Alex Govan

Scottish footballer (1929-2016)

Alexander "Alex" Govan (16 June 1929 – 10 June 2016) was a Scottish professional footballer. He played at outside left. Most of his career, he played with Plymouth Argyle (in two spells) and with Birmingham City during their most successful period in the 1950s. He also had a short spell with Portsmouth.

Alex Govan
Govan in December 2008
Personal information
Full name Alexander Govan
Date of birth (1929-06-16)16 June 1929
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 10 June 2016(2016-06-10) (aged 86)
Place of death Plymouth, England
Position(s) Outside left
Youth career
Bridgeton Boys Club
1944–1946 Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1953 Plymouth Argyle 110 (28)
1953–1958 Birmingham City 166 (53)
1958 Portsmouth 11 (2)
1958–1960 Plymouth Argyle 32 (8)
Total 319 (91)
Teams managed
1972–1973 Truro City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Govan died at his Plymouth, England home on 10 June 2016 at the age of 86.[1]

Career statistics change

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Plymouth Argyle[2] 1946–47 Second Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
1947–48 Second Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
1948–49 Second Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
1949–50 Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1950–51 Third Division South 35 9 3 1 38 10
1951–52 Third Division South 35 9 1 0 36 9
1952–53 Third Division South 33 10 3 2 36 12
Total 110 28 7 3 117 31
Birmingham City[3] 1953–54 Second Division 38 8 2 0 40 8
1954–55 Second Division 37 15 4 1 41 16
1955–56 First Division 36 4 3 0 1[a] 0 40 4
1956–57 First Division 35 24 7 4 2[a] 2 44 30
1957–58 First Division 20 2 0 0 2[a] 0 22 2
Total 166 53 16 5 5 2 187 60
Portsmouth[4] 1957–58 First Division 9 2 9 2
1958–59 First Division 2 0 2 0
Total 11 2 11 2
Plymouth Argyle[2] 1959–60 Third Division 20 6 1 0 21 6
1960–61 Second Division 12 2 0 0 12 2
Total 32 8 1 0 33 8
Career total 319 91 24 8 5 2 348 101
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Appearances in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

Honours change

Plymouth Argyle

Birmingham City

Sources change

  • Lewis, Peter, ed. (2000). Keeping right on since 1875 The Official History of Birmingham City Football Club. Lytham: Arrow. ISBN 1-900722-12-7.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.
  • Matthews, Tony (2000). The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000. Cradley Heath: Britespot. ISBN 0-9539288-0-2.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: Derby Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.

References change

  1. "RIP Alex Govan – 1929–2016". Birmingham City F.C. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Alex Govan". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. Matthews (2010), pp. 342–353, 473.
  4. "Alex Govan". PompeyRama. Retrieved 7 April 2024.