Angus McLean (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Angus McLean was a football
player and club manager.
A solidly built centre-half who began his career with Aberystwyth Town
, McLean moved on to Hilton Main before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
as an amateur in 1939.
He turned professional in November 1942 and helped Wolves to top six finishes in each of the first three post-war
seasons. A knee injury kept him out of the team for most of the 1948-49 season and so he missed out on an a place in Wolves' 1949 FA Cup
winning side.
McLean left Wolves in May 1951 to become player-manager at Aberystwyth Town, subsequently joining Bromsgrove Rovers
as a player. In May 1953, McLean joined Bury
as player-coach, moving to Crewe Alexandra
as a player the following June.
After leaving Crewe he coached a number of non-league sides before taking over from Brian Clough
as manager of Hartlepools United
in May 1967. The following season, he led Hartlepool to their first ever promotion, but they were relegated after just one season. Despite relegation, McLean remained in charge, but was sacked in April 1970 when Hartlepool finished in the bottom four and were forced to seek re-election to the Football League
.
McLean managed Bromsgrove Rovers between 1973 and 1975, after which time he worked as a scout until his death in 1979.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and club manager.
A solidly built centre-half who began his career with Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
, McLean moved on to Hilton Main before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as an amateur in 1939.
He turned professional in November 1942 and helped Wolves to top six finishes in each of the first three post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
seasons. A knee injury kept him out of the team for most of the 1948-49 season and so he missed out on an a place in Wolves' 1949 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winning side.
McLean left Wolves in May 1951 to become player-manager at Aberystwyth Town, subsequently joining Bromsgrove Rovers
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
as a player. In May 1953, McLean joined Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
as player-coach, moving to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
as a player the following June.
After leaving Crewe he coached a number of non-league sides before taking over from Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
as manager of Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in May 1967. The following season, he led Hartlepool to their first ever promotion, but they were relegated after just one season. Despite relegation, McLean remained in charge, but was sacked in April 1970 when Hartlepool finished in the bottom four and were forced to seek re-election to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
McLean managed Bromsgrove Rovers between 1973 and 1975, after which time he worked as a scout until his death in 1979.
External links
- Angus McLean, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database