John McLean arrived at Liverpool in May 1903 with a strong reputation in Scottish football. The former amateur captain of Vale of Leven had led the club for two years, and contemporary reports stated that both Partick Thistle and Heart of Midlothian had wanted to sign him. Having previously resisted offers to leave, he accepted Liverpool’s terms of £3 10s a week. His recruitment offered an opportunity to establish himself in English football after making his name as a left-back in Scotland. His first-team career at Anfield proved brief. McLean appeared at full-back in four of Liverpool’s first eight league matches of the 1903/04 season, with those appearances producing three defeats and one draw. He entered a struggling side and was unable to secure a regular place as Liverpool searched for a reliable defensive combination. The club’s difficulties continued throughout the campaign, which ended in relegation from the First Division with only 26 points from 34 fixtures.
McLean had a troublesome Merseyside derby in an eventful 2–2 draw at Anfield on 10 October 1903. He helped Liverpool recover from two goals down, with Richard Morris scoring twice to rescue the draw. The Liverpool Echo welcomed the team’s determination but offered a mixed assessment of McLean, recognising some effective defensive work while also highlighting costly mistakes. Everton’s Jack Taylor escaped him late in the match but shot wide, allowing Liverpool to preserve their point. McLean continued to appear for Liverpool’s reserves after his first-team opportunities ended, but returned to Scotland to join Motherwell in June 1904. The contemporary announcement of his signing praised his tackling and defensive ability, suggesting that his disappointing spell in England had not diminished his standing north of the border.
At Fir Park he enjoyed the sustained first-team career that had eluded him at Liverpool. McLean spent six seasons with Motherwell, making 132 league appearances without scoring and becoming a dependable right-back. He returned to Vale of Leven in 1910, bringing his career back to the club where he had established his reputation before his short stay at Anfield.
