The following article was published on Linfieldfc.com on April 8, 2012 and is reproduced below by way of tribute to and in memory of the great Alex Russell who sadly passed away earlier today.
The most recent recipient of the Torrans Trophy, Alex Russell received the trophy from Linfield Chairman, Jim Kerr last night.
The trophy is named after one of the founding fathers of Linfield Football Club and is awarded to a legendary figure who in the view of the club's Board of Directors has achieved the status of one of the club's all-time greats.
Unfortunately, Alex has been quite poorly in recent times and as he has been able to collect the trophy at Windsor Park, Linfield Chairman Jim Kerr presented the trophy to Alex Russell in his Glengormley home after Linfield's home game with Portadown.
Alex Russell spent 3 years with Cliftonville before signing for Linfield in 1946. He was Linfield goalkeeper until retirement in 1960 when he joined the coaching staff at Windsor Park. He also earned an international cap playing for his country against England.
A few years ago the Kop stand was re-named the Alex Russell stand in honour of the former Linfield goalkeeper.
Alex is due to undergo a major operation in hospital on Thursday and Linfield supporters are encouraged to remember Alex in their thoughts and prayers.
On behalf of everyone at Linfield FC, best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Alex and hopefully, he will be able to make a return to his beloved Windsor Park in the near future.
Speaking exclusively to Linfieldfc.com Jim Kerr declared "It's a great privilege and an honour to present this prestigous trophy to the great Alex Russell. He was probably the player who I admired most when I was growing up. He was my boyhood idol. I played as a goalkeeper but I could never reach the standard that he attained. In my mind, he's still the best Linfield goalkeeper that I've ever seen in 60 odd years following the team. He's very much a very deserving and worthy recipient of this award. His nomination at a recent Board meeting was unanimous. It's very appropriate that we should honour one of our all-time greats on a day when the current team has just secured the league title for the 51st time in the club's proud and illustrious history. It's a great pleasure to be with Alex this evening and on behalf of everyone at the club I just want to wish Alex all the very best for his operation on Thursday".
Alex Russell spoke of his delight at being honoured by his former club.
"I'm absolutely delighted to receive this very special award. I'm also delighted at those very kind words Jim Kerr said about me. I was greatly honoured as a wee lad from Kells, to have the opprtunity to play for so long for such a great club as Linfield. It's such an honour for me to be remembered in this manner by the Directors of the club, just as it was a real privilege when the club honoured me by putting my name on the roof of the Kop Stand. I just want to thank everyone at Linfield for making this presentation. I'm just so sorry I couldn't get to Windsor Park to receive the trophy but hopefully I'll be back in the near future, once I get this operation over me. I'm absolutely delighted that Linfield won another league title today. It's great that the club is still doing so well. I was so lucky and proud to have played a small part in the club's history. It's lovely that people at Linfield are still remembering me."