Alex Willoughby (1962 to 1969)
Alex Willoughby first arrived at Ibrox in the summer of 1960, reporting for training that same first day as a certain Jim Baxter. Whilst Baxter was the new big money signing from Raith Rovers, Alex was still a schoolboy being courted by the Club and, of course, an unknown quantity to the Rangers support. He was, however, a young player in great demand with over 30 professional sides the length and breadth of the UK scrambling after his signature. Those other teams were, frankly, wasting their time. Playing for Rangers was all that ‘true blue’ Alex had ever dreamt of doing and 2 years later he would become a Ranger.
Alex was born on September 17th 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 years. By 1962 the young cousins would be part of the first ever intake of groundstaff boys at Ibrox (pre ‘S’ form days), joined by the likes of Craig Watson and linking up with the more established Willie Henderson. Willoughby would cut his teeth in the 3rd team alongside John Greig and Ronnie McKinnon, coached by the legendary ‘Tiger’ Shaw.
In the era of Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow, Greig, McKinnon, Baxter, Henderson, McMillan, Millar, Brand & Wilson, 18 year old Alex made his debut on May 18th, 1963 with “the wee Prime Minister”, Ian McMillan, making way (he would frequently be compared to McMillan throughout his career). Queen of the South were defeated 3-1 at Ibrox and Alex would retain his place for the short trip to Shawfield just 4 days later. Despite falling behind to an early Clyde strike, 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 always showed intelligent use of the ball and an outstanding range of passing. Initially starting out as a playmaker, he would ultimately convert to become a more orthodox striker and goal scorer.
A Jim Baxter inspired Rangers were flying at this particular time winning the League Championship and Scottish Cup in 1962/63 followed by the domestic treble in 1963/64 and many still regard this Gers side as being the greatest of them all. Alex’s one and only major honour came in that Treble winning season of 1963/64 when he found himself in Scot Symon’s starting line up for the League Cup Final. Rangers blitzed Morton with 5 second half goals all of which were scored by the cousins, Jim (4) and Alex (1). It was an incredible moment for both Alex and Jim.
Another of Alex's personal highlights of season 1963/64 was a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to face the mighty Real Madrid. Whilst the result was not one to remember, Alex was presented with match shirt of the legendary Ferenc Puskas who described young Willoughby as "the most promising young inside man he had ever seen". High praise indeed.
Whilst Forrest was now an established first team player (he scored a staggering 57 goals in season 1964/65 alone) Alex came into the side, performing admirably, as when required during that period. However, with the League Championship relinquished to Kilmarnock in 1965 (despite Forrest’s scoring exploits) his opportunity for an extended run in the team would come in season 1965/66.
Alex would feature on 34 occasions scoring 12 times in a season that would see Rangers win the Scottish Cup (Alex did not play in the Final or Replay, missing out due to injury). The Scottish Cup victory offered some revenge for the League Cup Final defeat to Celtic earlier on in the season in which Willoughby did feature. His semi-final goal had helped secure a dramatic 6-4 win over Champions Kilmarnock at Hampden.
The following season, 1966/67, will always be one that stirs emotion and debate. The unthinkable defeat to Berwick Rangers on 27th January 1967 would unforgivably mark the end of his cousin Jim’s Rangers career (George “Dandy” McLean being the other casualty). Alex did not play that day and his Gers career had stalled but by a twist of fate this result would catapult him back into regular first team action.
The following month he would score hat-tricks in consecutive matches versus Hearts and Clyde respectively. In March, he netted 4 against Motherwell at Fir Park and a double against Ayr United at Ibrox. Post Berwick, Alex had appeared in 11 of a possible 14 league matches and scored some 16 goals in the process. He was in the goal scoring form of his life.
With the League Championship and ECWC still a possibility, it seemed unimaginable that Alex would not be a permanent feature in the starting line up based on post-Berwick performances (even more so given the lack of alternative fire power following the decision to jettison both Forrest and McLean). However, he would find himself left out of the starting line up on several occasions during the run-in including the Semi-Final home tie with Slavia Sofia, all of which contribute to the player requesting a a transfer. With the title now lost and the ECWC Final approaching, history would repeat itself in Nuremburg as Willoughby was omitted and defender Roger Hynd handed the makeshift striking role. Rangers drew a blank and Bayern Munich won the match in extra time. Whilst many rightly bemoan the absence of Forrest and McLean, the decision not to play Alex seemed puzzling and the player himself never understood Symon’s reasoning.
1967/68 would prove to be the last season that Alex was regularly involved, netting 10 goals in 24 league appearances with Davie White now at the helm. His winner at Rugby Park on 20th April 1968 would prove to be his 47th and final goal for the Club with his last appearance coming towards the end of the year at Shawfield, scene of his first ever Gers goals. To reach almost a half century of goals in only 95 appearances was an outstanding return.
Alex would join Aberdeen in 1969 where he would spend 5 years, once again reunited with Jim Forrest. From there, he would have spells playing in South Africa, Australia and in the Far East where there was a ‘colony’ of Ex-Gers at Hong Kong Rangers including Willie Johnston, Billy Semple and, of course, Forrest.
On his return to Scotland he was back where he belonged, involved with Rangers working in the Supporters Association Social Club and in the Hospitality Suites within Ibrox where his outgoing personality made him extremely popular with the fanbase and all those within the Club. He proudly watched his son, Kirk, join the Ibrox ground staff in the late 1990’s as the family connection was further strengthened.
Alex Willoughby died in July 2004, aged just 59.
by Rick Plews
