# Alec Cheyne

Alexander George Cheyne (28 April 1907 – 5 July 1983) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward. He is reputed to have been responsible for the Hampden Roar following his goal in the 'Cheyne International' of 1929.

## Playing career
### Aberdeen

Cheyne began as a professional for Aberdeen, signing in 1925 from Shettleston Juniors. During his time at Pittodrie he became an idol of the locals, and his goals helped improve the team from regular mid-table finishes to third place in his final season.

### Chelsea and Nîmes

Cheyne joined David Calderhead's Chelsea in 1930 for a club record fee of £6,000 but, despite playing alongside other talented forwards such as Hughie Gallacher and Alex Jackson, he struggled to settle.
He joined French club Nîmes Olympique in 1932. He returned to Chelsea two years later, finally leaving in 1936.

### International

Cheyne won five caps for Scotland national team, scoring four goals, including a hat-trick against Norway and a goal direct from a corner against England—a feat legalised just the season before. This last goal is credited with starting the 'Hampden Roar': with Scotland down to ten players and less than a minute remaining of the game, over 110,000 fans took up a roar of encouragement, continuing past the final whistle and becoming a tradition at Scotland home games. Cheyne is reported to have made scoring from corners something of a speciality, having performed the feat twice more for his club side the following season.

## Coaching and managerial career

Upon retiring Cheyne moved into coaching, initially with Chelmsford City winning trophies in the Southern Football League. He then became manager of Arbroath, though without success.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Aberdeen | 1925–26 | Scottish Division One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 |
| Aberdeen | 1926–27 | Scottish Division One | 23 | 7 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 8 |
| Aberdeen | 1927–28 | Scottish Division One | 31 | 9 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 9 |
| Aberdeen | 1928–29 | Scottish Division One | 35 | 18 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 39 | 20 |
| Aberdeen | 1929–30 | Scottish Division One | 34 | 15 | 4 | 4 | - | - | 38 | 19 |
| Aberdeen | Total | Total | 126 | 49 | 11 | 7 | - | - | 137 | 56 |
| Chelsea | 1930–31 | First Division | 34 | 9 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 39 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 1931–32 | First Division | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 1 |
| Chelsea | Total | Total | 53 | 10 | 7 | 1 | - | - | 60 | 11 |
| Nîmes Olympique | 1932–33 | Ligue 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nîmes Olympique | 1933–34 | Ligue 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nîmes Olympique | Total | Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chelsea | 1934–35 | First Division | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 1935–36 | First Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 1936–37 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | Total | Total | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 2 |
| Colchester United | 1937–38 | Southern Football League | 32 | 19 | - | - | 22 | 16 | 54 | 35 |
| Colchester United | 1938–39 | Southern Football League | 29 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 40 | 21 |
| Colchester United | 1939–40 | Southern Football League | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| Colchester United | Total | Total | 64 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 23 | 97 | 58 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 252+ | 96+ | 20+ | 8+ | 31+ | 23+ | 303+ | 127+ |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Scotland | 1929 | 4 | 4 |
| Scotland | 1930 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 5 | 4 |
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cheyne goal
List of international goals scored by Alec Cheyne :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 13 April 1929 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | England | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1928–29 British Home Championship |
| 2 | 26 May 1929 | Brann Stadion, Bergen | Norway | 3–1 | 7–3 | Friendly |
| 3 | 26 May 1929 | Brann Stadion, Bergen | Norway | 6–2 | 7–3 | Friendly |
| 4 | 26 May 1929 | Brann Stadion, Bergen | Norway | 7–2 | 7–3 | Friendly |

### Managerial record

| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | From | To | P | W | L | D | Win % |
| Arbroath | 1949 | 1955 | 255 | 58 | 120 | 47 | 25.78% |
| Total | Total | Total | 255 | 58 | 120 | 47 | 25.78% |

## Honours

Colchester United
* Southern Football League: 1938–39
* Southern Football League Cup: 1937–38