GoS: Player Details

ALEX GARDEN

Born: 10 July 1938

Came from: Aberdeen Juniors Went to: Ashford Town

First game: 26 September 1962 Last game: 26 September 1962

Appearances: 1 (1/0) Goals: 0

An inside-forward, Garden was born in Aberdeen and arrived at Home Park from Aberdeen Juniors in the summer of 1959 while Jack Rowley was still manager. He had been recommended, along with his friend goalkeeper John Leiper, by Argyle star and fellow Aberdonian Jimmy Gauld.

Garden was also a childhood friend of fellow Aberdonian Denis Law. The pair both turned down places at the prestigious Aberdeen Grammar School, where rugby was the priority, in favour of Powis Academy (now St Machar Academy) so that they could pursue football.

Almost immediately after joining Argyle, Garden was conscripted into the Army, and injuries sustained while undertaking his National Service severely curtailed his availability during the following two years. It was not until the 1961-62 season that he established himself in the reserve side as a free-scoring centre-forward or inside-forward.

By then under Ellis Stuttard, Garden made his only first-team appearance in an away League Cup tie against West Ham United, a chastening 6-0 defeat. Unable to establish himself in the first team at Home Park, he moved to Southern League side Ashford Town in Kent, where he finished as the club's leading scorer in both the 1963-64 and 1964-65 seasons. In total, he made 114 appearances and scored 30 goals.

Garden later joined Southern League rivals Corby Town, where he linked up with former Argyle teammate Peter Kearns. During his time with the Steelmen, he returned to Home Park for an FA Cup tie in 1966, which ended in a 6-0 defeat. The result remains Argyle's biggest FA Cup victory. Nicknamed the "Human Dynamo" during his time at Corby, Garden had scored twice in the first round of the 1965-66 FA Cup to help secure the club's historic tie against Argyle following an impressive run in the competition.

No further clubs are recorded after his time with Corby Town, and it is believed that he retired from the game.

After living with Alzheimer's disease for some time, Alex Garden died in his native Aberdeen in July 2019 at the age of 81.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

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From George Meldrum in Aberdeen on 27 Jul 2019 ...

After suffering for some time with Alzheimer’s, Alex Garden sadly passed away on Thursday 25th July, 2019.

From Adrian Harrison in Dorset on 10 Feb 2024 ...

In the years while Peter Sillett managed Ashford in the Southern League, I was a teenager recently having moved to Kent and trained as a lad with Alex and the rest of the first team.

Alex was a lovely bloke who was always encouraging and supportive to wannabe youngsters. Peter Sillett was the same, and Tuesdays and Thursdays were always great evenings, particularly playing under floodlights in the winter, even when snow was on the ground.

I will be 79 this December.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.