Alex Willoughby (1962 to 1968)
Alex Willoughby arrived at Ibrox in the summer of 1960, reporting for training on the very same day as a certain Jim Baxter. While Baxter was the new big money signing from Raith Rovers, Alex was still a schoolboy and largely unknown to the Rangers support. He was, however, highly sought after, with over 30 professional clubs chasing his signature across the length and breadth of the country. Those clubs were quite simply wasting their time—playing for Rangers was all that the “true blue” Alex had ever dreamt of.
Alex was born on 17 September 1944 and, along with his cousin Jim Forrest, was a product of the famous Drumchapel Amateurs. It would be fair to say that Alex and Jim’s careers would be entwined over the next 20 plus years. As youngsters, they formed part of the first ever intake of groundstaff boys at Ibrox in the pre ‘S’ form days, joined by the likes of Craig Watson and the more established Willie Henderson. He cut his teeth in the Third Team alongside John Greig and Ronnie McKinnon, coached by the legendary Jock “Tiger” Shaw.
In an era that included Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow, Greig, McKinnon, Baxter, Henderson, McMillan, Millar, Brand and Wilson, 18 year old Alex made his debut on 18 May 1963, with “the wee Prime Minister” Ian McMillan making way—a player to whom Alex would frequently be compared throughout his career. Queen of the South were defeated 3–1 at Ibrox, and Alex retained his place for the short trip to Shawfield just four days later. Despite falling behind to an early goal from Clyde, Alex netted his first two goals for the club as a second successive 3–1 victory was achieved.
A silky inside right, Alex was an extremely clever player who consistently demonstrated intelligent use of the ball and an outstanding range of passing. Initially deployed as a playmaker, he would ultimately convert into a more recognisable striker and goal scorer.
A Jim Baxter inspired Rangers side were flying at this time, winning the League Championship and Scottish Cup in 1962/63, followed by the domestic treble in 1963/64—still regarded by many as the greatest Gers side of all time. Alex’s one and only major honour came during that treble winning season when he found himself in Scot Symon’s starting line up for the League Cup Final. Rangers blitzed Morton with five second half goals, all scored by the cousins: Jim (four) and Alex (one). It was an incredible moment for the two youngsters. Despite the result, a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was another clear highlight of Alex’s career.
While Forrest had become an established first team player—scoring a staggering 57 goals in the 1964/65 season alone—Alex featured as required during this period. However, with the League Championship relinquished to Kilmarnock in 1965, despite Forrest’s prolific scoring, Alex’s opportunity for an extended run in the side would come during the 1965/66 season.
Alex featured on 34 occasions, scoring 12 times in a campaign that culminated in Rangers winning the Scottish Cup, although Alex did not play in the Final or the replay. The triumph provided revenge for the earlier League Cup Final defeat to Celtic, in which Willoughby had featured. He was also on the scoresheet at Hampden in the semi final as champions Kilmarnock were defeated 6–4.
The following season, 1966/67, will forever stir emotion and debate. The unthinkable defeat to Berwick Rangers on 27 January 1967 marked the end of Jim Forrest’s Rangers career, with George McLean the other casualty. Alex was not involved that day, but by a twist of fate it propelled him back into regular first team contention. The following month he scored hat tricks in consecutive matches against Hearts and Clyde. In March, he netted four against Motherwell at Fir Park and followed that with a double against Ayr United at Ibrox. Post Berwick, Alex appeared in 11 of a possible 14 league matches, scoring an impressive 16 goals in the process.
However, by the time Rangers met Bayern Munich in the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup, the relationship between Alex and the club had become strained and, at his own request, he found himself on the transfer list. Having jettisoned Forrest and McLean in the aftermath of Berwick, defender Roger Hynd was handed the makeshift striking role in Nuremberg.
The 1967/68 season would prove to be Alex’s last as a regular first team player. He scored 10 goals in 24 league appearances, with Davie White now at the helm. His winner at Rugby Park on 20 April 1968 proved to be his 47th—and final—goal for the club, with his last appearance coming later that year at Shawfield, the scene of his first ever Gers goals. To score almost half a century of goals in just 93 appearances was an outstanding return.
Alex joined Aberdeen in 1969, where he spent five years, once again reunited with Jim Forrest. From there, he enjoyed spells in South Africa, Australia and the Far East, where a colony of ex Gers players existed at Hong Kong Rangers, including Willie Johnston, Billy Semple and, of course, Forrest.
On his return to Scotland, Alex was back where he belonged, working in the Supporters’ Association Social Club and the hospitality suites at Ibrox. His outgoing personality made him extremely popular with both the fanbase and everyone within the club. He proudly watched his son, Kirk, join the Ibrox ground staff in the late 1990s, further strengthening the family connection.
Alex died in July 2004, aged 59.
by Rick Plews
