Alexander Spalding

Alexander “Sandy” Spalding, was born in the north of Dundee. A keen sportsman, he played for East End as a half back after an initial spell in the junior ranks. He was considered one of the top players in the area and was part of the East End team that won the Dundee Charity Cup and he played on the losing side in three Forfarshire Cup finals. After retiring from playing, he took to refereeing local matches.

During retirement Spalding joined the Council Chamber and subsequently the board of Dundee FC in 1898. In 1903 he became President of the Forfarshire Association and was Forfarshire’s representative at the Scottish Football Association. It was during his time on the Dundee board that Spalding was instrumental in securing the site for Dens and, consequently, safeguarding the future of the club.

He retired from the board in June 1912 and from his post with the Scottish Football Association two months later. Citing work commitments as the reason for standing down from both posts, he felt he wouldn’t be able to give them the attention they deserved.

He was a joiner by trade, but joined Dundee Corporation as Inspector of Works, and was employed as such for over thirty years.

Mr Spalding died in 1932 and is buried in the Eastern Cemetery. He was ‘about’ 67 years old at his time of death and was survived by his wife and two daughters. His son was sadly killed during the Great War.

Image is taken from the Dundee Evening Post 23 May 1903 and is reproduced with the kind permission of DC Thomson. Copyright William Ferrier, Dundee.