- Alex Elder
Football player infobox
playername= Alex Elder
fullname = Alexander Russell Elder
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date|1941|4|25|df=yes (aged 66)
cityofbirth =Lisburn
countryofbirth =Northern Ireland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
currentclub =
clubcrest =
clubnumber =
position = Defender
years = 1958-1959
1959-1967
1967-1973
clubs = Glentoran
Burnley
Stoke
caps(goals) = 23 (0)
271 (15)
80 (1)
nationalyears = 1960-1969
nationalteam = flagicon|Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 40 (1)Alexander "Alex" Russell Elder (born
April 25 ,1941 ) is a retired Northern Irish football left back, who played for Burnley. He still lives in Burnley today.Elder was the very last piece in
Harry Potts Championship jigsaw, signing aged 17 in January 1959 for £5,000 from Irish League club Glentoran. [ [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=ED95&id=141158 Clarets Hall of Fame] ]He spent the remainder of the 1958/59 season in the Burnley reserves, remaining there when the 1959/60 season began.
By the eighth game of that season he made his first team debut against Preston and the great
Tom Finney . [ [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=ED95&id=141158 Ibid] ]He was said to plays a very mature game for someone with so little experience of top-class football. Although not quick on the turn, he timed his tackles well and invariably mades good use of the ball. [ [http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulavfc2000/1962_-_burnley.htm 1960s Burnley FC] ]
Burnley: The golden years
The 1959-60 season brought Burnley its second, and to date last, league championship.
Elder admitted that he was fortunate as a young player to come into a side that included so many great players - including
Jimmy Adamson andJimmy McIlroy . [ [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/6698/profiles/a-elder.html Elder interview] ]He made his first team debut against Preston. Despite a 1-0 defeat Elder played well enough to retain his place and played in all but one of the remaining games that season.
After a tense programme in Wolves and Spurs and Wolves were the other main title contenders, Burnley clinched the championship at Maine Road with a 2-1 victory on May 2, 1960.
Although they had been in contention all season, Burnley had never led the table until this last match was played out.
Elder played in Burnley's European Cup campaign the following season and then in the FA Cup Final Wembley side of 1962.
He forged a formidable full back partnership with John Angus and the two were only separated when Elder broke an ankle in pre-season training in 1963.
In July 1965, Elder succeeded Brian Miller as club captain.
Post Burnley career
Elder was just 26 when in August 1967 Burnley accepted £50,000 from Stoke City. While he was reluctant to leave, he admitted that his face did not fit in with the new coach, former teammate Jimmy Adamson. [ [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/6698/profiles/a-elder.html Elder interview] ]
He was injured in pre season training at Stoke and persistent knee problems dogged his time at the Potteries. His only season as a regular was 1968-69.
He played only briefly during the remainder of his career and was eventually released by Stoke in May 1973 before going on to play for Leek Town.
International career
In April 1960 Elder made his international debut for Northern Ireland in a Home International Championship game in Wrexham against Wales.
He won 34 caps while at Burnley and a further six after he transferred to Stoke. He also represented Northern Ireland at B, Under 23 and Schooboy level. [ [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/alex-elder.html NI greats] ]
Honours
;Burnley
*FA Cup finalists: 1962Notes
References
* [http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=ED35&id=343133 Burnley stats]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/6698/profiles/a-elder.html Elder interview]
* [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=ED36&id=302674 International record]
* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/11/alex-elder.html NI football greats]
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