Willie McLaren
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" McLaren (born 6 November 1984 in Glasgow
) is a Scottish
professional football
er who usually plays as a creative attacking player. He is currently playing for Airdrie United, on loan from Hamilton Academical
.
, in a reported five-figure deal in August 2006. He scored his first league goal for the Perth
club in a 3–2 league defeat at Livingston
on 13 January 2007. A week later, he scored the winner against his former club. On 30 January 2008, McLaren was released by St. Johnstone.
on 2 June 2008, after impressing in a trial period at the tail end of the 2007–08 season, including when he scored against former club St Johnstone in a reserve cup semi final, and was on the winning side in the final. He made his Clyde debut in July 2008, in a 2–0 victory over Annan Athletic
in the Scottish Challenge Cup. McLaren was named Scottish Football League player of the month in January 2009, after scoring 3 goals in consecutive games. McLaren's contract was terminated in June 2009, following Clyde's relegation and financial troubles.
for Dumfries
club Queen of the South
in June 2009 from Clyde, as was his fellow team mate, goalkeeper David Hutton.
McLaren's first goal for Queens came in the 2–0 home win against Ayr United on 29 August 2009. He also set up Rocco Quinn
for Queens second goal of the game.
The departure of Chisholm and strikers' coach Billy Dodds
from Queens on 22 March 2010, along with the promotion of Kenny Brannigan
to the manager's position, coincided with the beginning of a surge in form from McLaren. McLaren's second goal for Queens was at Palmerston
on 27 March 2010 against Dunfermline
in another 2–0 home win, when he scored in first half injury time. David Weatherston
scored Queens second goal of the match in the second half. McLaren's third goal for Queens was at Palmerston Park on 10 April 2010 against Inverness Caley Thistle
, when he gave Queens the lead after 10 minutes. McLaren's fourth goal for Queens was at the Excelsior Stadium
on 12 April 2010 against Airdrie United, when he scored the only goal of the match after 88 minutes to give Queens a 1–0 win. McLaren's fifth goal for Queens was in the 3–0 home win against Raith Rovers
on 17 April 2010. McLaren scored in the 80th minute and also crossed for Derek Holmes
(22 mins) and Paul Burns (25 mins) to score and was rewarded with the man of the match award.
McLaren's sixth goal for Queens arrived after 54 minutes in the 1–0 home win against Ross County
on 20 April 2010. This gave McLaren a tally of five goals in a seven game spell.
After missing much of the early 2010/11 season McLaren returned to the first team on 22 August for the club's third league game of the season, the 3-1 away at Cowdenbeath. This was Queens' first league win of the season. He scored in his next game, the 4-1 League Cup win against Forfar Athletic on 25 August. His excellent form under Brannigan continued in his next game, the 3-0 home league win against Ross County. Collecting the ball at the half way line, McLaren set off on a dribble and run before scooping the ball over the keeper's head to score.
McLaren was announced by the club on 19 May 2011 as having been released.
On 26 May 2011 McLaren was awarded divisional goal of the season for his counter against Dunfermline Athletic in October.
club Hamilton Academical
on 27 May 2011.
In November it was announced that McLaren was joining Scottish League Second Division side Airdrie United on loan until January 2012.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish
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...
professional football
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...
er who usually plays as a creative attacking player. He is currently playing for Airdrie United, on loan from Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
.
Airdrie United
Mclaren had been at Benburb Juniors and Hamilton Accies u19s before signing professional at Airdrie in 2003.St Johnstone
After catching the eye of many clubs, he signed for St JohnstoneSt Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
, in a reported five-figure deal in August 2006. He scored his first league goal for the Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
club in a 3–2 league defeat at Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
on 13 January 2007. A week later, he scored the winner against his former club. On 30 January 2008, McLaren was released by St. Johnstone.
Clyde
McLaren signed for ClydeClyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
on 2 June 2008, after impressing in a trial period at the tail end of the 2007–08 season, including when he scored against former club St Johnstone in a reserve cup semi final, and was on the winning side in the final. He made his Clyde debut in July 2008, in a 2–0 victory over Annan Athletic
Annan Athletic F.C.
