Player Profile : Peter McCloy (1970 to 1986)
Although Rangers have been blessed with some magnificent goalkeepers down the years, to date only one man can lay claim to have lifted a European trophy as Rangers ‘Number One’. Nicknamed ‘The Girvan Lighthouse’ due to his place of birth and colossal 6’4” frame, that man is Peter McCloy.
Peter was born in Girvan, South Ayrshire, and goalkeeping was in the blood. His father, James, had played for Clyde & St. Mirren in a career cut short by the outbreak of WW2. Jimmy was in goals for Saints in April 1934 as Rangers won the Scottish Cup 5-0 at Hampden in front on more than 113,000 spectators.
Born in 1946, Peter arrived at Ibrox in March 1970. Signed by Willie Waddell (he was Waddell’s first signing) from Motherwell in a deal that would see both Bobby Watson and Brian Heron make the opposite journey, McCloy was already established in that Motherwell side and had played almost 150 league matches for ‘Well by the age of 23. He had apparently attracted the interest of Bill Shankly at Liverpool before they turned their attentions to Ray Clemence.
Replacing German keeper Gerhardt Neef, Peter’s Rangers debut came on 14th March 1970 in a 2-1 defeat to Dunfermline at East End Park. The story goes that on his debut he was prevented from wearing his ‘Peter Bonetti’ goalkeeper gloves as they were only available in green! On request, the manufacturer later dyed a supply in blue. In 7 appearances during that part debut season, Peter would taste victory just once.
His first full season at Ibrox (1970/71) saw him collect his first winners medal, a League Cup win over Celtic in which he kept a clean sheet. He would miss only 3 games of that campaign, already demonstrating his durability. The season, of course, was completely overshadowed by the Ibrox disaster in which 66 supporters paid the ultimate price with hundreds more injured. Peter did not play in that match but remained at the Club to see the stadium fully redeveloped in the aftermath of what was such an awful tragedy.
Season 1971/72 was the season Peter would secure legendary status at Rangers as one of the famous ‘Barca Bears’. McCloy was the only ever present that season including, of course, a memorable 9 match run in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. He even provided a partial assist for what proved to be the winning goal versus Moscow Dynamo with one his trademark booming ‘kick outs’ in the famous Camp Nou.
With Jock Wallace now in charge, the Scottish Cup was added in season 1972/73. That famous Centenary win over Celtic at Hampden when Tom Forsyth stabbed home the winner in a 5 goal thriller. Again, Peter was a mainstay in the starting XI with only Sandy Jardine and John Greig making more starts.
He remained first choice keeper under Jock Wallace for season 1973/74 but it proved to be one that would leave Rangers empty handed in terms of silverware. The agonising wait for a league championship success ended in season 1974/75 but, by then, it was Stewart Kennedy who was occupying the goalkeeping position resulting in McCloy failing to make a solitary appearance.
Not for the last time in his Rangers career, Peter fought back to not only win his place but also secure his first league medal. Season 1975/76 would, however, see both McCloy and Kennedy occupy the position for spells. In a season in which Rangers secured the domestic Treble for the first time since 1964, Kennedy enjoyed the limelight in the League Cup Final whilst Peter finished the season in pole position to secure a Scottish Cup Final victory over Hearts.
This battle between Peter and Stewart continued over the next two seasons. Kennedy making the majority of appearances with Peter personally restricted to a Scottish Cup medal in season 1977/78 despite the Club enjoying great success including a second Treble in just three campaigns.
Just as he had done before, McCloy bounced back under John Greig to become an ever present in season 1978/79 earning his fourth Scottish Cup and second League Cup winners medal. The big money signing of Jim Stewart in March 1981 should probably have signalled the end of Peter’s Rangers career but, ever the consummate professional, he simply worked away as hard as ever awaiting his next opportunity.
Whilst Rangers failed to make any consistent challenge for the title during the early to mid-1980’s, Peter did manage to secure a further two league cup medals to his name featuring in 1984 victories over Celtic and Dundee United respectively.
Competing with Nicky Walker for the final part of his Rangers career, he played his last first team match on 26th April 1986 in a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie at the age of 39. Walter Smith, then only 37, would take charge of the team pending the arrival of Graeme Souness from Italy as Player / Manager. Peter had always looked after his fitness and, perhaps surprisingly, was one of the quickest players at Ibrox in his prime.
As England goalkeeper Chris Woods made the big money move to Ibrox is the summer of 1986, Peter remained registered as a player during that first season under Souness and was also initially part of his backroom coaching staff. Perhaps not always seeing eye to eye with Souness, McCloy finally left Ibrox in August 1988 and would soon take up a similar coaching role at Heart of Midlothian.
Peter is one of an elite group of Players to make over 500 plus appearances for Rangers and was at Ibrox on 1st April 2023 as Allan McGregor became the latest to join that exclusive club.
Affectionately known as ‘Gas Meter’, Peter represented Scotland at full international level on four occasions during the summer of 1973, including a glamour match with Brazil. Sadly, he was always on the losing side.
Peter was also a talented golfer despite not taking up the game until the relatively late age of 18. At one stage, he had a decision to make as to whether to progress his career in football with Motherwell or accept a job as assistant pro at Turnberry. The rest, as they say, is history. Peter would return to Turnberry long after hanging up his gloves and for many years was the starter at the first tee, seeing off golfers from the plush Ayrshire resort eventually owned by future US President, Donald Trump. Peter was also the owner of a sports shop in Girvan for many years.
Pleasingly, McCloy is still a frequent visitor to Ibrox on matchday and was been very much part of the 50th Anniversary Barcelona celebrations of recent times.
by Rick Plews
