CLACKS will bid farewell to one of its most famous sons next week, following the death of Dundee FC legend Alan Cousin.

The 78-year-old, who was also a teacher in the Wee County for around 40 years, passed away last Sunday surrounded by friends and family.

And though well-regarded in Clacks for his service at Alloa and Lornshill academies, he is perhaps better known for his achievements on the football pitch.

Alan played almost 400 games for the Dark Blues in what was their most successful years from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s.

He was a major part of the team that won the club's only league championship and got all the way to the semi final of the European Cup in 1963.

In addition, he was the first Scot to ever score in the San Siro, equalising against AC Milan – in front of more than 73,000 people.

Alan played every game of the league-winning season; all eight games in the club's famous European run; and all seven games of their Scottish Cup final run in 1963-64.

These impressive achievements are all the more admirable when considering the fact he played the game part time while studying and later working as a teacher in Alloa.

And while Alan's exploits remain the stuff of legend in the City of Discovery, his son Michael spoke of how his dad's illustrious career came about "purely by chance".

He told the Advertiser: "It was almost as if he had a bit of a double life, playing football and teaching at the same time. Even back then it was a bit strange.

"He would work through the week and train on his own and play for Dundee at the weekend.

"It's funny because he played rugby when he was younger and one day the football team were short and asked him to play up front.

"He obviously done well and there must have been a scout at a game because he soon got into the U18s Scotland squad and was picked up by Dundee. So it was all purely by chance.

"There were a few clubs interested in him at the time. Not sure why he went for Dundee – I think maybe he because was going to study at St Andrew's in any case."

Alan went on to pick up a handful of honours with the Dens Park side, before embarking on the club's most successful campaign on the continent.

He was also a successful academic having gained his arts and languages degree from St Andrew's University – something which really came in handy on the team's away adventures.

Michael, 46, said: "We got the occasional stories growing up – I think his favourite part of it all was being able to travel over Europe.

"As he studied Greek and Latin – which is fairly close to Italian – he was wheeled out as a translator from time to time to order the team their tea and to make sure they had the right rooms.

"So he was definitely good to have around off the pitch as well.

"He said Bob Shankly [Dundee manager] once told him that the problem with him was that his brains were all in his head, as opposed to his feet."


NICE TOUCH

The Cousin name is still well-known around Dundee, as Michael found out during a six-year stay in the city.

"Dundee fans can still reel off the names of every player in that league-winning team," he added.

"I spent a few years there and as soon as I tell people my name, some will still say: 'You're not Alan Cousin's son, are you?'

"He was also inducted into the Dundee FC Hall of Fame and it is such a nice touch that the team will be wearing black armbands during Saturday's game."

Alan left Dundee in 1965 and played four seasons at Hibs before finishing his playing career with final season at Falkirk.

He taught at Alloa Academy for 10 years, before spending another 30 at Lornshill where he retired as depute head in 1995.

Michael said: "He was well-regarded for his teaching and he even took the school football team for a while before giving it over to the PE teachers.

"Actually, I remember him saying the worst injury he ever got during his career was during a staff v pupil match at one of the schools. One of the young ones came in and just wrecked his shins."


LEGACY

Sport was naturally a major part of Alan's life, but it wasn't all football and rugby for the Clacks man, who also enjoyed cricket, golf and tennis.

Michael explained: "He was an avid golfer and played up at Alloa Golf Club. He hated getting held up on the course so he used to go out really early in the morning and be finished as we were getting up.

"He played tennis as well up at Dunblane and Andy Murray was a ball boy for him a some point.

"It all kept him busy and fit. In fact he was out playing his usual holes with his golfing partners a few weeks before he died.

"He seemed a little more tired than usual, but he had a new hip six months ago and hadn't playing as much golf and walking up and down the course.

"By the time they realised what it was it had already taken hold. It was all pretty sudden, he was taken into hospital on the Friday and died on the Sunday. But he had a good life."

Alan was born in Alva on March 7, 1938.

He was married to his wife Anita for 54 years and had two sons: Michael, a biomedical professor at Edinburgh University, and Martin, who is a professional concert pianist.

Alan also has five grandchildren Jamie, Fraser, Angus, Benedetta and Lochlan.

His sporting legacy also seems to be alive and well as his grandsons have already been picked up to play for the Edinburgh and Scotland youth rugby teams.

Alan's service takes place at St Mungo's Parish Church on Wednesday, September 28, from 1pm.

Guests are invited to come along and then onto Sunnyside Cemetery.

There will also be a reception at Alloa Golf Club at around 3pm.

MEANWHILE, Dundee FC have issued their own tribute to their "Renaissance Man" who remains such an important part of their history.

Describing him as a gentlemen of the game, the club celebrated his many achievements as a player and highlighting his technical ability and goalscoring feats.

And at their away game against Inverness on Saturday, the team will all wear black armbands in tribute to Alan.

A spokesperson said: "Everyone at Dundee Football Club were devastated to learn of the death of Dundee legend and Scottish championship winner Alan Cousin, aged 78.

"Cousin was a vital cog not just in the side which brought the Scottish league title to Dens Park in 1962, but throughout his eleven years at the club, finishing as top scorer on three separate occasions.

"Sporting mainly the number nine shirt, the lanky striker proved the perfect foil for fellow front man Alan Gilzean and between them proved to be a very effective partnership that shot Dundee not only to the league flag but also to the European Cup semis and Scottish Cup final in subsequent years."

The statement continued: "One of the gentlemen of the game, Cousin was never booked in his career, despite being the victim of some horrendous treatment both at home and on the continent as defenders tried unsuccessfully to stop the long striding forward.

"Truly Dundee’s Renaissance Man, Alan always retained his affection for the club and kept a picture of the championship side sitting proudly on his mantelpiece. And the next time you see Ronaldo and co. trying a step over or two, remember it was the scholar at Dens Park who was the original King of the Double Shuffle.

"The thoughts of everyone at Dundee Football Club are with Alan’s family and friends and the team will wear black armbands at Inverness on Saturday as a mark of respect for the sad loss of a true Dundee great."