Alec Stuart

Having a manager as a 'great' is unusual but well merited in the case of Alec. Alec succeeded Bill Ogilvie in 1969 having completed a very successful playing career at Dundee for ten seasons which included playing in a European Cup semi final against A. C. Milan. He was also the subject of a £55,000 bid from Newcastle United. Stuat's time at Links Park is well established in Angus football folklore. He transformed montrose before his departure to Ayr United in 1975. He not only brought promotion to the First Division on reconstruction in 1975/76 but also saw off Hibs in the League Cup of 1975, taking Montrose to a national Hampden semi final. He 'discovered' many of the players who will also merit mention here over the course of the season; Les Barr, Denis D'Arcy etc. A generation of fans now in their 40's started off at Links Park during the Stuart regime enjoying a standard of football and success that has never been repeated.

© David Smith 2000