Sad news has reached Club Historian Ron Parrott this afternoon with the passing of a player that many, many people will remember. It’s going back to the end of the John Charles era and it’s a player that John Charles himself, signed from Cheltenham Town in 1970/71. It was Alec Carson, a player that I always remember for his dogged determination and never-say-die spirited. Perhaps not one of the most exciting players in the team but if you wanted to win a game, he was the man to have in your side. Although not captain of the team, his was the voice heard above all others, cajoling, threatening and bullying his teammates to give that extra effort that was needed to win games. The following is my pen-pic of Alec, detailing his footballing career starting from his early days in Glasgow:-
Born Clarkston, Glasgow 12th November 1942
Alexander ‘Alec’ McPhee Carson was born in Glasgow but brought up in Corby, a Northamptonshire town that attracted many people from Scotland to work in the steelworks there. Young Alec showed promise at football and played for Corby Town's youth team before joining the ground staff at fourth division Northampton Town close to his 17th birthday. He signed professional for the Cobblers in November 1959 and made his Football League debut in a 1-1 draw against Stockport County in April 1961. He made seven appearances the following season but was never an established first team player and moved to Aldershot in May 1963, making five Division Four appearances over two years.
Alec became established as a versatile player who could operate at either full-back or half-back but it was at right half that he was signed by Cheltenham Town in the summer of 1965 after a trial with Bedford Town. Alec went on to make 258 appearances for the Robins, scoring 26 goals and captaining them for three of his four seasons at Whaddon Road. A very hard working player and an asset to any side, he was a leader who possessed a tremendous will to win and it was no surprise that he was in demand following Cheltenham Town's unfortunate relegation in 1969, when they went down by 0.002 of a goal in the days of goal average not goal difference. He moved to Worcester City in 1969/70 and scored 15 goals from 87 appearances over two years and won a Player of the Year award at St George's Lane. His two years at Worcester were interrupted by a season with Hereford United when he was signed by player-manager John Charles. Alec scored 4 goals in 34 appearances but after suffering a broken toe, was released at the end of the 1970/71 season. After leaving Worcester for a second time, Alec played for Evesham United, Cinderford Town and as player-coach at Ledbury Town in the mid-1970s.