HERD, Sanny (1929)

Overview

A Fifer, born in Bowhill on 8th November 1911. Prior to coming to Douglas Park he was with Hill O’ Beath juniors. Made his Accies debut six months before his eighteenth birthday and went on to become one of the greats of Douglas Park. In his first game he made a very promising start to his senior career and took the eye of the terracing experts. Renowned for his tremendous shooting ability as he packed a very powerful shot. Many of his goals came from distance and he was also a deadly penalty taker.

On 3rd September 1932 he hit a hat trick in 3 minutes against St Mirren in a 4-3 win at Douglas Park. In a match at home to Partick Thistle on 7th January 1933 he scored a hat trick of penalties. He scored four League threesomes that year and from his 27 outings he top scored with 25 goals. It was therefore no surprise when he was signed by Manchester City before the season was completed along with Jimmy McLuckie.

The joint fee was never disclosed but it was suggested in the press that it would be somewhere in the £4,000 region. Alex fitted well into the scheme of things at Maine Road and he appeared in the 1933 FA Cup Final versus Everton which City lost, he had better fortune the following season when once again they were in the Final and there they defeated Portsmouth 2-0 with Matt Busby and Frank Swift in the Manchester side.

When the war commenced he made a handful of appearances for Newcastle United. He also played for Manchester United as well. Another of the former players who found themselves back at Douglas Park in war time. In his case it was in February 1941. At the end of the 1941-42 season he also guested for Hibernian in a match.

Along with Frank Swift he played for the Army versus an Irish FA XI, scoring one of the goals in a 3-2 defeat and he and Swift later played versus an Irish League Select and again he scored, this time in a 3-2 win. With Willie Waddell as his wing partner he played for an Aberdeen Select versus an Army Select in May 1943 at Pittodrie. He was picked to play for a Scotland side to meet an eleven from the RAF in November 1943. Another of those players whose appearance for his country was regarded as unofficial as he was chosen against England in war time.

In April 1945, it was reported in the Glasgow press that Corporal Alex Herd was playing with Chelsea. His next club association was with Middlesborough in 1945-46 as well as turning out for Stockport County that same year also as a guest. Following the cessation of hostilities he returned to Maine Road and there he stayed until March 1948 when he moved to Stockport County where he played alongside his son, David, who was born in Hamilton.

Alex retired in 1951 after making 260 League appearances and 107 goals with City and an additional 110 appearances and scoring 35 goals for County. Brother Andrew played for Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.

When “Sanny” commenced his career with Accies he was 5’8” and weighed 11sts 12lbs. Died at Dumfries in 1982.

Debut on 27th April 1929 in a Scottish League match away to Clyde in which he scored.

Scottish League 85 Appearances 41 Goals (1 Four 6 Hat tricks )

Scottish Cup 5 Appearances 2 Goals

Southern League 59 Appearances 65 Goals (1 Hat trick)

Summer League Cup 15 Appearances 11 Goals

Summer Cup 3 Appearances 1 Goal

Lanarkshire Cup 4 Appearances 1 Goal

Accies Career

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