Alex Dawson

Alexander Downie Dawson (born February 21, 1940 in Aberdeen) was a Scottish football player.

Alex started his career with Manchester United as a trainee. He helped the club win the league title in 1957. He left United for Preston North End in 1961 after scoring 54 career goals. At Preston he became known as "The Black Prince of Deepdale" and featured in their FA Cup Final side of 1964. He later played for Bury and Brighton. Whilst at Brighton he had a very successful loan spell at Brentford. In an away match against Hartlepool Utd he scored 4 of the goals in a 5-2 win. Needless to say Brentford wanted to sign him permananently but unfortunately the 2 parties were unable to agree terms. At the end of that season Brighton gave him a free transfer and he drifted out of League football altogether by signing for Southern League club Corby Town. They went bankrupt a year later !!

Dawson scored a hat-trick for United in their 5-3 victory over Fulham in the semi-final replay of the 1958 FA Cup, although United lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in the final. In total, he scored 52 goals in 96 games for United.

He remains the most recent player to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final.