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David McPherson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David "Dave" McPherson is a former Scottish
international footballer
most famous for his spells with Rangers
and Heart of Midlothian
.
recognition, as well as a place in the Rangers 1st team, by 1983. However, by their own high standards, Rangers were enduring a mediocre spell limiting McPherson's initial success while at Ibrox
to one league title and two League Cups
.
The revolution brought about by the arrival of Graeme Souness
(and numerous new signings) at Rangers led to McPherson being deemed surplus to requirements, and he was sold to Hearts
for £325,000 in 1987. He soon became a regular in the Tynecastle
line-up, helping Hearts achieve regular high league finishes while enhancing his own reputation. Within two years he became both a Scotland
international and club captain. However, despite several close calls, the Jambos were unable to break their trophy famine, and when debts began to rise, McPherson, by then the club's most valuable asset, was sold back to Rangers in 1992, for £1.3m.
McPherson's second spell at Rangers was much more successful than the first, as he helped Walter Smith
's dominant side achieve the treble in 1992-93
, then a double in the 1993-94
season. The flipside to this success though was the continual arrival of internationally renowned players competing for positions and McPherson again found himself relegated to the bench by 1994.
Financial troubles at Hearts dictated McPherson's next move, as he returned to the Edinburgh
club in part exchange for Alan McLaren
, Rangers also paying Hearts £1.25m. By now approaching the veteran stage, McPherson played an important role in nurturing Hearts' next generation of defenders such as Paul Ritchie and Gary Locke. He also helped the club to victory in the 1998 Scottish Cup
, their first silverware in 36 years.
After leaving Tynecastle in the summer of 1999, McPherson wound down his playing career in Australia
with Carlton S.C.
in Melbourne
.
against Cyprus
on 26 April 1989, a match Scotland won 2-1 at Hampden Park
. Despite remaining a relative novice at international level, he was selected in the Scotland squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, appearing in all three group games as Scotland just missed qualification. McPherson's solid performances resulted in him then becoming a fixture in the national side, missing only qualifying 1 game as Scotland reached the 1992 Euro Championships
. He started all three group matches in Sweden
but once again Scotland failed to qualify.
McPherson's international form began to waver the following season, though, and when Scotland were thrashed 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying game in Lisbon
in April 1993, the Scottish press and public called for radical surgery. McPherson was one of several older players to be dropped, never to play for the national side again.
at Greenock Morton
. When Cormack left Cappielow
, McPherson was promoted to player-manager, however he was surprisingly sacked after only 13 games, despite the club being three points from the top of the league. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/2478357.stm He has since developed a career in sports management.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international footballer
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...
most famous for his spells with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
Club career
McPherson began his football career at Gartcosh United before starting his professional career with boyhood favourites Rangers in 1980, breaking into the first team while still a teenager. His impressive form ensured he achieved Under 21Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
recognition, as well as a place in the Rangers 1st team, by 1983. However, by their own high standards, Rangers were enduring a mediocre spell limiting McPherson's initial success while at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
to one league title and two League Cups
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
.
The revolution brought about by the arrival of Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
(and numerous new signings) at Rangers led to McPherson being deemed surplus to requirements, and he was sold to Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
for £325,000 in 1987. He soon became a regular in the Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
line-up, helping Hearts achieve regular high league finishes while enhancing his own reputation. Within two years he became both a Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international and club captain. However, despite several close calls, the Jambos were unable to break their trophy famine, and when debts began to rise, McPherson, by then the club's most valuable asset, was sold back to Rangers in 1992, for £1.3m.
McPherson's second spell at Rangers was much more successful than the first, as he helped Walter Smith
Walter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
's dominant side achieve the treble in 1992-93
1992-93 in Scottish football
The 1992–93 season was the 96th season of competitive football in Scotland.- Notable events:* Rangers completing a domestic treble of the Premier Division title, FA Cup and League Cup....
, then a double in the 1993-94
1993-94 in Scottish football
The 1993–94 season was the 97th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season saw several teams relegated from the 1st and 2nd divisions in preparation for the introduction of a 3rd division the following season.-Notable events:...
season. The flipside to this success though was the continual arrival of internationally renowned players competing for positions and McPherson again found himself relegated to the bench by 1994.
Financial troubles at Hearts dictated McPherson's next move, as he returned to the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
club in part exchange for Alan McLaren
Alan McLaren
Alan James McLaren is a former Scottish footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian and Rangers.McLaren started his career with Hearts in 1987 and made over 180 appearances for the Tynecastle club. He moved to Rangers in 1994 in a £2m part-exchange deal, with Dave McPherson moving the opposite...
, Rangers also paying Hearts £1.25m. By now approaching the veteran stage, McPherson played an important role in nurturing Hearts' next generation of defenders such as Paul Ritchie and Gary Locke. He also helped the club to victory in the 1998 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, their first silverware in 36 years.
After leaving Tynecastle in the summer of 1999, McPherson wound down his playing career in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with Carlton S.C.
Carlton S.C.
Carlton Soccer Club is a defunct Australian association football club. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1997/98 season until round eight of the 2000/2001 season, after which it folded. The club was strongly linked to the Carlton Australian Rules club, and suffered from poor...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
International career
McPherson was first selected to play for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
against Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
on 26 April 1989, a match Scotland won 2-1 at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. Despite remaining a relative novice at international level, he was selected in the Scotland squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, appearing in all three group games as Scotland just missed qualification. McPherson's solid performances resulted in him then becoming a fixture in the national side, missing only qualifying 1 game as Scotland reached the 1992 Euro Championships
1992 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was hosted by Sweden between 10 and 26 June 1992. It was the ninth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. Eight national teams contested the championship, which was won by Denmark, one of...
. He started all three group matches in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
but once again Scotland failed to qualify.
McPherson's international form began to waver the following season, though, and when Scotland were thrashed 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying game in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in April 1993, the Scottish press and public called for radical surgery. McPherson was one of several older players to be dropped, never to play for the national side again.
Playing style
McPherson's height (6 ft 3) ensured he was a commanding presence defensively, as well as a potent attacking weapon, both as a goalscoring threat and a targetman for flick-ons. Despite his stature he was also quite an adept dribbler, and his sporadic runs from defence were renowned, particularly when playing as part of a three-man central defence with Hearts. This ability also led to him sometimes being deployed at right-back, as opposed to his usual role as a central defender. These runs were used to devastating effect in big matches, such as the 3-1 victory over Celtic in November 1991, and the classic 4-2 victory over Rangers during the Scottish Cup tie at Tynecastle in February 1995.Post retirement
McPherson moved into coaching in 2001, when appointed assistant-manager to Peter CormackPeter Cormack
Peter Barr Cormack is a Scottish former professional footballer and football manager who reached his peak as a player in the first great Liverpool side of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
at Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. When Cormack left Cappielow
Cappielow
Cappielow is a district of Greenock in Inverclyde, west central Scotland. It is home to Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton F.C. The name Cappielow, taken alone, usually refers to the Cappielow Park stadium, but it can also refer to a small area of housing or the adjoining industrial...
, McPherson was promoted to player-manager, however he was surprisingly sacked after only 13 games, despite the club being three points from the top of the league. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/2478357.stm He has since developed a career in sports management.