Today marks the 80th anniversary of the death of a former Aberdeen and Peterhead striker who enjoyed a 25-year playing career.
Many great names have played for both clubs over the years, but Alexander “Sandy” Hall could boast the distinguished honor of an Olympic gold medal.
Born in Aberdeen on December 3, 1880, the center forward was joint top scorer at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, United States with three goals.
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He and his Galt FC teammates represented Canada, having emigrated to the North American country three years earlier.
A 4-0 victory over St. Rose Parish and a 7-0 demolition of Christian Brothers College, both from the United States, secured gold for the Ontarians.
Hall began his career at Blue Toon, where he spent three years. After a short stint with Buckie Thistle in 1901, he signed for the Toronto Scots before moving to Galt.
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On his return to Scotland in 1905, he signed for Aberdeen. The same year, he returned to Peterhead, the town where he grew up.
The same year he became a professional footballer, playing for St Bernard’s FC in Edinburgh. Between 1907 and 1908 he played for Newcastle United, and spells with Dundee, Portsmouth, Motherwell and Dunfermline Athletic followed.
In 1920 he returned to Peterhead, where he continued his career before retiring and emigrating to Toronto in 1923.
Hall died on September 25, 1943 at the age of 62 and was buried in the city’s Prospect Cemetery.
