George Niven
Encyclopedia
George Niven was a Scottish
footballer who played during the 1950s and 60s for Rangers
and Partick Thistle
.
in 1951 by manager Bill Struth
. He made his debut against Aberdeen
on 19 April 1952 in the final league match of the season, the match ended 1-1. He spent over ten years at Ibrox and won five league championships, two Scottish Cup
s, one League Cup
, four Glasgow Cup
s and three Charity Cups. He made 327 appearances in total for the club.
In February 1962 he joined Partick Thistle
. Whilst in Maryhill
he would make a total of 232 first class appearances and become an ever present in the Jags goal. He never missed a league match in three separate seasons — 1962-63, 1963–64 and 1967-68.
He lost his place as number one when old rival from Rangers, Billy Ritchie
, joined Thistle. After not featuring in the first team all season (his last game coming in a 0-0 draw at Airdrie in April 1968), he left in the summer of 1969. Niven retired from playing shortly after this.
Niven never played for the Scotland national football team
. It is understood that he has played the most games for Rangers of any Scottish player who has not been capped by Scotland. Niven was selected twice for Scotland, but had to withdraw each time due to injury and was replaced by Frank Haffey
. He did, however, represent the Scottish League XI
seven times.
Niven died on 18 July 2008.
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...
footballer who played during the 1950s and 60s for 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 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...
.
Career
Niven was signed to Rangers from junior side Coupar AngusCoupar Angus F.C.
Coupar Angus F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club based in Coupar Angus, Perth and Kinross. Their home ground is Foxhall Park.Formed in 1935, they joined the Angus Junior League the same year and remained in that league until their move to the Perthshire Junior League in the 1960s...
in 1951 by manager Bill Struth
Bill Struth
Bill Struth was the second manager of Rangers Football Club, leading the Club for 34 years between 1920 and 1954, as well as the holder of a number of other positions, including director...
. He made his debut against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
on 19 April 1952 in the final league match of the season, the match ended 1-1. He spent over ten years at Ibrox and won five league championships, two 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...
s, one League Cup
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...
, four Glasgow Cup
Glasgow Cup
The Glasgow Cup is a knockout football tournament open to teams from Glasgow. It was competed for annually by senior Glasgow clubs from 1887 until 1988. It is now competed for between the youth teams of Rangers, Celtic, Clyde, Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.It is dominated by the Old Firm of...
s and three Charity Cups. He made 327 appearances in total for the club.
In February 1962 he joined 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...
. Whilst in Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
he would make a total of 232 first class appearances and become an ever present in the Jags goal. He never missed a league match in three separate seasons — 1962-63, 1963–64 and 1967-68.
He lost his place as number one when old rival from Rangers, Billy Ritchie
Billy Ritchie
William "Billy" Ritchie is a Scottish former professional football player who is best known for his time with Rangers.Ritchie started his career at local side Bathgate Thistle before moving to Rangers in 1955...
, joined Thistle. After not featuring in the first team all season (his last game coming in a 0-0 draw at Airdrie in April 1968), he left in the summer of 1969. Niven retired from playing shortly after this.
Niven never played for the Scotland national football team
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...
. It is understood that he has played the most games for Rangers of any Scottish player who has not been capped by Scotland. Niven was selected twice for Scotland, but had to withdraw each time due to injury and was replaced by Frank Haffey
Frank Haffey
Francis Haffey was a football goalkeeper for Glasgow's Celtic F.C. and for the Scottish national team.Haffey, remembered as one of Celtic's great and more eccentric keepers, played more than two hundred matches for his club....
. He did, however, represent the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
seven times.
Niven died on 18 July 2008.
External links
- Obituary, The Scotsman, 24 July 2008
- "George Niven: Highly regarded Rangers goalkeeper", The Times, 31 July 2008
- Obituary, The Herald, 23 July 2008