Alex Herd was the younger of two footballing brothers; the older, Andrew, played for Hearts and Scotland.

A highly talented ball-playing inside forward, Herd joined Hamilton Academical before signing for Manchester City on 1 February 1933.

Herd's period at Maine Road was immensely successful as City reached the FA Cup Final in his first season, losing to Everton before returning in 1934 to lift the trophy in a 2-1 win against Portsmouth.

As the City team grew even stronger, the influential Scot played a major part in their First Division championship win of 1936-37, the season in which their Old Trafford rivals were relegated. However, in true City fashion, the League title was followed the next season by relegation to the Second Division, despite the fact that they were the leading scorers in Division One.

Their fall from grace was compounded by United being promoted in the same season and although in the last peacetime season City continued their attractive football, finishing as the top-scoring team for the third year running, they failed to gain promotion.

Herd's contribution to City's attacking flair was rewarded on the resumption of League football, City being promoted back into Division One. In his 15 years at Maine Road, Alex Herd made 290 League and Cup apperances and scored 124 goals before moving to County on 17 March 1948.

He made one guest appearance for County in March 1946 although nine of his 51 goals in wartime football had been against Stockport.

Despite being 36, Herd proved an invaluable acquisition for County, with no less skill or vision than in his younger days.

He motivated County in their historic FA Cup run of 1949-50, playing on all six ties, scoring gour goals, including one in their unfortunate fifth round defeat against Liverpool.

Herd continued playing until shortly after his 40th birthday, his last appearance being on Christmas Day 1951. He had scored a more than respectable 41 goals in 119 League and Cup appearances and thoroughly enjoyed the oft-quoted distinction of having partnered his son David on his debut in the last match of 1950-51.

After his career ended, Alex Herd worked as a sale representative for an asphalt company before retiring to his native Scotland.
 
This article has been produced with the help of Stockport County's Historical Advisors