McGoldrick: John

1983-1985 (Player Details)

Right Back

Born: Coatbridge, Lanarkshire: 23-09-1963

Debut: v Chester City (h): 05-10-1983

5’11” 10st 7lb (1983)

McGoldrick played for Celtic Boys’ Club before being recruited for Celtic in 1980 in the same crop as David Moyes. His progress at Parkhead was impeded by a succession of knee injuries and after three operations on his right knee he did not play a game for eighteen months. He did play one game for Celtic, albeit not in the League or major Cups. On 13th May 1982 he was a member of the Celtic team that won the Glasgow Cup Final at Ibrox Park when they defeated Rangers by 2-1. But otherwise injuries had hampered his progress to establish himself as a first team player. He still had one year left to go on his contract when he was given the chance to join Leeds in June 1983. Jimmy Lumsden, Eddie Gray's Assistant Manager, had previously been Youth team Manager at Celtic and McGoldrick viewed it as being a good oppurtunity and duly signed for Leeds on a free transfer. Leeds had a fine crop of young players and McGoldrick soon settled in as they contained several fine players and both Gray and Lumsden were Scottish with a great belief in their young players' ability. He went straight into the young Leeds squad that was about to feature in a pre-season Tournament in Switzerland and after they had won the Tournament McGoldrick signed a one year contract. However, even though he had impressed in on the Swiss Tour, McGoldrick was still struggling with the effects of his knee problems and was unable to displace high-priced signing, Kevin Hird, in the right-back spot. McGoldrick was unlucky enough to make his Leeds debut on one of the most humiliating nights in the club’s history, when, on 5th october 1983, they lost 0-1 at Elland Road to bottom-of-the-Fourth Division Chester City in the Milk Cup. Fortunately for the club it was a two-legged affair and they were able to redeem themselves in the away leg and progressed to the Third Round on a 4-2 aggregate. he made his League debut at the Baseball Ground on 19th November 1983 as United managed a 1-1 draw. However, it was not a good time to be in the Leeds team and in the twelve games in which he participated he was only on the winning side once. No matter, he maintained his place in the team for the 1-4 League Cup defeat at Oxford United on 23rd November and the 1-1 home draw with Chelsea three days later. After missing the next game at Carlisle United, which was lost 0-1, he played the next five League games and three F.A. Cup ties, which culminated in defeat by Scunthorpe United in the Third Round Second Replay by 2-4, which proved to be his final game for Leeds. He had picked up another knee injury which required surgery and at the end of the season Eddie Gray allowed him to return to Scotland on a free transfer to Motherwell in July 1984. He never kicked a ball in competition at Fir Park as the injuries that had dogged him through his time at Celtic and Leeds forced him to retire. He joined the family car business in Airdrie and became operations Manager for Arnold Clark the car dealership in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow.