Steve McLachlan

Stephen McLachlan (19 September 1918 – 26 July 1990) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a wing half. He spent most of his career with Derby County, yet was often utilised as a reserve player and featured in less than 60 league games over a 14-year period. He later transferred to Kilmarnock where he was released after two years.

Steve McLachlan
Personal information
Full name Stephen McLacklan
Date of birth (1918-09-19)19 September 1918[1]
Place of birth Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Date of death 26 July 1990(1990-07-26) (aged 71)
Place of death Dumfries, Scotland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Wing half
Youth career
St Cuthbert Wanderers
?–1938 Dalbeattie
1938–1939 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1939–1953 Derby County 58 (1)
1953–1955 Kilmarnock 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

McLachlan died in July 1990 after a period of ill health.

Early life

During World War II, McLachlan served with the Durham Light Infantry unit, latterly as a sergeant and won a distinguished service medal. During his youth, he played football with St Cuthbert Wanderers.[3]

Career

McLachlan joined Derby County in 1938, when he was signed by manager George Jobey in March 1938 from Dalbeattie, a junior club based in Scotland. He was 18 years old when he signed, but did not make his debut into league football until the following year against Preston North End. McLachlan was utilised mostly as a reserve player, with just brief appearances in the senior team, although refused several offers to move to other clubs when interest was shown.[4]

At the end of the 1952–53 season, McLachlan was placed on Derby's transfer list, alongside Bill Townsend and Jackie Parr, all of whom had been with the club since prior to World War II.[5] McLachlan played for Derby in 63 senior games, of which 5 were in the FA Cup. His best run of games came during the 1951–52 season, when he featured 28 times.[6]

He transferred to Kilmarnock in June 1953 for a small fee[7] and ended his career in Scotland.[8] He was released by Kilmarnock in May 1955,[9] after featuring in 28 games over two seasons, his last being in September 1954.[10]

Personal life

McLachlan died on 26 July 1990 in Dumfries, Scotland after a period of deteriorating health. He was survived by his widow (Jean McLachlan, d.2010[11]) and son.[3] News of his death wasn't reported in England until January 1991.[8]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[1][10]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County 1938–39 First Division 1000—10
1945–46 —00—00
1946–47 First Division 6000—60
1947–48 First Division 0000—00
1948–49 First Division 3010—40
1949–50 First Division 2000—20
1950–51 First Division 8000—80
1951–52 First Division 26120—281
1952–53 First Division 12021—140
Total 58151—632
Kilmarnock 1953–54 Scottish Division B 1810060241
1954–55 Scottish Division A 00004040
Total 18100100281
Career total 76251100913

References
  1. "Player Details: Steve McLachlan". 11v11. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. "Rams sign on two youngsters". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 23 March 1938. p. 10.
  3. "Dunkirk veteran". Galloway News. 2 August 1990. p. 7.
  4. "Steve McLachlan (Wing-half)". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 27 October 1951. p. 1.
  5. "Derby County retain 40 players: Seven placed on transfer list". Burton Observer and Chronicle. 7 May 1953. p. 7.
  6. "Steve McLachlan: Reserve Defender". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 20 June 1975. p. 46.
  7. "McLachlan signs". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 26 June 1953. p. 108.
  8. "Hard man Steve dies in Scotland". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 15 January 1991. p. 25.
  9. "McLachlan released by Kilmarnock". Evening Times. 3 May 1955. p. 11.
  10. "McLachlan, Steve stats". Fitabastats. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  11. "England & Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2022". 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2024 – via Ancestry.com.
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