A member of arguably Celtic’s greatest ever forward line (Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton),Alec joined Celtic from Ruthergien Glencairn in 1903 and renewed his outstanding attacking partnership with Jimmy McMenemy, which had been so rewarding for the junior side.

Slight in build, Bennett created havoc in the final third of the pitch with an array of attributes which included great speed and trickery on the ball allied with an ability to score important goals. Initially a centre forward, he made way for Jimmy Quinn and moved out on to the wing, where he became an elusive and often brilliant outside right.

Bennett certainly set the heather on fire, and after being a hat—trick hero as the Celts walloped St Mirren 5—2 in the Glasgow Charity Cup final of 1903,Alec made his international debut for Scotland during his first full season at Parkhead (a 1—1 draw against Wales in Dundee on 12 March 1904).

He won four Championship medals with Celtic (1905—08) and two Scottish Cup winner’s medals (1907, 1908), before joining Rangers as a free agent under an agreement of a L50 release clause.

Adored by the Celtic supporters, one fan penetrated the pavilion, enquired which were Bennett’s boots and began to extract the laces. He winked to ‘Icicle’ McNair and proclaimed ‘I’ll keep these. Just a wee souvenir.’

Bennett won further honours with the Ibrox club, received eleven Scotland caps and also represented the Scottish League on ten occasions. During the First World War he played for Dumbarton and ended his playing career at Albion Rovers in 1920/21. Alec subsequently managed Third Lanark and Clydebank and wrote a column for the Daily Record. He died on 9 January 1940, aged fifty-eight. His grandson, Sandy Carmichael, was a famous Scotland rugby international.