| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Andrew McGarr[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1944-03-09)9 March 1944 (age 81) | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kilbirnie Ladeside | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1971 | Aberdeen | 43 | (0) |
| 1971–1972 | Dunfermline Athletic | 25 | (0) |
| 1972–1977 | East Fife | 118 | (0) |
| 1977–1978 | Cowdenbeath | 44 | (0) |
| 1978–1980 | Airdrieonians | 75 | (0) |
| 1980–1981 | Berwick Rangers | 6 | (0) |
| Leven Juniors | |||
| Oakley United | |||
| St Andrews United | |||
| Total | 311 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1969 | Scotland | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ernest "Ernie" McGarr (born 9 March 1944) is a Scottish former professionalfootballer, who played as agoalkeeper for several clubs in the Scottish Football League and was capped twice for theScotland national side.
McGarr signed forAberdeen in 1965 fromJunior clubKilbirnie Ladeside, and made his first team debut at the end of the 1965–66 season in a friendly match versusCrystal Palace.[2] The presence ofBobby Clark as his rival for the goalkeeping position at Pittodrie meant that first team opportunities in the early years were limited. It was only during the 1968–69 season, when a loss of form by Clark prompted managerEddie Turnbull to give him a chance, that McGarr was able to stake his claim and secure a regular starting position.
Such was the impact that McGarr made, Scottish internationalist Clark could not regain his position, even appearing as an outfield player on two occasions.[3] McGarr's form was itself recognised with an international call-up for a friendly game in September 1969 against theRepublic of Ireland. Unfortunately, he went into the game carrying an injury picked up from a club match the previous day and only lasted 35 minutes before being substituted forJim Herriot. He made one further appearance for the national team in November the same year, versusAustria in aFIFA World Cup qualifying match however Scotland were already unable to qualify and lost 2–0.
McGarr again lost his place in the Aberdeen side to Bobby Clark in early 1970 and later that year tabled a transfer request, eventually moving toDunfermline Athletic in January 1971. From Dunfermline, McGarr moved toEast Fife where he spent five seasons. A highlight of his spell at Bayview was a game against title chasingCeltic in February 1973 where he saved three penalty kicks in an entertaining 2–2 draw.[4] He later played forCowdenbeath,Airdrieonians andBerwick Rangers before finishing his career inFife Junior football.
