Friends and family gathered to celebrate the life of Alex Hodge, a well-known Lochgelly footballer and engineer.
Many people attended the service to honor him. He was a footballer, bowler, and golfer. Alex showed football talent early, playing for Ballingry Rovers Juveniles. He joined Blairhall Colliery in 1959.
In 1962, Archie McPherson, the manager of Alloa Athletic, signed Alex. He played against Clyde as a trialist on February 3. Alex played 286 games for Alloa, scoring 12 goals, mostly from penalty kicks.
He ranks 13th in appearances for Alloa since World War II ended. John Gilfillan conducted the funeral and spoke well of Alex.
Gilfillan said Alex lived with little fuss, loving his wife June and family deeply. They were his main focus. Alex and June spent time at Lochgelly Bowling Club, where he was a loyal member for years.
Alex was also a good bowler, winning many competitions. He liked the club’s social life and enjoyed Saturday night sing-songs. He was a talented singer but downplayed his singing ability.
Gilfillan talked about Alex’s work which started at 15, and said he worked hard and responsibly. He had a good career as an engineer, working in faraway countries and traveling a lot during his career.
He ventured to Scandinavia across the North Sea and even to jungles in the Philippines. Alex was happy with his life, loving his family most and wanting to guide them, and was proud of them.
June was his soulmate, always by his side except for a few work years. They shared a happy marriage. Sons Brian and Campbell inherited his humor. His grandkids and great-grandkids were his joy.
Born in Lochgelly in 1941 to parents Archie Hodge and Rita Peel, young Alex was very fit and agile. He could kick a football well and was also a gymnast!
Alex did somersaults, cartwheels, and handsprings. He could walk on his hands on stage, and was very talented, which the crowd at the Town Hall loved! However, instead of going to Beath High School he needed to work and help at home.
While many young men went to the mines, Alex went to Rosyth Dockyard wanting to be an electrician. With no jobs available, he became a mechanical fitter. He went to dockyard college, quickly learned the skills, and then had a very successful career.