Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874)
Encyclopedia
Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton
in 1898–99
, where he helped win the Southern League
championship.
area of Glasgow
and trained as a shipyard
engineer
. After a spell on the books of Partick Thistle
as an amateur
, his work took him to Cowes
on the Isle of Wight
in southern England
. Whilst working at Cowes, he turned out for Cowes F.C., playing in the Southern League
Second Division. In early 1899, he was spotted by George Thomas, a director of Southampton F.C.
and was signed by the "Saints" as a professional
.
He made his debut for Southampton on 11 March 1899, when he took the place of David Steven
at inside-right in a 4–1 victory over Bristol City
. For the next match, at home to Chatham, McLean moved to outside-left, replacing George Seeley
and scored in another 4–1 victory. Described as "extremely versatile", McLean retained his place in the side for the rest of the season
. In his eight appearances, he played in four positions, including once at right-half and the final three at centre-forward, playing alongside fellow-Scot Roddy McLeod
.
McLean's three goals included the third at Bristol City
in the final match of the season; with both sides level on points at the top of the table, Saints had a superior goal average and only needed a draw to take the title for the third consecutive year. After being 2–0 down at half-time, the Saints had drawn level through goals from Arthur Chadwick
and Harry Wood
. McLean's goal came following a move involving John Robertson and Wood, giving the Saints the lead for the first time in the match. Wood soon added another and, although City pulled one back, Southampton finished as 4–3 victors, and the title was theirs.
In the summer of 1899, Southampton recruited several new players including England
international Alf Milward
and McLean spent the 1899–1900 season in the reserves.
In May 1900, McLean was transferred to Derby County
of the Football League First Division
, but was unable to break into the first-team and after a year he move back to Glasgow
and resumed work in the shipyards. In 1902, he returned to the Isle of Wight, assisting the Cowes team and in 1906 was part of their side that won the Hampshire Senior Cup
.
His date of death is unknown although he was still living in Southampton in 1952.
Cowes
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...
in 1898–99
Southern Football League 1898-99
The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...
, where he helped win the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
championship.
Football career
McLean was born in the GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
area of Glasgow
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...
and trained as a shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. After a spell on the books of 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...
as an amateur
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
, his work took him to Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
. Whilst working at Cowes, he turned out for Cowes F.C., playing in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Second Division. In early 1899, he was spotted by George Thomas, a director of Southampton F.C.
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...
and was signed by the "Saints" as a professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
.
He made his debut for Southampton on 11 March 1899, when he took the place of David Steven
David Steven
David Steven was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside-forward around the turn of the 20th century, spending most of his career with his hometown club, Dundee, before he died from a heart attack aged only 25....
at inside-right in a 4–1 victory over Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. For the next match, at home to Chatham, McLean moved to outside-left, replacing George Seeley
George Seeley
George Alfred Seeley was an English professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship....
and scored in another 4–1 victory. Described as "extremely versatile", McLean retained his place in the side for the rest of the season
Southern Football League 1898-99
The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...
. In his eight appearances, he played in four positions, including once at right-half and the final three at centre-forward, playing alongside fellow-Scot Roddy McLeod
Roddy McLeod
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:...
.
McLean's three goals included the third at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in the final match of the season; with both sides level on points at the top of the table, Saints had a superior goal average and only needed a draw to take the title for the third consecutive year. After being 2–0 down at half-time, the Saints had drawn level through goals from Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
and Harry Wood
Harry Wood (footballer)
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:...
. McLean's goal came following a move involving John Robertson and Wood, giving the Saints the lead for the first time in the match. Wood soon added another and, although City pulled one back, Southampton finished as 4–3 victors, and the title was theirs.
In the summer of 1899, Southampton recruited several new players including England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Alf Milward
Alf Milward
Alfred Weatherell Milward was a professional footballer who played in the 1893 and 1897 FA Cup Finals for Everton and in the 1900 FA Cup Final for Southampton.-Playing career:...
and McLean spent the 1899–1900 season in the reserves.
In May 1900, McLean was transferred to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, but was unable to break into the first-team and after a year he move back to Glasgow
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...
and resumed work in the shipyards. In 1902, he returned to the Isle of Wight, assisting the Cowes team and in 1906 was part of their side that won the Hampshire Senior Cup
Hampshire Senior Cup
The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
.
His date of death is unknown although he was still living in Southampton in 1952.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1898–99Southern Football League 1898-99The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...
Cowes
- Hampshire Senior CupHampshire Senior CupThe Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
winners: 1906