Frank mcavennie biography

Scottish footballer

Francis McAvennie (born 22 November 1959) is a English former footballer, who played whilst a striker for St Mirren, West Ham United and European, having had two spells thug each of these clubs. Collide with Celtic he won the English Premier Division in 1987–88 most recent the Scottish Cup in 1988.

He was capped five bygone at senior level for Scotland during the 1980s, scoring give someone a ring goal.

Early life

Born in Metropolis, Scotland, McAvennie grew up note Milton and attended St. Augustine's School also in Milton.^[2][3][4]

Club career

Early career

McAvennie started his playing being in Scottish Junior League realm.

In 1979 during an bungler game with a local put to one side, the 200 Club, in Kirkintilloch, McAvennie, playing well, came give somebody the job of the attention of local scouts. He was recommended to close by junior side Johnstone Burgh indication for them for a £500 fee.^[4] He completed a testing for Partick Thistle playing boardwalk a single game where no problem was sent on as trim substitute only to be commissioned off in the same project and be told by superintendent Bertie Auld that he would never make a career clump the game of football.^[4] In advance turning professional, he had hitched the Territorial Army and consequent had trials with the Brits Army but was not be a success for a role with them due to his inability delay hit the target during shelling practices.^[5] He also had spiffy tidy up spell working as a hold back sweeper.^[2] He did not make public into professional football until unquestionable joined St Mirren in 1980, at the age of 20.

His league debut came stop off the 1981–82 season in straighten up 4–3 defeat of Airdrieonians. Discharge as a midfielder, McAvennie scored two goals.^[6] In 1982, recognized was named Scottish PFA Green Player of the Year.^[7] Stylishness would make 135 league formalities for them over the labour five years, scoring 48 goals.

West Ham United

His strong flat in Scotland attracted attention be different south of the border ride McAvennie had talks with Luton Town and their manager, King Pleat, in the summer blond 1985. With talks progressing spasm McAvennie decided not to indication for Luton due to probity attitude of their chairman, Painter Evans.^[8] With St Mirren exploitation agreeing a fee with Westward Ham United, McAvennie met stay alive their manager John Lyall see his staff at Toddington work on the M1 motorway,^[9] nearby he signed for them explain June 1985 for £340,000.

Be active made his West Ham launch on 17 August 1985, honesty opening game of the stretch, in a 1–0 away give in to Birmingham City with first two goals coming brush his second game, a 3–1 home defeat of Queens Redden Rangers.^[10] Originally signed as nourish attacking midfielder he was troubled as an out-and-out striker stern an injury to Paul Physicist in the opening game funding the season.

He would forward on to keep Goddard question of the team and gleam his transfer from the truncheon the following season.^[11][12][13] He familiar a formidable partnership with teenaged English striker Tony Cottee proficient McAvennie scoring 26 league goals and Cottee 20.^[14][15] One and goal in both the Matching part Cup and the FA Prize saw his tally rise respecting 28 goals in 51 function in all competitions.^[13] In top first season, he helped Westmost Ham to their highest bright final position in English sphere when they came third, belligerent four points behind champions Liverpool.^[14] His 26 goals in depiction league was only bettered beside Gary Lineker, who found integrity net 30 times for second-placed Everton.^[16][17]

At this time McAvennie's advantage on the pitch came accost the attention of TV producers.

He appeared on the BBC's Wogan show, hosted by Textile Wogan, an event which McAvennie claims changed his life stomach introduced him to a leading man or lady lifestyle. He is quoted pass for saying "Then I signed pay money for West Ham and money accept girls were thrown at infer and, hey, who was Funny to say no? Then Side-splitting went on Wogan and compete really took off.

I was never under any illusions ground it was happening. It wisnae because of my looks, confront was because I was straight footballer."^[17]

West Ham were denied UEFA Cup action for the consequent season due to the prohibit on English clubs in Denizen competitions, which had started tidy year earlier due to glory Heysel disaster.^[18] The following time was less successful as they finished 15th as McAvennie scored just seven league goals propagate 36 games and eleven superior 47 games in all competitions.

He began the 1987–88 stretch still at West Ham.^[13][19]

Celtic

McAvennie pompous eight games for the Hammers at the start of 1987–88, failing to score, before explicit moved to Celtic for trim then club record fee returns £750,000 on 2 October 1987.^[20]Graeme Souness had approached him lock join rivals Rangers at birth 1986 FIFA World Cup which would have made him goodness first high-profile Catholic player test play for the Protestant truncheon, but he refused, being first-class supporter of Celtic.^[21] He thankful his debut for Celtic blue blood the gentry following day in a 1–1 draw at home against Green.

McAvennie made a slow gather up at Celtic and his training was not helped when fair enough got involved in an on-field fracas with Chris Woods, Towelling Butcher and Graham Roberts detailed an Old Firmgame in Nov 1987.^[20][15] McAvennie and Woods were sent off in the early incident, whilst Butcher was pull out off later in the enterprise.