Annan Athletic Football Club are an association football club who compete in the Scottish Third Division. They are based in the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway...
in the Scottish Challenge Cup. McLaren was named Scottish Football League player of the month in January 2009, after scoring 3 goals in consecutive games. McLaren's contract was terminated in June 2009, following Clyde's relegation and financial troubles.
Queen of the South
McLaren was signed by manager Gordon ChisholmGordon Chisholm
Gordon Chisholm is a Scottish professional football former player and manager. Chisholm played as a central defender for Sunderland, Hibernian, Dundee and Partick Thistle....
for Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in June 2009 from Clyde, as was his fellow team mate, goalkeeper David Hutton.
McLaren's first goal for Queens came in the 2–0 home win against Ayr United on 29 August 2009. He also set up Rocco Quinn
Rocco Quinn
Rocco Quinn is a Scottish professional football player currently playing in midfield for Ross County.-Early career:...
for Queens second goal of the game.
The departure of Chisholm and strikers' coach Billy Dodds
Billy Dodds
William "Billy" Dodds is a Scottish former professional footballer, he was assistant manager at Dundee, but was made redundant when the club went into administration in October 2010, one of his former clubs...
from Queens on 22 March 2010, along with the promotion of Kenny Brannigan
Kenny Brannigan
Kenny Brannigan is a former Scottish association footballer.- Playing career :Kenny Brannigan was a journeyman professional with a career spanning 21 seasons. A centre back, he played for 14 senior clubs in his career, making over 100 appearances for each of Queens Park F.C., and...
to the manager's position, coincided with the beginning of a surge in form from McLaren. McLaren's second goal for Queens was at Palmerston
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park is a multi-purpose stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, south west Scotland. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of...
on 27 March 2010 against Dunfermline
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
in another 2–0 home win, when he scored in first half injury time. David Weatherston
David Weatherston
David Weatherston is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing with Falkirk. He is a forward, who likes to break quickly from wide midfield areas, using his fast pace.-Queen's Park:...
scored Queens second goal of the match in the second half. McLaren's third goal for Queens was at Palmerston Park on 10 April 2010 against Inverness Caley Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
, when he gave Queens the lead after 10 minutes. McLaren's fourth goal for Queens was at the Excelsior Stadium
Excelsior Stadium
The Excelsior Stadium is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League Second Division. It was built in 1998 to house Airdrieonians F.C., and when Airdrieonians went into liquidation four years later, Airdrie United began playing their home games there.When the stadium first...
on 12 April 2010 against Airdrie United, when he scored the only goal of the match after 88 minutes to give Queens a 1–0 win. McLaren's fifth goal for Queens was in the 3–0 home win against Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
on 17 April 2010. McLaren scored in the 80th minute and also crossed for Derek Holmes
Derek Holmes
Derek Holmes is a Scottish association footballer whose role is a play linking forward to set up team mates in attack. While lacking pace Holmes is big, strong and difficult to knock off the ball. He has good game awareness and is effective in linking with team mates whether he is facing or with...
(22 mins) and Paul Burns (25 mins) to score and was rewarded with the man of the match award.
McLaren's sixth goal for Queens arrived after 54 minutes in the 1–0 home win against Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
on 20 April 2010. This gave McLaren a tally of five goals in a seven game spell.
After missing much of the early 2010/11 season McLaren returned to the first team on 22 August for the club's third league game of the season, the 3-1 away at Cowdenbeath. This was Queens' first league win of the season. He scored in his next game, the 4-1 League Cup win against Forfar Athletic on 25 August. His excellent form under Brannigan continued in his next game, the 3-0 home league win against Ross County. Collecting the ball at the half way line, McLaren set off on a dribble and run before scooping the ball over the keeper's head to score.
McLaren was announced by the club on 19 May 2011 as having been released.
On 26 May 2011 McLaren was awarded divisional goal of the season for his counter against Dunfermline Athletic in October.
Hamilton
McLaren joined relegated SPLScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
on 27 May 2011.
In November it was announced that McLaren was joining Scottish League Second Division side Airdrie United on loan until January 2012.