Dave MacLaren
Encyclopedia
David "Dave" MacLaren is a retired Scottish football player and manager
.
MacLaren began his career at local club Auchterarder before being signed to Dundee
. He managed only one first team appearance for the team though, before heading to England in January 1957, where he would spend the rest of his playing career.
He joined Leicester City
and immediately won promotion to the First Division as he became first choice, but he lost his place to the emerging Gordon Banks
during the 1959–60 season. McLaren took this as his cue to depart and joined Second Division Plymouth Argyle
at the end of the season.
The goalkeeper made more appearances for Plymouth than any of his other league clubs (131 league games) over five seasons in the second tier, before being signed by Wolves
in early 1965. He spent only one full season at Molineux
as the club attempted to regain their top flight status at the first attempt in 1965–66, but fell short.
McLaren got a chance to return to the First Division though when newly-promoted Southampton
signed him soon into the following season. Ironically, McLaren had been in goal for Wolves when Southampton had scored 9 against them in the previous season (in a 9-3 victory).
He lasted just a single season at The Dell
, making 22 league appearances, before losing his place to Eric Martin
. After leaving Southampton he joined non-league Worcester City
.
After retiring from playing, he took on a new challenge in Australia as manager of South Melbourne Hellas
.
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
.
MacLaren began his career at local club Auchterarder before being signed to Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. He managed only one first team appearance for the team though, before heading to England in January 1957, where he would spend the rest of his playing career.
He joined Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and immediately won promotion to the First Division as he became first choice, but he lost his place to the emerging Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
during the 1959–60 season. McLaren took this as his cue to depart and joined Second Division Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
at the end of the season.
The goalkeeper made more appearances for Plymouth than any of his other league clubs (131 league games) over five seasons in the second tier, before being signed by Wolves
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...
in early 1965. He spent only one full season at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
as the club attempted to regain their top flight status at the first attempt in 1965–66, but fell short.
McLaren got a chance to return to the First Division though when newly-promoted Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
signed him soon into the following season. Ironically, McLaren had been in goal for Wolves when Southampton had scored 9 against them in the previous season (in a 9-3 victory).
He lasted just a single season at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
, making 22 league appearances, before losing his place to Eric Martin
Eric Martin (footballer)
Eric Martin is a former football goalkeeper who played 290 games for Southampton F.C. between 1967 and 1975, including 248 Football League games.-External links:*...
. After leaving Southampton he joined non-league Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
.
After retiring from playing, he took on a new challenge in Australia as manager of South Melbourne Hellas
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
.