Quick Facts
Biography
Alexander C Massie (13 March 1906 – 1977) was a Scottish footballer of the 1920s and 1930s, who played mainly as a right-half. He played for various Scottish clubs before joining Bury. After spells in the United States and Ireland, Massie returned to Scottish football in 1930 with Heart of Midlothian. His performances there earned him selection for the Scotland national football team and the Scottish League XI. Massie moved to Aston Villa in 1935. After retiring as a player in 1945, Massie became the manager of Aston Villa. He later managed Torquay United and Hereford United.
Player
Massie was born in Possilpark, Glasgow. He began his career with Shawfield Juniors, and later played for Petershill, Benburb, Ashfield, Partick Thistle, and Ayr United before joining Football League side Bury in 1926/27.
In 1928 he left Gigg Lane to play in the United States for Bethlehem Steel, and in 1930 he joined Irish side Dolphin. Later that year he returned to his native Scotland to join Heart of Midlothian. His performances at wing-half, and occasionally at inside-forward soon won him international recognition, with his first full Scotland international cap coming on 19 September 1931 against Ireland. Massie went on to be capped 18 times for Scotland, with his final game coming on 30 October 1937 against Wales, which was also the occasion of his only international goal. He also represented the Scottish League XI.
Massie moved to Aston Villa in December 1935, but was unable to prevent their first ever relegation at the end of the 1935–36 season.
Manager
Massie retired from playing at end of the 1944–45 wartime season, and was appointed manager of Aston Villa in August 1945 and lead them to top ten finishes in his first three seasons, despite not having complete control of the playing side of things at Villa Park, and twelfth place the following year. However, in August 1950 he left Villa.
In 1950 he was appointed as manager of Torquay United as successor to Bob John, although he only remained as manager until 1951.
He returned to management with Hereford United the following January, where he remained as manager until December 1952.