Angus McLean enjoyed a relatively long tenure in charge of Pools. (Certainly, if recent standards are anything to go by, he was almost a permanent fixture!)
To his credit, McLean stepped up to the daunting challenge of succeeding none other than Brian Clough as manager, in May 1967, then went on to lead Hartlepools to promotion a year later.
The 1968/69 Durham Senior Cup was added to his CV before things began to go less well and Angus McLean, despite those achievements, was shown the door. (Not quite the revolving door it has been of late, but he collected his P45 on the way out of Clarence Road, nonetheless!)
A promotion and a piece of silverware are marks of success most football managers would like to be able to point to, and we can all think of plenty of bosses whose careers carry no such embellishments. Perhaps it is all the sadder, then, that Angus McLean passed away a mere nine years after his sacking, aged just 53.
Known as something of a gentle giant, the Welshman McLean notched up a decent number of appearances as a centre-half before transferring his expertise to the dugout.
Amongst my little collection of Hartlepool United memorabilia, I have the embroidered badge I believe was attached to the breast pocket of Angus McLean’s club blazer for the Durham Senior Cup presentation in 1969. (Unless I am mistaken and anyone knows otherwise.)
It’s only a blazer badge, but, for me, it is a tangible link with the past, and a modest tribute to a Pools manager who, like many before and after his time in charge, tried their best to lift the fortunes of the club we love.
Author: Stephen
Author of Poxon's Pools