John Buchanan (footballer born 1935)
Encyclopedia
Jock Buchanan was a Scottish
association football player, who played for Hibernian
, Raith Rovers
and Newport County
in the 1950s and 1960s.
Buchanan, who was born and educated in Leith, played for youth side Edinburgh Waverley as a centre half
. He signed for Hibs
in 1954, and made his first team debut the same year, having been converted to the centre forward position. In 1955, he became the first player to score a goal on British soil in the first season of the European Cup, scoring the opening goal of a 1–1 draw in a first round tie between Hibs and Rot-Weiss Essen
. Despite being a prolific goalscorer for Hibs' reserve team
, Buchanan found difficulty in winning a place in the first team, as the club enjoyed the services of internationals Lawrie Reilly
and Joe Baker
. His time at Hibs was also interrupted by two years of National Service, which Buchanan spent with the Royal Artillery
in Oswestry
.
Buchanan's last first team appearance for Hibs was in a 2–1 defeat against Rangers
at Ibrox
in December 1960. He was then transferred to Raith Rovers
, who he played for in the rest of the 1960–61 season. After a season in English football
with Newport County
, Buchanan returned to Scotland to play for Gala Fairydean
, Duns
and Hawick Royal Albert
. After retiring as a player, he moved back to his native Edinburgh
and became a taxi
driver.
Buchanan died in September 2009 after suffering a long illness.
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...
association football player, who played for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
and Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in the 1950s and 1960s.
Buchanan, who was born and educated in Leith, played for youth side Edinburgh Waverley as a centre half
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He signed for Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1954, and made his first team debut the same year, having been converted to the centre forward position. In 1955, he became the first player to score a goal on British soil in the first season of the European Cup, scoring the opening goal of a 1–1 draw in a first round tie between Hibs and Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
. Despite being a prolific goalscorer for Hibs' reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
, Buchanan found difficulty in winning a place in the first team, as the club enjoyed the services of internationals Lawrie Reilly
Lawrie Reilly
Lawrance "Lawrie" Reilly is a former Scottish association football player. He was one of the "Famous Five", the Hibernian forward line during the 1950s. The others were Bobby Johnstone, Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull, and Willie Ormond...
and Joe Baker
Joe Baker
Joseph Henry "Joe" Baker was an England international footballer. Born in Liverpool, England, he spent virtually his entire childhood growing up in Motherwell, Scotland...
. His time at Hibs was also interrupted by two years of National Service, which Buchanan spent with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
.
Buchanan's last first team appearance for Hibs was in a 2–1 defeat against 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...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
in December 1960. He was then transferred to Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
, who he played for in the rest of the 1960–61 season. After a season in English 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...
with Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, Buchanan returned to Scotland to play for Gala Fairydean
Gala Fairydean F.C.
Gala Fairydean F.C. is a football club currently playing in Division 1 of the East of Scotland Football League.- History :Founded in 1907 as the result of a split in the Gala Fairydean Rovers club into Gala Fairydean and Gala Rovers, they play their home matches at the Netherdale ground in Galashiels...
, Duns
Duns F.C.
Duns F.C. are a senior football club from Duns in Scotland. They played in the A League within the Border Amateur Football League, which is a league affiliated to the Scottish Amateur Football Association. until their admission into the East of Scotland Football League prior to season 2011-12.There...
and Hawick Royal Albert
Hawick Royal Albert F.C.
Hawick Royal Albert F.C. are a Senior football club based in Hawick, currently playing in the East of Scotland Football League.Founded in 1947 following a breakaway from Hawick Railway F.C., a number of players in these early “Albert” days were from the local Denholm Village team and they initially...
. After retiring as a player, he moved back to his native Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and became a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver.
Buchanan died in September 2009 after suffering a long illness.