Tommy McLaren
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas McLaren | ||
| Date of birth | 1 June 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 23 July 1978 (aged 29) | ||
| Place of death | Telford, England | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1967 | Berwick Rangers | 6 | (0) |
| 1967–1977 | Port Vale | 333 | (28) |
| 1975 | → Portland Timbers (loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 1977–1978 | Telford United | ||
| Total | 359+ | (29+) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Thomas McLaren (1 June 1949 – 23 July 1978) was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.
He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances. He helped the club to achieve promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1969–70, and also picked up the clubs' Player of the Year award in 1970–71. He also played on loan for the Portland Timbers in summer 1975, helping the club to the North American Soccer League championship final. Given a free transfer to Telford United in May 1977, he went on to commit suicide in July 1978, having never come to terms with leaving Port Vale. He was 29 years old.
McLaren began his career with Scottish Second Division club Berwick Rangers. He moved south to England to sign for Port Vale in November 1967. Vale were then in the Fourth Division and managed by Stanley Matthews. McLaren was one of six Scotsmen at the club, though he was the only one not to hail from Edinburgh. He posted thirteen appearances in 1967–68, making his debut against Swansea Town on 25 November, and scoring his first senior goal against Exeter City in a 1–0 win on 25 March. He was selected nineteen times by new manager Gordon Lee in 1968–69, and scored two goals – one against Bradford City and the other against Bradford Park Avenue.
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