9 November, 2020 No Comments
Alec Byrne – A talented left winger at a difficult time for Celtic
It was with sadness that we heard of the death of Alec Byrne. Alec played for Celtic between 1957 and 1963, and these years immediately tell us that he was very unfortunate to have been at the club at precisely the wrong time.
Born in Greenock in 1933, Alec played 70 League games for the club, and if you add other appearances in the Scottish Cup, Europe and Glasgow Cup, his tally comes to 100 exactly. Such was the chaotic set-up at Celtic Park that he never really had a chance to settle, and yet he had some splendid games on the left wing.
He was fast, could beat a man and could run up the touchline and cross, but seemed now and again to lack confidence in his ability to cut inside and have a go himself. He had the misfortune to be up against some brutal defenders now and again, not least Bobby Shearer of Rangers who rejoiced in the nickname of Captain Cutlass – and that says it all!
His best game for the club was in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup in 1961 when he was superb on the left wing as Celtic beat Airdrie 4-0 to set up a final against Dunfermline. He was thus part of both Scottish Cup finals (first game and replay) in April 1961, and shared the pain of us all when the forward line did everything but score that misty night of the replay.
He also played the following season in the quarter final replay against Third Lanark at Hampden and was generally reckoned to have been brilliant, but then came the semi-final against St Mirren at Ibrox when the fans turned nasty. Alec was one of the few successes and scored Celtic’s only goal after the fans had been cleared off the park, and the game had already been conceded by the embarrassed Celtic Directors.
Alec Byrne (bottom right) with his Celtic team-mates
He also has the honour of having played in Celtic’s first ever European game against Valencia, and that was after he was given the chance to play the second half in Celtic’s famous friendly against Real Madrid in September 1962.
One would have liked to have seen him given a chance to play under Jock Stein, but quite simply Alec came at the wrong time. He was a total gentleman and was genuinely upset at some of the filth hurled at him and others by so called supporters when things were going badly. His potential was never really given a chance in appropriate circumstances, and sadly he must remain one of Celtic’s “might have beens”.
He left the club in 1963 to play for Greenock Morton and Queen of the South before moving to Australia. He was 87 when he died, and our thoughts go out to his family. RIP Alec Byrne.
David Potter