Introduction
Alex Craig (born 2 April 1886) was a football player who played for Rangers, Greenock Morton and Ireland.
He is one of only four players born in what is now the Republic of Ireland to play for Rangers. The others were Alex Stevenson, Jon Daly and James Lowry McAuley.
Career
Club career
Galway born Craig joined Rangers from junior side Rutherglen Glencairn. His initial seasons at Ibrox coincided with a rare lean spell, and he left without a single major winner's medal. The closest he came was in 1905 when Rangers lost a replayed Scottish Cup final 3–1 to Third Lanark. In his final season, 1910/11 Rangers did win the League title, but Craig made just a single appearance, and so was not entitled to a medal.
By the time of his move to Greenock Morton, Craig was proving his versatility by slotting in regularly on the left-hand side of defence.In May 1914 Craig returned to Ibrox, making his second debut in a Merchant's Cup Final defeat by Celtic. He was a regular in the Gers' side for the initial war-time campaign and was still on the club's books when hostilities ended though his last appearances were made in April 1916. Still without a significant club honour, Craig finished his playing days in the Western League with Johnstone.
International career
Craig's international career began as he reaped the benefits of Billy McCracken's expulsion by the Irish FA. He made his Ireland debut in a 3–1 defeat by England in February 1908, playing in each of that year's British Home Championship ties at right-back. But it was at left-back that Craig played during each of the 1914 Home Championship games as Ireland claimed the title outright for the first time.