He burst onto the scene at Ochilview with a hatful of crucial goals, most notably a hat-trick in a 5–1 trouncing of Albion Rovers, as the club chased promotion.
It was in mid-season however, with a surplus of strikers and shortages elsewhere in the squad, that Nipper was moved to right-back, where it was thought his experience of playing as a winger would benefit the team.
Indeed, his last minute volley to win at Montrose late in the season set the tone for Stenhousemuir's promotion just a matter of weeks later, the first in the club's history.
Stenhousemuir would survive that season, but despite this, his close relationship with the fans, and his desire to stay, Alan departed in August 2000 following an alleged difference of opinion with the club's board of directors.
[4] Lawrence made an appearance in the Scottish football film A Shot at Glory in 2000, alongside The Godfather star Robert Duvall, as well as Michael Keaton and Ally McCoist.