George McLachlan
Encyclopedia
George Herbert McLachlan (born 21 September 1902, date of death unknown) was an FA Cup
-winning Scottish
footballer and manager. He was born in Glasgow
and played as an outside left
or at wing half
.
as a junior but stayed for only two weeks before joining Clyde
.
and spent three years with the then Shawfield Stadium
football club, interrupted by a short loan spell at King's Park Strollers
.
side in the club's history. Promoted to the top division in 1921, they had finished runners up in the 1923-24 League Championship (a late penalty miss in the last game of the season cost the Welsh side the title) and in the 1924-25 FA Cup. Fellow Scot Hughie Ferguson
also joined in 1925. Many Football League clubs were interested in signing McLachlan but he was persuaded to join City as his father was captain of a ship that regularly called at Cardiff docks.
Much to McLachlan's disappointment he missed out on an international cap in 1926 with a broken leg picked up against Leicester City
.
The high point of McLachlan's career came with Cardiff City when he was part of their victory in the 1927 FA Cup Final. McLachlan recovered from the broken leg in 1926 to star in Cardiff's FA Cup triumph.
At Cardiff, McLachlan moved from outside left to wing half. He played 139 league games, hitting 22 goals. While at Cardiff, in 1928, he played for the Anglo-Scots against the Home-Scots in an international trial match at Firhill.
, where he captained the side between the departure of Jack Wilson
in 1932 and the appointment of Louis Page
as captain. McLachlan scored four goals in 116 games for the Red Devils.
, who were about to embark on only their third Football League season. Throughout the 1930s, Chester never finished outside of the top ten in Division Three North; their lowest finish came in 1933-34, when they came in 10th place.
side Le Havre
in 1934-35. He was offered a further contract with the club, but his ambition was to manage a Scottish First Division side.
side, Queen of the South
. His appointment was announced on 29 June.
He was manager of one of the landmark events in the history of Queen of the South; the 11-game 1936 overseas tour and the Algiers invitational tournament. Queens returned with the trophy after beating Racing Santander
in the final.
Players at the club during this time included Willie Savage
, Willie Culbert
, Willie Ferguson
, Joe Tulip
and Irish
international Laurie Cumming
.
McLachlan's time at Queens was part of a long spell the club spent in Scotland's top division. It was under McLachlan that Jackie Oakes
first joined Queens.
On 22 March, with five games remaining of the 1936-37 season, the Queens board announced that McLachlan would be leaving the club on 30 March. The week was intended to allow the outgoing manager to offer advice on team building for the next season. Willie Ferguson was named as McLachlan's successor.
When McLachlan left Queens in 1937, he had no further involvement in football.
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
-winning Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
footballer and manager. He was born in 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 played as an outside left
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
or at wing half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
.
Early years
Born in Glasgow, McLachlan began his football career at Crosshill Amateurs before joining CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
as a junior but stayed for only two weeks before joining 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...
.
Clyde
McLachlan joined ClydeClyde 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...
and spent three years with the then Shawfield Stadium
Shawfield Stadium
Shawfield Stadium is a greyhound racing venue in the town of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located close to the boundary with Glasgow. It has also previously been a regular venue for football and speedway, as home to Clyde F.C. and the Glasgow Tigers respectively...
football club, interrupted by a short loan spell at King's Park Strollers
King's Park F.C.
King's Park FC were a football club who played in the Scottish Football League before the Second World War. Based in Stirling, they joined the League in the 1921–22 season, following the reintroduction of the Second Division and were one of 11 new members for that season.-History:Their finest...
.
Cardiff City
McLachlan, a speedy left winger, was then transferred in November 1925 for a fee of £2,000. He joined the strongest Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
side in the club's history. Promoted to the top division in 1921, they had finished runners up in the 1923-24 League Championship (a late penalty miss in the last game of the season cost the Welsh side the title) and in the 1924-25 FA Cup. Fellow Scot Hughie Ferguson
Hughie Ferguson
Hugh "Hughie" Ferguson was a Scottish footballer. He is only one of seven men in the entire history of the Football and Scottish Football Leagues to have scored 350 League goals...
also joined in 1925. Many Football League clubs were interested in signing McLachlan but he was persuaded to join City as his father was captain of a ship that regularly called at Cardiff docks.
