Alan Lawrence

Alan Lawrence, fondly known as “Nipper”, is a former Scottish footballer best known for his time spent with Airdrieonians and Heart of Midlothian in the early and mid-1990s.

He was born on 19th August 1962 in Edinburgh, and made his senior debut with the now defunct local club Meadowbank Thistle. Having found a foothold in the professional game as a diminutive, nippy striker, he was soon on the way up, signing for Dundee late in the 1986-87 season. Further goalscoring exploits there saw him move to Airdrieonians two years later, where although being used chiefly as a forward, he would also be deployed as a winger. Lawrence’s consistent performances in an era when Airdrie reached a Scottish Cup Final in 1992, and subsequently made their only foray into European football in their history the following season, cemented his place as a legend with the Airdrie faithful.

Further success at Airdrie, culminating in their appearance in the 1995 Scottish Cup Final, saw him become Jim Jefferies’ first signing as Hearts manager for the following season. Only a year later however, after 34 appearances and 7 goals, and an appearance in the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Rangers in place of John Robertson, he was on his way back to Airdrie, where he spent another successful year and a half. In December 1997, he was released to Partick Thistle, where despite scoring some crucial goals, he was unable to hold down a first team place. His short tenure at Firhill ended when he signed for Third Division side Stenhousemuir in the summer of 1998.

Alan’s two years with “The Warriors” are fondly remembered. He burst onto the scene at Ochilview with a hatful of crucial goals, most notably a hat-trick in a 5-1 trouncing of Albion Rovers, as the club chased promotion. It was in mid-season however, with a surplus of strikers and shortages elsewhere in the squad, that Nipper was moved to right-back, where it was thought his experience of playing as a winger would benefit the team. He did not disappoint, turning in solid performances week in, week out, including a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers in January 1999, in which the team performed admirably. The move to defence didn’t dampen his appetite for goals either, and he chipped in with some vital strikes in the club’s hunt for promotion. Indeed, his last minute volley to win at Montrose late in the season set the tone for Stenhousemuir’s promotion just a matter of weeks later, the only elevation in their history to date.

His second season at Ochilview was tougher, as it was for all involved with the club, as the inevitable battle to stave off relegation ensued. Stenhousemuir would survive that season, but despite this, his close relationship with the fans, and his desire to stay, Alan departed in August 2000 following an alleged difference of opinion with the club’s board of directors. Over the next few years, Lawrence would act as player-coach at Cowdenbeath, Airdrieonians, Arbroath and Airdrie United. He is now employed by the Royal Mail as a postman.

In 2006, Alan coached junior side Bathgate Thistle to the final of the OVD Scottish Junior Cup, where they were narrowly defeated by Auchinleck Talbot.

Trivia

Alan made an appearance in the Scottish football film Shot At Glory, in 2000, alongside The Godfather star Robert Duvall and Glasgow Rangers hall of famer Ally McCoist.

External links

• [1] — "Nippy Head For Nipper" Sunday Mail article, dated Sunday 21st May, 2006