Alec McClure

Infobox Football biography
playername = Alec McClure


fullname = Alexander McClure
dateofbirth = birth date|1892|4|3|df=y
cityofbirth = Workington
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = August 1973 (aged 81)
cityofdeath = Birmingham
countryofdeath = England
height =
position = Centre-half
youthyears =
youthclubs = Grangetown Juniors
years = 1912–1923 1923–1924 1924–1926 1926–1928 1928
clubs = Birmingham
Aston Villa
Stoke
Coventry City
Walsall
caps(goals) = 192 (4)
007 (0)
028 (0)
049 (7)
011 (0)

Alexander "Alec" McClure (3 April 1892 – August 1973) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-half. He played for Birmingham both before and after the First World War, making 198 appearances in all competitions, and helped them to the championship of the Second Division in 1920–21.

Born in Workington, Cumberland, McClure was a powerful player with good positional ability, who captained the reserve team before establishing himself as club captain and linchpin of the first team's defence. He played for the Football League XI in 1921–22 against the Irish Football League. After leaving Birmingham he went on to play for four other Midlands teams, Aston Villa, Stoke, Coventry City and Walsall. On retiring from playing he worked for short periods as trainer at various clubs, including trainer of Birmingham's juniors, and in 1932 he was appointed assistant manager of the club under Leslie Knighton and later under George Liddell. After leaving football he worked for Rudge motorcycles and went on to run a successful haulage business in Small Heath, Birmingham.

During the First World War McClure served in the Royal Navy and was involved in the Zeebrugge Raid. He died in Birmingham at the age of 81.

References

*cite book
author=Joyce, Michael |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |publisher=SoccerData (Tony Brown) |location=Nottingham |pages=p. 164 |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-899468-67-6
*cite book
author=Matthews, Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |year=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |pages=p. 108 |isbn=1-85983-010-2
*cite book
title=The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875~2000 |author=Matthews, Tony |year=2000 |month=October |publisher=Britespot |location=Cradley Heath |pages=p. 145 |isbn=0-9539288-0-2

Persondata
NAME = McClure, Alec
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = McClure, Alexander
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1892-04-03
PLACE OF BIRTH = Workington, Cumberland, England
DATE OF DEATH = August 1973
PLACE OF DEATH = Birmingham, England