Alex "Big Ming" Menzies was a Scottish professional footballer, who (amongst others[1]) played for Cowdenbeath F.C. and Stirling Albion. A former coal-miner, (Ferguson 2006) Menzies joined Cowdenbeath,his hometown club, in 1948. Menzies, a tough- tackling wing-half (modern definition: defensive midfielder) was a member of the side that took Rangers to the brink of defeat over a two-legged Scottish league Cup tie in September, 1949 (Ferguson, 1993). The late Harry Ewing said that "If you cut Ming in half, like a stick of Blackpool Rock he would have Cowdenbeath printed around his waist."[2]. After his death in 1990, Ewing recommended Cowdenbeath's new stand be named "The Alex Menzies Stand", a suggestion that was adopted by the board[3].
Everyone in Cowdenbeath knew Big Ming. He belonged to the Desperate Dan school of Scottish footballing manhood - Ron Ferguson
Notes
- ^ The others were CowdenbeathWelfare Boys Club, Kelty St Josephs, Lochgelly Violet, Thorntree Utd, Dumbarton, St Johnstone, and Alloa Athletic
- ^ part of Citation when he was inducted into the Cowdenbeath F.C. Hall of Fame.
- ^ Alex Menzies stand to right
Bibliography
- Ferguson, R Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil, 1993 Aberdeen, Northern Books for Famedram ISBN 0905489535
- Ferguson, R Helicopter Dreams, 2006 Aberdeen Northern ISBN 0905489861
