The tragic tale of a Glasgow-born Greenock Morton footballer uncovered in a new book

Graeme Ross asked Times Past readers for help, and scoured family history sites, in a bid to trace relatives of the players who helped Morton beat Rangers 1-0 in a shock defeat in April 1922. The game was momentous for several reasons, not least of all the fact that the goal, scored by Jimmy Gourlay, was the first to have been scored directly from a free kick in a Scottish Cup final.

“I managed to trace some relatives and consequently, they were able to give me valuable insights into some of the squad,” explains Graeme, who was researching for a book about the legendary team.

“At the centenary celebration, the club invited relatives of the players to the last home match of the season.

Graeme with his book. (Image: Graeme Ross)

“Those that attended and came onto the pitch at half-time included the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of several of the squad including Bob McGregor, the Morton captain, and George French, the international centre-forward whose goals helped Morton into the final but who missed the final through injury. Both these players were born in Govan.”

He adds: “I managed to talk by email to Parkhead-born Bobby McKay's nephew in America and to Partick-born goalkeeper Dave Edwards' granddaughter's husband.

“But there were some sad discoveries, notably the suicide of Alf Brown from the Gorbals at the age of 30.”

Alf Brown was born in Thistle Street in the Gorbals in June 1899, the youngest of four brothers to fruiterer William Brown, who was also a piano tuner and music teacher, and Bella Brown. His mother stated in his obituary that Alf served in a Scottish regiment in World War One and was wounded.

Alf Brown (Image: Graeme Ross)

Graeme adds: “Unfortunately, many World War One records were destroyed in a fire so I couldn't verify this. His football career began in the Junior leagues with Maryhill and Shawfield Juniors and Alf joined Morton in October 1921 from Shawfield.

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“Diminutive, blonde-haired Alf was a highly skilled player, renowned for his mastery of the ball in the old inside-left position and he was an instant success at Cappielow, becoming a key man in Morton's run to the 1922 final.

“Alf's goal in the quarter-final win over Motherwell proved to be one of the defining moments of the entire cup run.”

The final against Rangers was a “dour, physical battle” says Graeme, and Alf was one of the few players to show off the full range of his skills, with one newspaper reporting that he was the “most artistic player on the pitch.”

“Alf continued to produce many moments of magic for Morton in the following few seasons but the club failed to capitalise on their cup triumph and a pay dispute led to the rapid break-up of the cup final side,” says Graeme.

“Alf himself refused to re-sign at the start of the 1926-27 season and this led to his transfer to English giants Newcastle United in January 1927.

“Big things were expected of him but due to a combination of illness and injury Alf never played a first-team match for Newcastle. He was released in 1928 and his football career was over.”

Graeme adds: “Alf subsequently opened a hairdresser business in Glasgow but that doesn't appear to have worked out.”

The ending to Alf’s story is unbelievably sad.

“On April 9, 1930, Alf's body was found near the Pencil Monument in Largs with two bottles of Lysol containing hydrogen peroxide nearby,” says Graeme.

“The coroner's verdict was suicide and his mother stated he had not been working and had been in poor health. She had no idea why he would have travelled to Largs from his home in Glasgow. It was an overwhelmingly sad end for a great football talent who had done so much to help Morton win their only Scottish Cup.”

Graeme’s book, A Triumph of Poise and Aiming. is available to purchase from Greenock Morton Football Club, priced £15. All proceeds are split between Morton, Prostate Cancer Scotland, and Ardgowan Hospice Greenock.

“In November 2020, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and I had surgery six weeks later,” says Graeme. “I have a family history of prostate cancer so I was being tested regularly and thanks to that and the prompt treatment, I have been told that the surgery was successful.

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“However, many men aren't aware of the test or ignore the symptoms. If diagnosed early, prostate cancer can be successfully treated. It is a simple blood test. I hope the book can also raise awareness of prostate cancer.”