Much to McLachlan's disappointment he missed out on an international cap in 1926 with a broken leg picked up against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
.
The high point of McLachlan's career came with Cardiff City when he was part of their victory in the 1927 FA Cup Final. McLachlan recovered from the broken leg in 1926 to star in Cardiff's FA Cup triumph.
At Cardiff, McLachlan moved from outside left to wing half. He played 139 league games, hitting 22 goals. While at Cardiff, in 1928, he played for the Anglo-Scots against the Home-Scots in an international trial match at Firhill.
Manchester United
He left the Bluebirds in December 1929 for top division Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, where he captained the side between the departure of Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson (footballer)
Jack Wilson, was an English football half back. He was born in Durham. In his early days, he played for Leadgate United, Newcastle United F.C., Durham City F.C., and Stockport County F.C.. In September 1926, he was sold to Manchester United F.C. He would stay with United until 1932 when he was...
in 1932 and the appointment of Louis Page
Louis Page
Louis Antonio Page was an England international football player and football manager. He was the younger brother of Tom Page.-Club career:Page began his senior career with Merseyside clubs Everton and South Liverpool...
as captain. McLachlan scored four goals in 116 games for the Red Devils.
Chester
In June 1933, McLachlan was appointed as a player-coach at Football League newcomers ChesterChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, who were about to embark on only their third Football League season. Throughout the 1930s, Chester never finished outside of the top ten in Division Three North; their lowest finish came in 1933-34, when they came in 10th place.
Le Havre
McLachlan had a spell as player-manager with FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
side Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
in 1934-35. He was offered a further contract with the club, but his ambition was to manage a Scottish First Division side.
Queen of the South
In 1935, McLachlan was the successful applicant out of almost one hundred who applied for the job as manager of top division DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
side, Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
. His appointment was announced on 29 June.
He was manager of one of the landmark events in the history of Queen of the South; the 11-game 1936 overseas tour and the Algiers invitational tournament. Queens returned with the trophy after beating Racing Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in the final.
Players at the club during this time included Willie Savage
Willie Savage
Willie Savage from Burnbank was a former Scottish footballer, best known with Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Early days:Savage was a native of Burnbank who began his football as an inside forward at the local St Cuthbert School and representing Lanarkshire elementary schools against Glasgow...
, Willie Culbert
Willie Culbert
Willie Culbert was a former Scottish footballer best known with Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Queen of the South:Willie Culbert was a 1932 Queen of the South signing from Clyde....
, Willie Ferguson
Willie Ferguson
William Copeland Ferguson was a Scottish footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Dumfries side Queen of the South. His position was usually as a left winger.-Early years:...
, Joe Tulip
Joe Tulip
Joe Tulip was an English footballer best known for his time at Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Early years:The left-winger from Mickley in Northumberland joined Queens from Crawcrook Albion in 1933. The previous season Tulip had a brief spell at Blackburn Rovers.-Queen of the South:Joe Tulip was...
and Irish
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
international Laurie Cumming
Laurie Cumming
Laurence Stanley Slater "Laurie" Cumming was a former professional footballer and journalist, born in Derry, Ireland. Cumming played for Alloa Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Southampton, Queen of the South and St Mirren...
.
McLachlan's time at Queens was part of a long spell the club spent in Scotland's top division. It was under McLachlan that Jackie Oakes
Jackie Oakes
Jackie Oakes was a Scottish footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Queen of the South, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City. Born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, his position was left winger...
first joined Queens.
On 22 March, with five games remaining of the 1936-37 season, the Queens board announced that McLachlan would be leaving the club on 30 March. The week was intended to allow the outgoing manager to offer advice on team building for the next season. Willie Ferguson was named as McLachlan's successor.
When McLachlan left Queens in 1937, he had no further involvement in football.
Honours
Cardiff City- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
(1): 1927 - Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
(1): 19271927 FA Charity ShieldThe 1927 Football Association Charity Shield was played on 12 October 1927. The game was played at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea, and was contested by the FA Cup holders Cardiff City and amateur side Corinthian...