Born: 7 March 1871

Born in: Bonhill

Died: 6 June 1907

Other clubs: Vale Wanderers, Vale of Leven (1890-91), Third Lanark (1891-92), Burnley (1897), Dundee (1897-98), Bedminster (1898-99), Clydebank Juniors

Signed from: Third Lanark

Joined Liverpool: July 1892

Debut: 03 Sep 1892

Final appearance: 04 Mar 1897

Debut goal: 03 Sep 1892

Last goal: 13 Feb 1897

Contract until: 23.03.1897

Honours: Lancashire league 1892/93; Second Division 1893/94, 1895/96

League: Apps / Goals: 89 / 26

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 126 / 43

Player Profile

McVean holds the honour of scoring Liverpool's first-ever goal in League football during the second half of their second division fixture at Middlesbrough Ironopolis on 2 September 1893. After scoring ten goals in 21 games in the Lancashire league McVean scored nine times in the club's inaugural Football League season but he only managed five the following year as the team struggled to cope with a higher standard of football in the First Division. The inside-right, who was said to be a "good shot and rare dodger," remained at Anfield for a further two years, during which he won another second division championship medal in 1896 and helped his side establish itself in the First Division. After five years at Liverpool the 26-year-old left for first division Burnley in March 1897 along with teammate Jimmy Ross but unfortunately for them Burnley got relegated in the spring. McVean had begun an apprenticeship in Scotland as a shipyard boilermaker when Liverpool signed him from Third Lanark and when he hung up his boots he went back to work in the shipyards. McVean died in Bonhill, Alexandra in June 1907, only 36 years of age. The Dundee Courier reported: "McVean was of a sociable disposition, and being gifted with a rare fund of dry humour, was a most interesting companion."