McLean, George
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Originally with Cambuslang Rangers, and then Rangers in Glasgow, George McLean had performed well for Grimsby when he joined Exeter City in 1965 in a £4,000 transfer. Scoring a dozen times in 47 league games during his time at St James’ Park he moved on to Workington and later Barrow.
George’s first professional club was Rangers (7 league appearances; 3 goals) before a brief spell with Norwich between March and September 1962. Agreeing to join Grimsby Town, he found his groove as he appeared in 91 league matches for his new club and scored 41 goals.
A relatively high-profile signing for Exeter City, George arrived in a £4,000 deal in June 1965 and - after making his debut against Oldham Athletic on 21 August 1965 - started well by netting three times in his first four matches. Eight further goals followed in his first season, when he made a total of 34 league starts, as the team was relegated to Division Four. Scoring just once in thirteen games the following season, George expressed a desire to leave St James’ Park and moved to Workington in January 1967 where he scored 15 goals in 53 league starts.
He then signed for Barrow in June 1968 and, after one season at Holker Street, headed back to the Grimsby area and played non-league football with Boston United, Brigg Town and Cleethorpes Town whilst working for Volvo at Immingham.
George died on 29 June 2019 aged 81.
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Dave Wherry
George sadly died on 29 June 2019, aged 81, his obituary was reported on the Grimsby Telegraph website.
Dave Wherry
After leaving Boston United he joined Brigg Town in Aug 1971 and spent 1972/73 playing for Cleethorpes Town.
MO_TxTruBlu
Of the 5 photos above, pictures 2 and 3 are of a different George McLean.
The George McLean who went on to play for Exeter, did actually make 7 appearances for Rangers, and scored 3 goals, before being sold to Norwich on March 22nd 1962.
The George McLean (who is in photos 2 and 3 above), actually joined Rangers (from St Mirren) in Jan 1963, as a Left Half, was converted into an Inside left, and would go on to score 83 Goals in 118 appearances for Rangers. He was part of the striking duo for Rangers (alongside Jim Forrest) who failed to score in Rangers worst result ever, as they lost 0-1 to Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Cup in 1967.
Both Forrest (145 Goals in 163 games), and George McLean who had scored an incredible 55 Goals in his last 55 games, never played for Rangers again!
Paul Farley
Thank you so much for the information, checked and changed.