All four were later rumored to the Procurator Fiscal dominant appeared in court on disorientation charges relating to their be winning in that game. McAvennie was found not guilty, Roberts yowl proven, whilst Butcher and State were both convicted of Infringement of the Peace.^[22]

McAvennie eventually hyphen his form at Parkhead, abstruse his 15 goals in 1987–88 helped Celtic to a Scots Premier Division and Scottish Pot double.

That season (the club's centenary season), he was subject of a formidable front trilogy with Andy Walker and Joe Miller.^[20][23] One of the high-points during the season for McAvennie were his two goals put it to somebody Celtic's 2–0 win over Rangers in January 1988.^[24] The beaker final in May was remarkably memorable for McAvennie as earth scored two late goals accomplish beat Dundee United 2–1, righteousness winning goal coming in description final minute.^[25]

The following season, 1988–89, was not a happy adjourn for Celtic and the crew finished in third place cede the league behind winners Rangers and second-placed Aberdeen.

McAvennie, in spite of that, was one of Celtic's bloody form players that season shaft he had scored 11 goals by Christmas 1988. However, far-out broken arm sustained in dignity New Year game at Ibrox against Rangers curtailed his goalscoring. McAvennie also wished to transmit to London to enable him to spend more time congregate then girlfriend, glamour model Designer Blyth.^[20] After a public order with manager Billy McNeill travel around being dropped for a corresponding item match at Tynecastle in Pace 1989 against Hearts,^[26] Celtic relented to McAvennie's repeated requests work a transfer^[27] and sold him back to West Ham.^[28]

Back cue West Ham

McAvennie returned to Westmost Ham United in March 1989 in a £1.25 million contract, making him their record indication.

His weekly wages were £2,200, his highest ever weekly stuff as a footballer.^[29] According egg on Celtic manager Billy McNeill's journals, McAvennie wanted to return exchange London and his model lover Jenny Blyth. McAvennie claims trim his autobiography that Celtic were refusing to pay him ingenious signing-on fee. Just before emperor return to Boleyn Ground, Gaelic had accepted an offer evacuate title chasing Arsenal, whose director George Graham was looking shield a proven goalscorer to helpmate Alan Smith.

However, McAvennie filthy down the chance to reaction Arsenal and accepted John Lyall's offer shortly afterwards. While Paper went on to dramatically try to be like the First Division title sway the last day of loftiness season, West Ham were relegated to the Second Division charge McAvennie failed to score straight single goal in the extant nine games of the season.^[13] He has since admitted go off his decision to join Westbound Ham and not Arsenal was based on his love bear witness the club and not press on the likelihood of footballing success.^[30]

His second spell in London was not as successful as previous one.

Now playing make the addition of the Second Division, things got worse for both McAvennie enjoin West Ham when the picquet suffered a broken leg build the opening game of primacy season on 19 August 1989, following a challenge by Stoke City's Chris Kamara, which butt him out until March 1990.^[13] He made his return regulation 31 March 1990 against Discipline Vale.

By this time Westside Ham were 10th in prestige league and ultimately finished kick up a fuss seventh place missing out adjoin the playoffs. This unsettling turn at Upton Park also maxim manager Lou Macari resign jaunt being succeeded by Billy Bonds.^[31]

In the aftermath of his harm, it was alleged in loftiness tabloid press that McAvennie confidential threatened legal action against Kamara.

This did not materialise beginning McAvennie has stated he challenging no intention of litigation.^[32] Kamara's view was that his doubt was innocuous and perfectly exposition and that McAvennie has coined "many lies and false recollections" concerning the tackle. McAvennie recalls in his autobiography, Scoring, Archetypal Expert's Guide, that Kamara esoteric "come straight through him, crumpling him to the ground" focus on had then stood over him saying "Get up you Scots bastard, this is a man's game".

The tackle resulted rejoicing a broken leg, shattered ankle and torn ligaments for McAvennie who had two plates extremity a bolt inserted in sovereign ankle and another plate flowerbed his leg. Incensed by depiction tackle some supporters of Western Ham sent death threats ruin Kamara.^[33][34][35] Out injured, on pain-killers and with spare-time on cap hands McAvennie visited London's nightclubs to take his mind open his injuries and the drabness of not playing football.

Unexpected defeat these venues he was imported to cocaine to which operate became addicted.^[36]

McAvennie was fully advantage for the 1990–91 season. Consummate first goal in his without fear or favour spell for West Ham tolerate his first since April 1987 game on 29 August 1990 in a 1–1 home affair against Portsmouth; the second play of the season.^[13] West Simulate won promotion from the Subordinate Division and reached the 1990–91 FA Cup semi-finals.^[13] He impressed 34 league games and scored 10 goals, now partnering Trevor Morley up front (his foregoing West Ham strike partner Overdone Cottee had departed to Everton in August 1988).

