ALEX “DIXIE” INGRAM died last week, after a lengthy battle against Alzheimer's. His death was widely, and rightly, mourned across his adopted Ayrshire. As an old-fashioned spearhead centre forward with Ayr United, then as an entrepreneurial business-man in the motor trade, he did a lot for sport in the county.
The “Dixie” nickname comes not from comparisons between the genuinely gifted header of a ball that Alex was – and Everton and England legend Dixie Dean, but from “Dixie” Ingram, the high-leaping solo Highland Dancer in TV's White Heather Club. Not a tall man, the footballing Dixie really could get off the deck, frequently out-jumping taller defenders.
He was born in Edinburgh, went into the finance business and signed for Queen's Park, from whom Ayr United signed him in 1966 – he was, in fact, the first United player signed by Ally MacLeod. A part-timer, his day job with a motor trade finance house made him a familiar figure around Ayrshire, more-so when he began banging in the goals in the very good United team which Ally built.
He played over 300 games for United, in two spells with the club, broken by one year with Nottingham Forest, whom he joined for £45,000, before returning to Somerset Park for £15,000; great business by the club. He was also capped by the Scottish League, during his first spell at Somerset Park – the first United player to win representative honours for many years.
During his service with United, he played up front with some legends, the likes of George McLean and Alex Ferguson, scoring 117 goals, to be placed fourth in the club's all-time goal scorers list.
He played in the United team which contested their first Scottish Cup semi-final, in 1973. They lost 2-0 to Rangers, but those United fans who were there that night and are still alive, are still wondering how Dixie could possible have been offside, as he ran past Colin Jackson and Derek Johnstone to head a Davie Wells cross past Peter McCloy.
That was one of the worst of the many pro-Rangers decisions given in his refereeing career, by Bobby Davidson. Had United got in front, the outcome might have been a lot different.
In the early 1970s he opened his own Volkswagen dealership, initially in Prestwick Road in Ayr, expanding it widely with multiple locations in and around A|yr and further afield, in Paisley and Stranraer. He had a penchant for employing other footballers, with several weel-kent figures in the Ayrshire Juniors having their day jobs with the Ingram group.
He also sponsored several clubs, and was even, at one point, being touted as a possible Kilmarnock Chairman, as the club's old guard struggled to hold-off the interest of Bobby Fleeting – whose brother, SFA insider Jim, had been a team mate of Dixie's at Somerset Park.
But, the possible Killie connection came to nothing and Alex returned to Somerset Park, becoming vice-chairman and eventually Honorary President. He was also inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2008.
Away from football he had, through son Malcolm, who took over the family firm, an interest in karate. However, his main sporting passion after hanging up his boots was the golf course.
He became firm friends with the great Bernhard Langer and when the German legend competed in the Open at Turnberry or Royal Troon, he always stayed with Alex and his wife Jean in Ayr.
Sadly, the final decade of Alex Ingram's life was blighted by Alzheimer's. He required round-the-clock care before his and his family's torment was ended in the early hours of Thursday, 3 February, he was 77.
Dixie was an old-fashioned centre forward, he played hard, gave no quarter and asked none in return. He was a true star in a Golden Age for Ayr United, every Somerset Parker will feel deep sorrow at the passing of a legend.
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