Ian McPherson
Encyclopedia
Ian Buchanan McPherson (26 July 1920 – March 1983) was a Scottish
football
player.
A native of Glasgow
, McPherson first joined Rangers
as a youth player, although World War II
intervened during the early part of his career, and all competitive football was suspended. McPherson left Rangers to serve in the RAF
, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. After returning from duty, he joined Notts County
in 1945, playing in regional wartime leagues. After a single season with the Magpies, McPherson was signed by Arsenal
in August 1946 (in part-exchange for Reg Cumner
), in time for the resumption of competitive League football
that autumn.
He made his Arsenal debut against Wolves
in the club's first post-war First Division
match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6-1, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, only finishing 13th; McPherson played 40 times that season on the right wing
.
However, with the appointment of Tom Whittaker
as manager in the summer of 1947 the Gunners immediately went back to winning ways, and McPherson was a regular in the First Division Championship-winning of 1947-48
, playing 29 League matches, mostly on the right wing but also the left after Denis Compton
was injured. Characterised by his pace, physical strength and powerful shooting (but also known for his inconsistent form, much to the frustration of Arsenal's fans), McPherson continued to be a regular in the Arsenal side for the next three seasons, although he missed Arsenal's only other success at the time, the 1950 FA Cup Final
, with Freddie Cox
and Denis Compton playing on the wings that day.
Having passed the age of thirty and with his place under threat from the likes of Cox and Arthur Milton
. McPherson left Arsenal in the summer of 1951, returning to his old club Notts County. In total, he played 163 matches for the Gunners, scoring 21 goals. Despite being a regular in a First Division-winning side, he was never considered for a Scotland
cap, perhaps because of his inconsistent form. He spent two seasons at Notts County before spells at Brentford
, then non-league Bedford Town
and Cambridge United
. He died in 1983, aged 62.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
A native 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...
, McPherson first joined 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...
as a youth player, although World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened during the early part of his career, and all competitive football was suspended. McPherson left Rangers to serve in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. After returning from duty, he joined Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in 1945, playing in regional wartime leagues. After a single season with the Magpies, McPherson was signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in August 1946 (in part-exchange for Reg Cumner
Reg Cumner
Reginald Horace Cumner was a Welsh international footballer.-Club career:Cumner played for Arsenal, Margate and Hull City before the outbreak of World War II. During the war he guested for Cardiff City, Fulham, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Swansea Town, Aberaman Athletic, Port Vale, Clapton Orient and...
), in time for the resumption of competitive League football
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
that autumn.
He made his Arsenal debut against Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in the club's first post-war 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....
match, on 31 August 1946; Arsenal lost 6-1, their biggest League defeat in nearly twenty years. Although the Gunners had been the dominant force in English football in the 1930s, they struggled in their first season after the war, only finishing 13th; McPherson played 40 times that season on the right wing
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
.
However, with the appointment of Tom Whittaker
Tom Whittaker (footballer)
Thomas James "Tom" Whittaker MBE was an English football player, trainer and manager, chiefly associated with Arsenal Football Club...
as manager in the summer of 1947 the Gunners immediately went back to winning ways, and McPherson was a regular in the First Division Championship-winning of 1947-48
1947-48 in English football
The 1947–48 season was the 68th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, playing 29 League matches, mostly on the right wing but also the left after Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
was injured. Characterised by his pace, physical strength and powerful shooting (but also known for his inconsistent form, much to the frustration of Arsenal's fans), McPherson continued to be a regular in the Arsenal side for the next three seasons, although he missed Arsenal's only other success at the time, the 1950 FA Cup Final
1950 FA Cup Final
The 1950 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Liverpool at Wembley. Arsenal won 2–0, with both goals scored by Reg Lewis. Future legendary Liverpool manager Bob Paisley was famously dropped for the final, even after scoring the winning goal against rivals Everton in the semi final...
, with Freddie Cox
Freddie Cox
Frederick James Arthur "Freddie" Cox DFC was an English football player and manager.Born in Reading, Berkshire, Cox signed as an 18-year-old for Tottenham Hotspur in 1938. A tricky and talented winger who usually played on the right, he made his Spurs debut in a Second Division match against...
and Denis Compton playing on the wings that day.
Having passed the age of thirty and with his place under threat from the likes of Cox and Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
. McPherson left Arsenal in the summer of 1951, returning to his old club Notts County. In total, he played 163 matches for the Gunners, scoring 21 goals. Despite being a regular in a First Division-winning side, he was never considered for a Scotland
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...
cap, perhaps because of his inconsistent form. He spent two seasons at Notts County before spells at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, then non-league Bedford Town
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
and Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
. He died in 1983, aged 62.