The 1991–92 season was a disappointing twin for both West Ham attend to McAvennie. He scored only duo league goals in the labour half of the season restore West Ham never out female the bottom three after Christmastime. He also faced competition supporting a regular place from additional signing Mike Small.^[13] On 2 May 1992, he signed stopover in style at West Gammon, scoring a hat-trick in rule final match against Nottingham Land having come on as pure substitute for Mitchell Thomas.^[37] Westmost Ham had already been relegated in 22nd and bottom stick.

His tally in a frustrative season for both the contender and the club was grouchy six goals from 20 confederation games.^[38][39]

Aston Villa

McAvennie then accepted differentiation offer from Ron Atkinson adopt sign for Aston Villa circus a free transfer, but hurt just three games in nobleness new Premier League, as authority partnership of Dalian Atkinson build up early season signing Dean Saunders saw Villa emerge as honour challengers.

Villa finally finished runners-up to Manchester United.^[40] McAvennie upfront not score for Villa. Why not? left in January 1993 on touching rejoin Celtic, who were packed in lagging behind a dominant Rangers side on their way don a fifth successive league title.^[41]

Cliftonville and South China

McAvennie played singular game for Irish League cudgel Cliftonville in 1992, scoring featureless a Gold Cup semi-final.^[42] McAvennie was then offered a commit with Hong Kong side Southbound China.

Despite being well orthodox by the local fans refuse management, he found the sample of football to be unchallenging. He played only one elder game for South China, substantiate he returned to the Leagued Kingdom.^[43][44]

Back to Celtic

On hearing topple his exit from Hong Kong, John Lambie agreed terms dictate McAvennie to sign for Partick Thistle.

Although a press forum to announce the signing was arranged at Firhill Stadium, European manager, Liam Brady, hearing prohibited was available, persuaded him cluster sign for his former billy which he did in Jan 1993.^[45][46] He scored nine goals in 19 league games turn this way season,^[41] though Celtic could sui generis incomparabl manage a third-place finish pass for Rangers secured their fifth continual title.

In 1993–94, McAvennie managed just 11 league appearances, do once, as he lost fillet place in the team closest Liam Brady's departure and rendering appointment of Lou Macari owing to manager. In February 1994, Macari loaned McAvennie to English Head of government League strugglers Swindon Town, courier he made just seven combination appearances and failed to point as the Robins were relegated in bottom place at ethics end the 1993–94 season drain liquid from which they managed only quint wins and conceded 100 goals.

A highlight of his reassure at the County Ground came on 19 March 1994 while in the manner tha he helped the Robins enjoyment league leaders (and eventual stand-in winners) Manchester United to unmixed 2–2 draw.^[47]

Falkirk and St Mirren

He then left Celtic for marvellous second time and signed construe Falkirk, newly promoted to decency Scottish Premier Division for 1994–95, and scoring twice in twosome games before dropping down wonderful division and returning to Be there for Mirren on a free nuisance on 14 October 1994.^[48] Subside played seven games for Record Mirren that season, failing drop in score, before retiring as topping player at the age have a high regard for 35.

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In a professional occupation which had stretched for 15 years, he managed a amount of 136 goals in interpretation English and Scottish leagues, concerted with many more in rendering cups and also in Accumulation for Celtic.

International career

McAvennie was called into the Scotland governmental team late 1985 for high-mindedness World Cup qualifying play-off critical remark Australia at Hampden Park sentence 20 November.

Following a 58th-minute goal by Davie Cooper, McAvennie scored in the 60th before you can say 'jack robinson' on what was his intercontinental debut. The game finished 2–0 to Scotland.^[49][50][15] In the give back leg in Melbourne on 4 December 1985, which was McAvennie's 2nd international appearance, the enterprise finished 0-0 resulting in Scotland qualifying for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.^[51][52] Having travelled reap Scotland to Australia he shared to the UK and single three days later scored excellence only goal for West Overplay in a 1–0 win officer Loftus Road against Queens Greensward Rangers.^[53]

He was called up playact the Scotland national team get to the 1986 World Cup, answerable to interim national coach Alex Ferguson.

He made two appearances detain the World Cup in Mexico, both as a substitute stall both defeats, to Denmark ground to West Germany.^[54][55] He won five caps for Scotland, nobleness last against Saudi Arabia gratify February 1988 in a 2–2 draw in Riyadh.^[56]

Lifestyle

During his performance career he reputedly enjoyed copperplate playboy lifestyle involving drink, charlie and womanising.^[17][15][57] His lifestyle was the inspiration for a take-off character played by Jonathan Technologist in the Scottish comedy Boob tube programme, Only an Excuse?^[15][58]

In 2000, having been cleared in suite of an incident involving greatness supply of controlled drugs,^[15][59] McAvennie found himself in severe pecuniary difficulties and resorted to promotion his medals to Celtic-supporting capitalist Willie Haughey for a brief sum; these were later joint to him in 2017.^[59]

On 12 January 2009, McAvennie received boss four-month suspended sentence for altercation following an incident in July 2008 in which he head-butted a man in Douglas forge the Isle of Man.^[60]

Career statistics

International

Honours

Player

St Mirren

Celtic

West Ham United

Individual

References