Ally Dawson
Encyclopedia
Alastair Dawson is a retired Scottish professional football defender
who spent most of his career at Rangers
.
He never went on to fulfill his potential, partly because of a serious injury sustained during another club tour of Canada, when he fractured his skull
. He recovered, and became a centre back. He made a total of 316 appearances for Rangers, scoring 8 goals. He received two Scottish Cup
winner's medals, in 1979
and 1981
, and four League Cup
winner's medals – in 1979, 1984
, 1985
and 1987
. He was capped
5 times for Scotland
, all while at Rangers.
After 12 years at the club, Dawson left Rangers for Blackburn Rovers
in 1987 for £25,000. He signed for Limerick F.C.
in 1990 and returned to Scotland later that season with Airdrie, before becoming Player/Manager of Maltese league club Luxol St. Andrews
. He went on to manage Hamilton Accies
for a three year spell between 1999 and 2003 where he won the Scottish Third Division title.
In 2011, Ally Dawson was inducted into Rangers FC's Hall of Fame.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent most of his career at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Playing career
Dawson was signed as a sixteen year old in 1975 by manager Jock Wallace and made his debut in a pre-season tour in Canada. He was a full back who could play on either side of the pitch, and soon became the club captain.He never went on to fulfill his potential, partly because of a serious injury sustained during another club tour of Canada, when he fractured his skull
Skull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
. He recovered, and became a centre back. He made a total of 316 appearances for Rangers, scoring 8 goals. He received two Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
winner's medals, in 1979
1978-79 in Scottish football
The 1978-1979 season was the 82nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Hearts, Motherwell-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Dundee, Kilmarnock...
and 1981
1980-81 in Scottish football
The 1980-81 season was the 84th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Kilmarnock, Hearts-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Hibernian, Dundee...
, and four League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winner's medals – in 1979, 1984
1983-84 in Scottish football
The 1983–84 season was the 87th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: St...
, 1985
1984-85 in Scottish football
The 1984–85 season was the 88th season of competitive football in Scotland. This is the last time a non Old Firm club has won the Scottish Premier title.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dumbarton, Morton....
and 1987
1986-87 in Scottish football
The 1986–87 season was the 90th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:In the first full season under the management of player-manager Graeme Souness, Rangers won their first league title since 1978, and also won the League Cup....
. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
5 times for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, all while at Rangers.
After 12 years at the club, Dawson left Rangers for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in 1987 for £25,000. He signed for Limerick F.C.
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
in 1990 and returned to Scotland later that season with Airdrie, before becoming Player/Manager of Maltese league club Luxol St. Andrews
St. Andrews F.C.
St. Andrews Football Club are a Maltese football club from the new urban town of St. Andrew's, Pembroke, which currently plays in the Maltese First Division.-History:...
. He went on to manage Hamilton Accies
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
for a three year spell between 1999 and 2003 where he won the Scottish Third Division title.
In 2011, Ally Dawson was inducted into Rangers FC's Hall of Fame.