Alan Rough
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Alan Rough
Alan Rough
● Alan Rough (SFA)

born in Scotland

Alan Roderick Rough was born on Sunday, 25th November, 1951, in Glasgow.

The 6' 1 (12st 6lbs) goalkeeper signed for Scot Symon's Thistle on Monday, 20th October, 1969, having most recently been with Sighthill Amateurs.

Aged 18, he made his debut appearance on Wednesday, 8th April, 1970, in a 2-1 defeat at home to Morton in the SFL First Division.

Alan kept his first clean-sheet on Wednesday, 19th August, 1970, in a 0-0 draw away to Queen of the South in the League Cup.

He registered the last of his 191 clean-sheets on Saturday, 20th November, 1982, in a 1-0 win at home to Airdrieonians in the SFL First Division.

Fittingly, that was actually the last of his 631 games as a Jag, a mighty club-record which looks unbeatable!

Alan's club-list included Partick Thistle, Hibernian, Orlando Lions, Celtic, Hamilton Academical, Ayr United and Glenafton Athletic.
Bio Extra

Alan began his senior career at Firhill, having joined the club as an 18-year-old from Sighthill Amateurs in 1969, and he made his debut for the club at the end of the 69/70 season as Thistle were doomed to relegation to the Second Division. If it was not evident that Thistle had found a good young keeper in his first few games in the First Division, then the following season in the Second it became very obvious as Roughie was an important member of the promotion side which stormed their way to the title in 1971 and a League Cup victory a few months later in October 1971. Already Alan was assured a permanent place in Thistle lore, but he went on to become perhaps Thistle's finest ever keeper, being capped over 50 times for his country and bringing honour to the club over and over again. At the end of his Firhill career he moved to Hibs and continued his international career with the Edinburgh club. Following his time at Easter Road he had short spells with Hamilton Accies, Celtic and Ayr United, before working as a coach with Glenafton Athletic in the Ayrshire juniors league.
(NK)


As of 2nd June 2022, he became Alan Rough MBE, although we still like to call him 'Roughie'! The renowned custodian was worth 8 or 9 points per season in Auld money, and was a major factor in the club finishing in the Top 8 for 5 consecutive seasons from 1976-77 onwards.

He remains Thistle's record-holder in many ways; most appearances (631), most clean-sheets (191) and most-caps as a Jag (51). With Thistle he won 2 titles, 1 League Cup, 1 Glasgow Cup - as well as the International Gathering of the Clans tournament!

He played for Scotland 53 times in all, winning 2 British Championships in 1976 & 1977. Incredibly, he went to 3 consecutive World Cups with his country; playing in Argentina '78, Spain '82 & backing Jim Leighton at Mexico '86.

Interestingly, 5 Jags featured for Scotland in Alan's testimonial at Firhill on 9th May 1982 (see 'Scrapbook' tab). As well as the man himself, there was Brian Whittaker and 3 oncoming subs - Jamie Doyle, Mo Johnston and Donald Park, the latter of whom scored for the dark blues, alas only a consolation; Scotland 3 Celtic 8!

(WS)


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