Alex Govan

It may be nearly 50 years since Scotsman Alex Govan last pulled on a Blues shirt but his contribution to club history is set to live on forever.

'Keep Right On' became the club anthem after he sang it on the coach on the way to away games during the FA Cup run of 1956.

Govan describes Blues as 'his club' but he is quick to recognise the part that his first club Plymouth played in his career.

He was spotted by Plymouth boss Jack Tresadern whilst playing for Scotland Youth in 1944 and was invited down to Home Park for a trial.

It didn't take long for the Glaswegian teenager to be offered a contract at Home Park but he admits that moving 500 miles away from home wasn't an easy transition to make.

"It did take a lot of thinking about because it was too far away from Glasgow," says Govan.

"I turned them down initially and went back home but they got back in touch within a month and I finally went back."

Plymouth's approach came during the midst of World War Two and Govan reveals that there was another reason why he opted to take up their offer.

He adds: "One of the directors was a builder and he took me on as an apprentice chippie - not officially, but on the books to keep me out of National Service!

"When I got to 18 I was eventually called up by the RAF but I would often go back to Plymouth at the weekends to play for the reserves."

As a youngster making his way in the game, there were a lot of good mentors in the Home Park ranks.

Govan continues: "The captain was Jack Chisholm, who was ex-Tottenham and a reserve for England at that time, so he was naturally someone that I looked up to.

"Len Boyd, who went on to be captain at Birmingham, was also there and I shared digs with Neil Dougall after he moved from Blues to Plymouth.

"As a matter of fact, I went to see Neil recently and took him a copy of the programme from the Plymouth versus Birmingham game last season.

"Unfortunately he is now suffering with Alzheimer's but I enjoyed seeing him and he looked a million dollars."

Govan scored 30 goals in 117 appearances in his first spell with Plymouth and was part of the side that won promotion from Division Three South in 1952.

And the following year the Devon club reached the last 16 of the FA Cup but missed a golden chance to reach the quarter-finals after losing 1-0 at home to lower ranked Gateshead.

"That was a very sad day," recalls Govan.

"I scored the goal against Barnsley that put us into the fifth round to play Gateshead.

"It was a great chance to get into the quarter-finals - we were counting our bonus before we even played it!"

The following summer Govan was up in Scotland visiting family when he met up with Blues boss Bob Brocklebank to discuss a possible transfer to Blues.

At first he was reluctant to agree a move to the Midlands having settled in Plymouth with his wife, who was from the area.

That was until his other half intervened, as Govan explains: "I said I wasn't keen but Bob saw us again the next night and said 'you go and I'll speak to your wife'.

"When I came back, he said sign here!

"He had promised her a house, which we got in Sheldon, and that tipped the scales as far as the wife was concerned.

"But I'll never regret it because it was the best move I've ever made."

Govan enjoyed the perfect start to his Blues career scoring on his debut in a 2-0 home win over Hull City.

The goals kept on flowing for the flying Scotsman and he finished second highest scorer as Blues won promotion to the top flight in his second season at St. Andrew's.

Although it went down to the wire as he remembers: "The last game we had to win at Doncaster and we won 5-1.

"I only scored one that day but I am quite chuffed that it was the last goal that we scored in the league."

The following season was Blues' most successful in their history as they finished sixth in the old First Division and reached the FA Cup final.

But it was to prove a disappointing end to the campaign as Arthur Turner's men lost 3-1 to Manchester City under the Twins Towers, despite going into the showpiece game in plenty of confidence.

"I would have sworn blind that we were going to win it," says Govan.

"We had won and drawn against them in the two league games and I think we were 4/9 to win.

"It was a fair result but I still say to this day that if Roy Warhurst had been fit then there would only have been one winner.

"It was still a proud moment to walk out at Wembley, especially as I was the only Scot in the Birmingham team - magic!"

Govan also has special memories of Blues' European adventures as one of the first British clubs to compete in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

He proudly recalls: "I played at Barcelona and Inter Milan and I remember we won 2-1 against Inter at St. Andrew's and I got both the goals."

Although those goals came as no surprise as they occurred towards the end of Govan's most prolific season of his career.

He states: "I scored five hat-tricks that year, including three in ten days - I couldn't believe it myself!

"The sad thing is that in those days you didn't get to keep the match ball as it was dubbined up and used again the next week!

"Although a couple of years ago the Argyle fans in my local pub in Plymouth, the Golden Hind, bought a Blues ball, had the five teams and dates printed on it and presented it to me for my birthday!"

Govan left Blues in March 1958 and after a short spell at Portsmouth he returned to Plymouth and helped Jack Rowley's side win the Third Division championship before announcing his retirement in May 1960.

He still keeps a keen eye on Blues' fortunes and admits: "When I am in the pub watching the games on TV now and the fans sing 'Keep Right On' I do get a bit teary!"

Govan had reason to get emotional again last season when he was the special guest at Plymouth for the Championship game against Blues at Home Park.

He explains: "When I went on the field at half-time to do the draw, I clapped the three ends of the ground that Plymouth were at and then I walked straight to the end where the Brummies were and they all came running down to the front to shake hands with me.

"It was brilliant - out of this world! All the Plymouthians that I know said they had never seen a reception like that for any player.

"Plymouth taught me my trade but I have always been more of a Brummie type!"