Fred McLachlan
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Fred McLachlan
Fred McLachlan
● Fred McLachlan, 1923 (PIN)

born in Scotland

Frederick McLachlan was born on Friday, 21st August, 1896, in Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire.

The 5' 9 (11st 8lbs) midfielder signed for George Easton's Thistle (after a trial period) on Saturday, 6th September, 1919, having most recently been with Harold Johnson Motor Works.

Aged 23, he made his debut appearance on Thursday, 21st August, 1919, in a 3-1 defeat away to Rangers in a Benefit match.

Fred scored his only goal for Thistle on Saturday, 25th October, 1919, in a 3-2 win at home to Clydebank FC in the Scottish Football League.

He played his last game for the club on Wednesday, 27th April, 1921, in a 2-0 defeat away to Hibernian in the Scottish Football League, having appeared as a Jag on 17 occasions.

His club-list included St Cuthbert Wanderers, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Austin Motor Works, Harold Johnson Motor Works, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Dalbeattie Star, Aberdeen, Maidstone United, Coventry City, Grimsby Town, Bury and Halifax Town.

Fred died in 1982, in Dumfries, aged 86. *

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Bio Extra

The son of John McLachlan (Inn Keeper) and Mary McLachlan (nÊe Halliday) who were married in Dumfries in 1882. In the 1901 census, the 4-year-old Fred was living in Kircudbright with his 5 brothers - William (15), John (12), James (10), Albert (8) and Duncan (6). Older brother David (19) and sister Marion (17) had left the family home by then. Keen football historians will note that three footballing brothers (John, Bert & Fred) were all under that same roof. Both John and Fred would turn out for Thistle.

With his brother John having signed for Thistle a couple of months previously, we can imagine that Fred was introduced to the Firhill executive by his sibling. Fred made his first appearance as a trialist on his 23rd birthday (21st August 1919), the Jags going down by 3 goals to 1 in front of 12,000 at Ibrox, a match played for the benefit of Willie Reid. The 23-year-old half-back duly signed his first professional contract with Thistle the following month. Within a matter of weeks, Fred and John actually played together in 3 successive League games versus Queen's Park (a 2-0 win), Clyde (a 2-3 defeat) and Aberdeen (a 0-1 defeat). Fred's period at Firhill would span two seasons, his goal in a 3-2 League win over Clydebank in October 1919 being a personal highlight. During his second season he had loan spells at Queen of the South and Dalbeattie Star.

Aberdeen secured his services for 1921-22, possibly at the behest of another of his older brother, Bert, who was a colossus with the Pittodrie side at that time. As the 1920s unfolded, Fred's career path took him down south where he featured for Maidstone United, Coventry City, Grimsby Town, Bury and Halifax Town. Winning the English Division 3 North Championship with Grimsby Town in 1925-26 was a highlight.

(WS)



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