Football star who shone as a teacher

THE funeral of Dundee-born footballer Alex Kiddie has taken place at St Leonard and St Fergus RC Church, Dundee.

While only 20 people were allowed to attend under current restrictions, tens of thousands of people have reacted to the death of the Aberdeen FC great, said Mr Kiddie’s son, Paul.

Hundreds of former pupils and colleagues from St John’s High School, where Mr Kiddie taught in later life, have sent personal messages, recalling the influence he had on many young lives.

Mr Kiddie gained the distinction of remaining an amateur throughout his career to allow him to continue studying maths and physics at St Andrews University.

He was signed by Aberdeen in 1945. When the Pittodrie side beat Rangers to win the Southern League Cup before a Hampden crowd of 130,000 in 1946, Mr Kiddie did not receive a penny because of his amateur status. Instead, he was presented with an engraved watch by the club’s management.

Mr Kiddie was believed to have been the only surviving member of that cupwinning team.

That watch still keeps great time, said Paul, and he is considering having it framed in his father’s memory.

Mr Kiddie later had spells with Falkirk, Celtic, Dundee, Brechin and Montrose.

He spent his entire 93 years living in Dundee, said Paul.

Mr Kiddie graduated as a BSc in maths and physics during his playing career and then went on to become head of the maths department at St John’s High School in Dundee.

Paul Kiddie said hundreds of former pupils and colleagues from his father’s time in education have been in touch with him with messages of his inspiring and respectful teaching.

In addition, there have been 180,000 interactions to three of Paul’s tweets about his father. Alex Kiddie was born in Dundee and educated at St Patrick’s Primary School, Dundee, and then Lawside Academy before studying at St Andrew’s University.

He completed his degree at the university’s Dundee campus, while playing football at the highest level. He scored two goals in the 1946 Southern League Cup semi-final replay against Airdrie, which finished 5-3 to Aberdeen, before then playing a starring role in the 3-2 victory against Rangers in the final that year.

Paul said his father provided the cross for Aberdeen’s dramatic late winner, which was scored by George Taylor.

Mr Kiddie was a regular worshipper at the Friary, Tullideph Road, and then St Leonard and St Fergus Church.

Paul said his father played an active role in the life of the church and the community. He was a eucharist minister which involves taking communion to the housebound.