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Fullname: Alan Roderick Rough
aka: Alan Rough, Roughie, Scruffie
Born: 25 November 1951
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Signed: 9 August 1988 (from Orlando Lions)
Left: 23 December 1988 (to Hamilton Academical)
Position: Goalkeeper
First game: Ayr United 4-1 home League Cup 17 August 1988
Last game: Dundee United 1-0 home League 12 October 1988
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 53
International Goals: 0
Biog
“Although I only played seven games, every time I go to Parkhead it is like I was there for years. If you played for Celtic once, that’s good enough – you’re one of them forever!”
Alan Rough
Former Scotland international keeper Alan Rough came to Celtic at the tale end of his career, on a free transfer from Orlando Lions in August 1988.
Alan Rough is best remembered for being part of the the debacle that was the Scotland World Cup campaign in 1978 (not that he was by any way the poorest performer out there). It does have to be said that he was instrumental in Scotland’s qualification to both the 1978 and 1982 World Cup finals with many fine displays.
He first came to the attention of Celtic fans with an unforgettable game in the 1971 League Cup final when humble Partick Thistle sensationally beat Jock Stein’s all powerful Celtic by 4-1 in one of Scottish football’s greatest ever upsets.
The Gorbals-born 36-year-old had been a player-coach in the US immediately before his surprise switch to Parkhead. The move came about as Celtic first choice keeper Pat Bonner was recuperating from a back injury while replacement Ian Andrews had gone down with a virus. Celtic were desperate for cover for goalkeeping especially with Allen McKnight leaving.
World Cup veteran Rough made his debut in a 4-1 League Cup victory at home to Ayr United on August 17th, and in time replaced Andrews who couldn’t shake off a poor set of results, with just the one clean sheet and a 5-1 defeat to Rangers. Celtic at this point having a hangover following the successes of the previous season. His league debut match for Celtic, was a match to be forgotten as Celtic sunk 1-0 to Dundee away, albeit one report commented that he impressed in the match. It was Celtic’s fifth defeat in seven league matches to that point.
The former Partick Thistle man a total of just seven competitive games – including two clean sheets – before joining Hamilton on December 23rd.
He had an especially good game against Honved at Parkhead in the European Cup in October 1988 when Celtic overturned a 1-0 deficit by winning 4-0, and was to be a popular figure with the fans during his short stay at the club. However, he did concede a number of goals in that brief number of games, seven goals, including three in a 3-1 loss to Hibs in the league.
Alan Rough had always had a leaning towards Celtic (albeit in on Shoot! magazine interview he stated he grew up a Partick Thistle fan). He had been linked to big money moves to both Celtic and Rangers (and several English clubs) at his peak in the 1970’s but nothing ever materialised.
In May 1982, Alan Rough was giving a deserved testimonial from Partick Thistle and Celtic were chosen to play a Scotland select at Firhill. Some of his Scotland world cup team mates (e.g. Joe Jordan, Asa Hartford) turned out in support. A respectable crowd of 14,000 attended which was decent considering that Sandy Jardine’s testimonial game at Ibrox against Southampton was played on the same day and that Celtic had already played three league games in the previous eight days (including the night before).
Alan Rough was only a temporary goalkeeper but did well, especially as expectations of him were low and it was a very poor season for Celtic after the triumphs of the previous Centenary double. He did take pride in his short spell stating:
“I’m just glad to be able to say I played for Celtic”.
It’s a great pity that Alan Rough did not get to join Celtic at his peak, but also fair to say that unlucky not to play for Celtic at their best too.
After hanging up his gloves, he moved into coaching & media work, and also remained heavily involved at Partick Thistle in administration & management roles.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Shut-outs: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 (29%) |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Testimonial
Articles
Alan Rough on his league debut for Celtic:
(from The Scotsman newspaper)
ALAN ROUGH – Celtic goalkeeper
I had been playing for Orlando Lions and our season had finished. Billy McNeill phoned me to ask if I would consider coming back or was I staying for another season. I could have stayed another year but I decided to come back.
I played seven games in total – although people keep saying it was five, six or seven so even I am not sure. Dundee was a league game, Hibs was a league game, Dundee United, I played against Ayr United (in the Skol Cup) and there was a 7-1 v St Mirren and one against Motherwell. My last game was the Honved (European Cup) game.
I had gone to America with the thought of staying there for a few years. It was a good set up in Orlando. They had a waiver thing going on and we had four or five foreign players so whoever made up their mind would just come in and say we are not renewing your waiver.
There was always that in the back of your mind. I was 36 and we had a young keeper coming through at Orlando so in theory I might not have got another year. So when Billy McNeill phoned me up I jumped at it right away and came home. You always want to play with one of the big clubs.
I knew when Pat came back he would be No 1. And they obviously paid a lot of money for Ian Andrews – it never worked out for Ian. At the end of the day I knew I would be third choice but if I got a year out of it I knew it would be a year I would remember for the rest of my life. Ask any player who plays for the likes of Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts or whatever and then you go to Rangers or Celtic, it is just a different mindset all together.
I kept a yellow ‘CR Smith’ top. I had intended to keep my Celtic tracksuit but when I came out of the front door at Parkhead one day there was a disabled boy in a wheelchair who asked me for a pair of boots – I said I have to keep my boots, I have a game on Saturday! But I gave him my tracksuit.
Although I only played seven games, every time I go to Parkhead it is like I was there for years. If you played for Celtic once, that’s good enough – you’re one of them forever!