Alex Gordon (athlete)
{{short description|Scottish athlete and footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Alex Gordon
| image =
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| nationality = British (Scottish)
| event = Long jump
| club = West of Scotland Harriers
| birth_date =
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{{Infobox football biography
| name =
| position = Winger
| years1 = 1906–1908
| clubs1 = Queen's Park
| caps1 = 11
| goals1 = 1
}}
Alexander Gordon was a Scottish footballer and athlete and was selected for the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Gordon was educated at Allan Glen's School in Glasgow and dates the University of Glasgow.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/922548 |title=Alex Gordon |work=Olympedia |access-date=16 April 2025}} He was a winger with the Scottish football club Queen's Park F.C.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19080601/138/0008 |title=Comments and Criticisms |work=Athletic News |date=1 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite magazine|title=A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players|author=John Litster|magazine=Scottish Football Historian magazine|date=October 2012}} and in 1907 won the sprint race for them at the annual Rangers F.C. athletic meeting.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/19070809/029/0002 |title=Sprints |work=Scottish Referee |date=9 August 1907 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}
Gordon won the Scottish Olympic trial over the 110 metres hurdles and finished second in the long jump. These performances at Ibrox Park led to qualification for both events at the Olympic Games. {{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19080615/115/0008 |title=Land of the Thistle |work=Athletic News |date=15 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}
Gordon was due to represent the Great Britain team at the 1908 Olympic Games in London,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080612/073/0003 |title=The Olympic Games, British Representatives |work=The Sportsman |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19080612/187/0008 |title=Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}} in both the long jump competition and the 110 metres hurdles competition but he injured his foot in an accident just two weeks before the start of the Olympics and was unable to start.
Gordon was one of 193 known Queens Park FC players to have served and survived World War I, while another 34 died.{{cite web|url=https://queensparkfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/QP1018ProjectReport.pdf |title=193 Now Known To Have Served & Survived |work=Queens Park FC |access-date=16 April 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon, Alex}}
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Category:British male long jumpers
Category:Scottish male long jumpers
Category:British male hurdlers
Category:Scottish male hurdlers
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Place of birth missing
Category:Queen's Park F.C. players
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Glasgow
Category:Athletes from Glasgow
Category:Men's association football outside forwards
Category:People educated at Allan Glen's School