Ally Maxwell

Ally started his career with Motherwell, signing in 1981 from Fir Park Boys Club. After spending the 1987-88 season on loan at Clydebank, he finally broke into the first team at Fir Park the following season, displacing former United keeper John Gardiner. He achieved hero status with Motherwell in May 1991 in the Scottish Cup final against United. Badly injured in the second half, he bravely played on to help the ‘Steelmen’ win the cup for the first time in 39 years.

That turned out to be his last game for the club - a contract dispute with manager Tommy McLean saw him side-lined, replaced with Billy Thomson and Sieb Dijkstra, loaned out to Bolton Wanderers and then eventually sold to Rangers for £300,000 in April 1992.

At Ibrox he collected a League Cup winners medal (DATE) but in his second attempt to gain a Scottish Cup medal, he was beaten by a Craig Brewster goal for United in the 1994 final. Linked with a move to United in the summer that year, he eventually arrived at Tannadice a year later as Billy Kirkwood rebuilt the squad for the promotion battle ahead, for a fee quoted at £250,000.

Appearing in the pre-season tour of Finland, he became the first-choice keeper during the season in the First Division, making his competitive debut against Morton in August 1995. An important player in the side as United regained top-flight status at the end of the campaign. He began the next season as No.1 keeper but was forced out through injury and illness and was once again replaced by Sieb Dijkstra. Unable to get back into the first team, he played reserve football until he left under freedom of contract in May 1998.

He then signed for Morton, spending three seasons with them, also becoming manager for a spell in 2001. He moved to Hamilton Academical shortly after, as a coach, and continued coaching when he moved to the USA.

Despite being called up to several Scotland squads he never won a full cap but did make an appearance for Scotland in a 'B' international against Wales in February 1994.