50 years ago today [18 November 1975] te Leiceser Mercury anounced the death of former City goalkeeperm Jim McLaren.
Jim McLaren, born in Falkirk, Scotland, in 1897, carved out a remarkable career defined by longevity and consistency in goal. He holds the unique distinction of having been Scotland’s goalkeeper in their first ever schools international match against England, showcasing his talent from a young age. After initial senior spells in Scotland with clubs like Bonnybridge Heatherbell and Stenhousemuir, McLaren crossed the border in 1922 to establish himself as a mainstay in English football.
The Leicester City Years (1927–1933): A Near Title Win
Following five seasons at Bradford City, McLaren transferred to Leicester City in May 1927, where he spent six full seasons making 170 league appearances in the top flight, then known as the First Division.
McLaren was the principal custodian during one of the club’s “golden ages” and the most successful period in their history until the Premier League win in 2016. In the 1928–29 season, with McLaren featuring in 34 league matches in goal, Leicester City finished an outstanding runners-up in the First Division, just one point behind the champions, The Wednesday. This remains the club’s second-highest league finish of all time. The team, spearheaded by the formidable strike force of Arthur Chandler and Ernie Hine, secured this feat after finishing third the previous season (1927-28), a period which firmly established McLaren as a quality keeper capable of performing consistently at the highest level against the best teams in the country. His career at Filbert Street, amidst a challenging era that saw the club eventually relegated after his departure, ended in 1933, when he was 36 years old.
The Watford Years (1933–1939): Enduring Legend
At an age when most professional players retire, McLaren joined Watford in October 1933, and this move led to one of the most remarkable phases of his career. Under the management of Neil McBain and then Bill Findlay, he became an “iron man” for the Hertfordshire side.
McLaren made an outstanding 194 appearances in the Third Division South for Watford, along with 14 FA Cup and 18 Third Division South Cup appearances, bringing his total club appearances to 226. His arrival coincided with a period of the club’s greatest success to date. Prior to his signing, Watford’s best finish in the Third Division South was sixth place. During McLaren’s five full seasons, they never finished lower than sixth, achieving fourth place three times (1934/35, 1935/36, 1936/37) and fifth place once (1937/38), indicating his key role in a strong, consistent team. The highlight came in the 1936–37 Third Division South Cup. McLaren kept goal as the club went on to share the trophy with Millwall after the two-legged final ended 3-3 on aggregate, making him a trophy winner at the incredible age of 40.
By the time the Second World War intervened and effectively ended his major league career in 1939, Jim McLaren had amassed over 550 league appearances for his senior clubs. He passed away in Leicester, England, in 1975 at the age of 78, leaving behind the legacy of a goalkeeping iron man whose career spanned the length of an era.