| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David MacLaren | ||
| Date of birth | (1934-06-12)12 June 1934 | ||
| Place of birth | Auchterarder, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 6 December 2016(2016-12-06) (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1953 | Hong Kong FC | (0) | |
| 1954–1955 | Penang | (0) | |
| 1956–1957 | Dundee | 1 | (0) |
| 1957–1960 | Leicester City | 85 | (0) |
| 1960–1965 | Plymouth Argyle | 131 | (0) |
| 1965–1966 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 44 | (0) |
| 1966–1967 | Southampton | 22 | (0) |
| Total | 283 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1954 | Malaya | 1 | (0) |
| 1954–1955 | Malaya XI | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1970–1971 | Malaysia | ||
| 1972–1976 | Sydney City | ||
| 1977–1979 | South Melbourne Hellas | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
David MacLaren (12 June 1934 – 6 December 2016) was afootballer who played as agoalkeeper. Although born in Scotland, he spent most of his playing career in England, before turning tomanagement in Malaysia and Australia.
While completing hisNational Service as a radar technician in theRAAF, MacLaren representedHong Kong FC and helpedPenang win theMalaya Cup in 1954.[1][2] He also attracted the attention ofChelsea manager,Ted Drake to signing him for Chelsea before he returned to Scotland and joinedDundee.[3] He managed only one first team appearance for the team though, before heading to England in January 1957, where he would spend the rest of his playing career.[4]
He joinedLeicester City and immediately wonpromotion to the First Division as he became first choice, but he lost his place to the emergingGordon Banks during the1959–60 season. McLaren took this as his cue to depart and joined Second DivisionPlymouth Argyle at the end of the season.[5]
The goalkeeper made more appearances for Plymouth than any of his other league clubs (131 league games) over five seasons in the second tier, before being signed byWolves in early 1965. He spent only one full season atMolineux as the club attempted to regain their top flight status at the first attempt in1965–66, but fell short.[6]
MacLaren got a chance to return to the First Division though when newly promotedSouthampton signed him soon into thefollowing season, despite McLaren having been in goal for Wolves when Southampton had scored nine against them in the previous season (in a 9–3 victory).[7]
He lasted just a single season atThe Dell, making 22 league appearances, before losing his place toEric Martin. After leaving Southampton he joined non-leagueWorcester City.[8]
MacLaren died inCastlemaine, Victoria, Australia on 6 December 2016 after a long illness.[9][10]
While in Penang, he was selected in aMalaya national football team and played in exhibition matches. On 18 September 1954, he played for Malaya againstSingapore in a 3–0 defeat.[11] He then played for Malaya againstKalmar FF in a 1–1 draw on 20 November 1954.[12]
The following year, on 11 February 1955, he played againstAdmira in a 1–1 draw.[13]
After retiring from playing, he took on a new challenge in Malaysia as manager ofMalaysia national team between 1970 and 1971. As national manager, MacLaren guided Malaysia to qualify for the1972 Munich Olympic Games as group leaders.[3]
After that, he returned to Australia to manageSydney City.In 1977, he becameSouth Melbourne Hellas manager for two years.[14]
MacLaren's brothers,Jimmy andRoy, were also professional footballers. All three MacLaren brothers were goalkeepers.[15]
Penang
Leicester City
Individual
Sydney City
