Hamish McAlpine

McAlpine played junior football for Dundee North End prior to signing provisionally for Dundee United in June 1966. He combined part-time football with a job at United chairman George Fox's accountancy firm until signing a professional contract in the close season of 1967. Initially third choice goalkeeper behind Donald Mackay and Sandy Davie, McAlpine spent most of the 1967–68 season on loan to Montrose, and came close to signing for them permanently. Returning to United, he made his debut appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly against Hartlepool in August 1968. Davie left the club in October 1968, which made McAlpine second choice. Following an injury to Mackay, he made his competitive debut for Dundee United on 8 March 1969, in a 1–0 defeat against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle. That proved to be his only appearance that season, and he missed most of the following season following an operation for ligament damage. In October 1970, McAlpine came on as a substitute for the injured Mackay in a Fairs Cup tie against Sparta Prague to make his European debut and only his second competitive appearance overall. That proved to be a breakthrough for McAlpine, who went to make thirty appearances in all competitions that season and establish himself as first choice. Mackay was allowed to leave the club in 1972 by new manager Jim McLean, who brought back Davie as competition. McAlpine was still in the team until knee surgery ruled him out for a spell in 1974, which…

McAlpine gained international recognition in his mid-thirties, featuring as a permitted overage player for the Scotland Under-21 team. He made his debut in a 2–0 win over East Germany in Edinburgh on 12 October 1982. The last of his five appearances came against Belgium on 11 October 1983 when he was 35 years old, in a goalless draw played on McAlpine's club ground, Tannadice Park.

McAlpine was born in the village of Kilspindie, Perthshire. His father, Ian McAlpine, was a promising footballer whose career was disrupted by the Second World War, although he did sign for Dundee in 1946 and played for their reserve team. Although his father had been a centre forward, Hamish always played as a goalkeeper from primary school onwards. As a teenager, he played in goal for Butterburn Youth Club.

Amongst his other sporting interests, McAlpine has appeared for Rossie Priory Cricket Club, where his brother Derek McAlpine was a long-serving player. Also a keen golfer, McAlpine became captain at Alyth Golf Club in 2010. His son Kevin McAlpine was Scottish Amateur golf champion in 2006, subsequently turning professional and later caddying for Lexi Thompson, Amy Yang and Martin Laird. Kevin is engaged to Swedish golfer Anna Nordqvist.