Alec Ormiston

Scottish footballer

Alec OrmistonPersonal information

Full name|  Andrew Paisley Ormiston[1]
Date of birth|  (1884-03-01)1 March 1884[1]
Place of birth|  Peebles,[1] Scotland
Date of death|  30 June 1952(1952-06-30) (aged 68)
Place of death|  Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Position(s)|  Centre half / left half
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
–|  Hebburn Argyle|  |
1907–1909|  Lincoln City[a]|  24|  (2)
1909–1919|  Chelsea|  95|  (1)
1919–1920|  Lincoln City|  20|  (0)
–|  Peebles Rovers|  |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Andrew Paisley Ormiston (1 March 1884 – 1952), also known as Alec Ormiston,[2][3] was a Scottish footballer who made 139 appearances in the Football League playing for Lincoln City and Chelsea. He played as a centre half or left half.[4]

## Life and career[edit]

Ormiston was born in Peebles, Scotland. He played non-league football in England for Hebburn Argyle,[4] before joining Football League Second Division club Lincoln City in 1907. The club finished bottom of the division in 1908, and failed to gain re-election to the League. Ormiston helped Lincoln win their second Midland League title in 1908–09,[1][5] and then followed former Lincoln manager David Calderhead to First Division club Chelsea.[2] He played just over 100 matches in senior competition over five years,[3] and made a solid contribution to Chelsea's return to the First Division in 1912,[2] but his career with the club effectively ended in April 1914 when he suffered a serious ankle injury in a match at Bradford City.[6]

He guested for former club Lincoln during the war, and signed for them when competitive football resumed in 1919.[1] On the opening day of the 1919–20 season, as Lincoln earned an unexpected draw against West Ham United, who were playing their first match after joining the Football League from the Southern League, Ormiston's experience made him stand out:[7]

> In strong contrast was Ormiston – the old Chelsea player – on the other side. He stabilised the Lincoln defence, and seemed like a father to it, and he also gave his attack the benefit of some nice nursing and support. In fact, in this match—historic as a landmark, but otherwise easily forgettable—there were only three men who did anything to distinguish themselves from the commonplace, and these were all on the side of Lincoln. One was Ormiston, for his experienced conception of pivotal work.

He played his last game for Lincoln in December 1919, and returned to Scotland, where he appeared for Peebles Rovers.[4]

Ormiston died 30 June 1952 in Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland.[1]

## Honours[edit]

Lincoln City

* Midland League: 1908–09

Chelsea

* Football League Second Division runners-up: 1911–12

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Ormiston's Lincoln City infobox statistics are for the Football League only, and exclude appearances and goals in the 1908–09 Midland League season.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "Andrew Ormiston". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013. Appearances per season are sourced via the Season Stats dropdown menu at the bottom right of this page. The site is partly subscription-based, but only free-access sections are used for reference. If pop-up login dialogue boxes appear, press the "Cancel" button to proceed.
2. ^ a b c "Andrew Ormiston". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
3. ^ a b "Alec Ormiston". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
4. ^ a b c Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 199\. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
5. ^ "Lincoln City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
6. ^ "Paradoxical play at Bradford. Chelsea lose Ormiston but worry the City". Daily Express. 6 April 1914. p. 8\. "After only half an hour's play Ormiston was so badly injured that he had to retire. Tremelling stabbed at the ball, but caught the centre half's ankle instead, and gave it a nasty twist."
7. ^ Reynard (1 September 1919). "West Ham astound their 'fans'. Mediocre Lincoln hold them at bay". Daily Express. p. 8.

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals