At half-time yesterday I went to my Facebook page and found a message from Alison Maclaren, daughter of our former goalkeeper Dave. It was to inform me that her Dad is seriously ill in a Castlemaine, Victoria hospital after a stroke and is not expected to return home. (He is in the Acute Ward of Castlemaine Hospital, Room 821B and Alison believes correspondence may help). At his absolute best he was probably the finest goalkeeper of my time watching Argyle (1957 >) and at one stage in 1962 got close to the Scotland squad. He was a part of the 1961-62 side which took us to 5th place in the old Second Division, something we have yet to better in the succeeding 54 seasons. He started at Dundee but was blocked by Bill Brown's form. He went to Leicester and had a brilliant run until getting injured. A young man called Gordon Banks deputised and that was that! He arrived at Home Park in the summer of 1960 and made more appearances for us than any of his other clubs. Our former caretaker-manager Andy Beattie then took him to Wolves in early 1965. On 18 September 1965 he was on the wrong end of a 9-3 defeat at the Dell, where all the goals were scored within the first hour of the game. Remarkably, just one year and six days later made his debut for Southampton at West Ham! Their supporters raised a collective eyebrow but their manager Ted Bates felt that without Maclaren's display Wolves may have conceded 15! (History shows that in their next four games Wolves kept clean sheets) He went on to help keep Saints in the First Division in what was their first ever season at that level. Away from the game he was a remarkable man - marvellous raconteur, skilled piano player and famous for being able to flick a shilling piece (5p) from his toe to his blazer pocket (and never missing). A read on GoS of the events of the trip to Poland in 1963 contains details of his breakfast-time entertainment.
I am sure I speak for us all when I say our thoughts are with Alison and her Mum Isobel. Whilst I was disappointed at the events of the second half at Wembley yesterday, the news I had recieved from Australia at half-time at least offered me a bit of perspective.
I am sure I speak for us all when I say our thoughts are with Alison and her Mum Isobel. Whilst I was disappointed at the events of the second half at Wembley yesterday, the news I had recieved from Australia at half-time at least offered me a bit of perspective.