Dave MacLaren


David MacLaren was a Scottish football player and manager.

Playing career

MacLaren began his career at local club Auchterarder before being signed to Dundee. He managed only one first team appearance for the team though, before heading to England in January 1957, where he would spend the rest of his playing career.
He joined Leicester City and immediately won promotion to the First Division as he became first choice, but he lost his place to the emerging Gordon Banks during the 1959–60 season. McLaren took this as his cue to depart and joined Second Division Plymouth Argyle at the end of the season.
The goalkeeper made more appearances for Plymouth than any of his other league clubs over five seasons in the second tier, before being signed by Wolves in early 1965. He spent only one full season at Molineux as the club attempted to regain their top flight status at the first attempt in 1965–66, but fell short.
MacLaren got a chance to return to the First Division though when newly promoted Southampton signed him soon into the following season. Ironically, McLaren had been in goal for Wolves when Southampton had scored nine against them in the previous season.
He lasted just a single season at The Dell, making 22 league appearances, before losing his place to Eric Martin. After leaving Southampton he joined non-league Worcester City.
MacLaren died in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia on 6 December 2016 after a long illness.

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, he took on a new challenge in Australia as manager of South Melbourne Hellas.