Alex Smith (footballer, born 1939)

Smith was born in Cowie, a mining village close to Stirling, and played in the same youth team as Billy Bremner - Gowanhill United.

Stirling Albion remained in the second tier for four seasons, and were relegated in 1981 after failing to score a league goal for three months;[3] Smith nonetheless remained at the club until 1986 when he moved to St Mirren, with whom he won the Scottish Cup in 1987, overcoming that season's UEFA Cup finalists Dundee United with a young, all-Scottish team in a surprise result which endured as one of the Paisley club's most treasured achievements.

[6] New players were brought in, several from Dutch football including Theo Snelders and Hans Gillhaus, along with youth prospects such as Eoin Jess and Stephen Wright.

[5] In 1989–90 Aberdeen won the double of the League Cup (beating Rangers after losing to them the previous year) and Scottish Cup (in a penalty shootout against Celtic),[5] and in 1990–91 went into their final game at Ibrox needing only a draw to win the Scottish Premier Division championship on goals scored; a 2–0 defeat courtesy of a Mark Hateley brace sealed a third straight title for Rangers.

[10] Smith was 77 years old, which made him the oldest manager of a professional football club in Europe at the time.

[12][1][5] Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours for services to sport in Scotland.