McLaren Hugh Image 1 Kilmarnock 1929

Description

Kilwinning, Ayrshire born centre half Hugh McLaren began his football career with Dalry Thistle from where he signed for Scottish League club Nithsdale Wanderers in 1924. He scored 6 goals in 102 matches for the Sanquhar club before being signed by First Division club Aberdeen in February 1928, but he didn’t get steaight into The Dons’ eleven, making his top flight debut for Aberdeen the following season the next August against Queen’s Park at Pittodrie in place of stalwart Jock McHale when he had been due to play for the reserves in the reverse fixture. McLaren would get his Hampden Park visit sooner than he could possibly have imagined and it would be in no reserve match either

There followed one of the most remarkable loan spells in Scottish football history when Aberdeen loaned McLaren to Kilmarnock in March 1929. With seven days until their semi-final meeting with Celtic. Kilmarnock’s regular pivot, Dunlop, was on the injured list and had little prospect of turning out for the Ayrshire Club for a considerable spell. By chance, Aberdeen met Celtic at Parkhead at that time and McLaren was outstanding in a hard fought draw and the Rugby Park “spies” at the game approached The Dons with a view to securing McLaren on loan. Recognising the needs of both clubs, an agreement was reached whereby the player joined Killie for Cup-ties only. Hugh McLaren took the field for Kilmarnock against Celtic at Ibrox in The. Scottish Cup semi final on 23rd March 1929. The game was 23 minutes old when Weir beat Celts international goalkeeper John Thomson with a brilliant first time drive. Despite the strenuous efforts of the Glasgow side’s forwards the Killie defence turned in a superb performance and Weir’s first half goal proved to be the winner.

Their reward was a Final place against Rangers on the 6th April 1929 and once again the defence played its part in a fine 2-0 victory in front of 115,000 spectators at Hampden Park, in which Kilmarnock goalkeeper Clemie saved a penalty with the scores level and Rangers’ Buchanan was sent off in the dying minutes. McLaren returned to Aberdeen with a Scottish Cup winner’s medal from his pair of Kilmarnock appearances. He then became a regular in The Don’s first team, described as “a strong, forcing player”, until 1932 when he joined North Eastern League club Workington after 6 goals in 115 matches for The Dons.

After a season with The Reds he signed for Second Division club Bradford City in July 1933, making his Football League debut against Blackpool that September. But he lost his place in January 1934 and only played sporadically thereafter, moving to Third Division (North) club Tranmere Rovers in July 1935 after a single goal in 25 matches for The Bantams. At Prenton Park he missed only 3 matches in his first season as they finished third in the Third Division (North) but was transferred to Rochdale in October 1936 after 4 goals in 49 matches. He then had two seasons at Scotland, scoring once in 65 games for Dale, before joining non league Lancashire side Astley Bridge in 1938, his final known club.