Andy McLaren
Encyclopedia
Andy McLaren is a Scottish
professional footballer
who is currently with Junior
club Petershill
.
where he remained for 10 years, helping them win the Scottish Cup
in 1994. He left Tannadice
for English club Reading
in 2000 and during his spell had a brief loan spell at Livingston F.C. On returning to Reading, he tested positive for cannabis
and cocaine
and admitted to alcoholism
.
After spending time in rehabilitation
, he returned to football in June 2000 when he was signed for Kilmarnock
by the then manager Bobby Williamson
. During his time at Rugby Park
, he won his only Scotland
cap, a substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw against Poland
in April 2001.
He left Kilmarnock in August 2003 after rejecting a new contract and returned to Dundee United. He played for one season at Dundee United team, before being loaned to Partick Thistle
and Greenock Morton
before joining Morton permanently in 2005. After a season at Cappielow
, he joined Dundee
in July 2006. In his side's defeat at Clyde
on December 16, 2006, McLaren was sent off for aiming a blow at a Clyde player, before getting a second red after striking another opponent on the way off the pitch. Once into the dressing rooms he received his third red card for kicking a hole in the door of the referee's room. As a consequence of his actions, Dundee decided to release him from his contract on December 20, 2006.
In February 2007, McLaren signed for Ayr United
on a part-time deal until the end of 2006–07
, scoring on his début a month later. McLaren was released from Somerset Park
in May 2008, and in August 2008 spent a few games on trial at Bathgate Thistle
, before a short spell at Lesmahagow
and a short trial at Pollok
, whom he left on the back of yet another red card. McLaren joined current club Petershill in 2009.
, McLaren returned to football with Kilmarnock, continuing to receive treatment upon returning to first club Dundee United in 2004. Upon signing for Morton permanently in 2005, McLaren admitted to then manager Jim McInally
he had suffered from abuse as a child
, which had led to his drug and alcohol problems. He later announced he had considered suicide, including crashing into a lorry at 80mph.
McLaren's life is detailed in his autobigraphy, Tormented.
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 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...
who is currently with Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
club Petershill
Petershill F.C.
Petershill Football Club are a Scottish football club from Springburn in the north of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Peasy, they were formed in 1897 and are traditionally one of the stronger clubs at their level, although they have not been as successful in recent years as they have historically.The play...
.
Career
McLaren, a winger, began his career in 1989 with Dundee UnitedDundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
where he remained for 10 years, helping them win the 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...
in 1994. He left Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
for English club Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 2000 and during his spell had a brief loan spell at Livingston F.C. On returning to Reading, he tested positive for cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and admitted to alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
After spending time in rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
, he returned to football in June 2000 when he was signed for Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
by the then manager Bobby Williamson
Bobby Williamson
Robert "Bobby" Williamson is a former association footballer who is currently manager of the Uganda national football team. He previously managed Kilmarnock and Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League and Plymouth Argyle in the Football League Championship.-Playing career:As a player, Williamson...
. During his time at Rugby Park
Rugby Park
Rugby Park is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It was first used in 1899 and is the home of Kilmarnock F.C..It underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–95, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128...
, he won his only 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...
cap, a substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in April 2001.
He left Kilmarnock in August 2003 after rejecting a new contract and returned to Dundee United. He played for one season at Dundee United team, before being loaned to Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
and 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....
before joining Morton permanently in 2005. After a season at 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...
, he joined 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...
in July 2006. In his side's defeat at Clyde
Clyde 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 December 16, 2006, McLaren was sent off for aiming a blow at a Clyde player, before getting a second red after striking another opponent on the way off the pitch. Once into the dressing rooms he received his third red card for kicking a hole in the door of the referee's room. As a consequence of his actions, Dundee decided to release him from his contract on December 20, 2006.
In February 2007, McLaren signed for Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
on a part-time deal until the end of 2006–07
2006-07 in Scottish football
The 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...
, scoring on his début a month later. McLaren was released from Somerset Park
Somerset Park
Somerset Park is a football stadium located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.It has been the home of Ayr United since they were founded in 1910. Prior to that, it was the home ground of Ayr F.C.. It currently has a capacity of 10,185 of which 1,597 is seated, making it one of the largest capacity...
in May 2008, and in August 2008 spent a few games on trial at Bathgate Thistle
Bathgate Thistle F.C.
Bathgate Thistle F.C. are a Scottish junior football club, based in the town of Bathgate, West Lothian. They play in the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League....
, before a short spell at Lesmahagow
Lesmahagow F.C.
Lesmahagow Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed the Gow, they were formed in 1885 and play at Craighead Park...
and a short trial at Pollok
Pollok F.C.
Pollok Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Newlands in the southside of the city of Glasgow. They are one of the biggest football clubs operating in Scottish Junior football, regularly attracting crowds of around 550, more than many clubs in the third division and even some in the...
, whom he left on the back of yet another red card. McLaren joined current club Petershill in 2009.
Personal problems
McLaren gave a positive drugs test in 2000 during his time at Reading and was immediately banned from football. After receiving treatment for drug addiction and alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, McLaren returned to football with Kilmarnock, continuing to receive treatment upon returning to first club Dundee United in 2004. Upon signing for Morton permanently in 2005, McLaren admitted to then manager Jim McInally
Jim McInally
James Edward McInally is a former Scottish footballer and was previously manager of East Stirlingshire.-Playing career:...
he had suffered from abuse as a child
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
, which had led to his drug and alcohol problems. He later announced he had considered suicide, including crashing into a lorry at 80mph.
McLaren's life is detailed in his autobigraphy, Tormented.