An era has come to a close at Alloa Athletic FC as club legend Kevin Cawley has officially retired from professional football after reaching a monumental 502 appearances for the club—426 starts and 76 as a substitute—scoring 80 goals across his Alloa career.
Cawley made his landmark 500th appearance on Saturday 4th January 2025, coming on as a second-half substitute in Alloa’s 3–1 victory over Arbroath at the Greenversity Stadium, Gayfield. An unbelievable total of professional games that highlights Kevin’s consistency, quality and inimitableness over his career.
A Career of Loyalty and Excellence
Kevin’s journey with Alloa began in 2011, when he joined the club under Paul Hartley after spells with East Stirling, Stranraer, and Ayr United. From that point forward, he became a fixture at the heart of the team’s success. Across 14 seasons, Cawley not only displayed unwavering commitment on the pitch but became a leader, mentor, and fan favourite—known affectionately as ‘Wee Kev’.
In total, including his time with other clubs, Cawley amassed 613 Scottish League appearances and scored 99 goals—a remarkable testament to his durability and quality over time.
Early Years and Development
Born on 17th March 1989, Cawley began his footballing journey in the youth ranks of Glasgow Celtic, where he was capped multiple times for Scotland U16 and U17 between 2004 and 2008. While at Celtic, he was part of the Youth Cup runner-up squads in 2007 and 2008 under Gordon Strachan’s tenure.
Loan spells at Ayr United and Stranraer gave him his first senior experience, before a productive season with East Stirling in 2010/11 (42 appearances, 14 goals) laid the foundation for his Alloa career.
The Alloa Years – Triumphs, Heartbreak, and Legacy
Kevin joined Alloa ahead of the 2011/12 season, kicking off one of the club’s most successful periods:
- 2011/12: Promotion as Third Division Champions
- 2012/13: Back-to-back promotion via Play-Offs vs Dunfermline
- 2014/15: Survival via Play-Offs against Forfar Athletic
- 2017/18: Promotion again through Play-Offs vs Dumbarton
His time at Alloa was interspersed with a brief spell at Dumbarton in 2015/16, before he was brought back to the club by Jack Ross, reaffirming his connection to Alloa.
Even in the challenging years—including pandemic-affected seasons and eventual relegation in 2020/21—Cawley’s leadership and consistency stood out.
Life Off the Pitch
In the latter part of his career, Kevin found balance and joy off the pitch. He married Gillian on 1st July 2022, and the couple welcomed their son Luca on 4th January 2024—a day which now holds double meaning, as it coincided with Kevin’s final professional match.
He was awarded a testimonial match on 24th June 2023, a 2–2 draw in which he scored the goal of the game, a fitting celebration for a man who gave so much to the club and community.
What others said about Kevin:
- Paul Hartley: “He was a terrific signing for me. I loved working with him. He’s been a brilliant servant to Alloa, and I really can’t speak highly enough of him.”
- Jack Ross: Brought Kevin back from Dumbarton, saying he’d long admired him.
- Jim Goodwin: “We could all do with more Kevin Cawleys. He’s a pleasure to work with, and the boys love him.”
- Peter Grant: “He was a great player for me. It was a joy and a pleasure to work with him.”
- Stevie Hetherington: “He demands high standards. He’s a top, top player and incredibly hard-working. He’s been a great servant to the club.”
- Andy Graham (former captain and current manager): “His attitude is brilliant. He looks after himself, is unassuming, and is hilarious in the dressing room. He deserves all the plaudits for what he’s brought to Alloa.”
Kevin Cawley retires not just as a player, but as a symbol of loyalty, professionalism, and passion. His career, defined by grit, goals, and greatness, has left an indelible mark on Alloa Athletic FC and Scottish football.
Thank you, Kevin. You’ll always be ‘Wee Kev’—but your legacy is anything but small.
