In a career spanning 21 years, Alan Rough made over 830 league appearances and was capped 53 times by Scotland. A playing career entirely based in Scotland he went from “Thistle to Ayr” and a few places in between.
Rough began his career with Partick Thistle in 1969. In 1971 he was part of the team that shocked Celtic 4-1 to win the League Cup. In 1976 he would also win a First Division medal with Partick.
The Life And Times Of Alan Rough
Rough would win his first Scotland cap in 1976 making his debut against Switzerland in a 1-0 win. As time moved on he would go on to cement the Number 1 position in the team and amass 53 caps in the process.
After amassing over 400 league games for Thistle Rough moved to Hibernian in a £60,000 deal. Here he would stay for 6 seasons before joining Celtic in 1988. Signed as a backup for Pat Bonner he would make only a handful of appearances with the Glasgow giants.
Rough World Cups
During a long and illustrious career Rough would play in 2 World Cups for Scotland. The 1982 tournament in Spain and the ill-fated tournament in Argentina in 1978. Rough was roundly criticised for his performances in Argentina. None more so than his and the team’s display against Peru where they lost 3-1.
Things didn’t go better for him in Spain 82. The Brazilians showed no mercy in a 4-1 drubbing with Zico and Eder both scoring goals that exposed Rough in front of TV audiences worldwide.
Unfortunately for Rough, it’s the performances in Argentina and Spain that will live long in the memory. Mainly due to the extensive TV coverage of the World Cup and its worldwide audience. Alan Rough went from Thistle to Ayr in a long and illustrious career and a few places in-between
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