First posted on Facebook, November 16th, 2016
Happy Birthday to Peter McCloy who will turn 70 today.
Peter McCloy or the Girvan Lighthouse as he was affectionately known, played for Scotland 4 times. In Willie Ormond’s first game in charge, Bobby Clark of Aberdeen who had been a regular for Scotland at the time, retained his place, however, Bobby was one of the scapegoats following the 5 nil drubbing by England on that frozen miserable night at Hampden in February 1973.
So three months later, Peter was given his chance in a Home International game against Wales in Wrexham. Scotland won two nil that day, thanks to goals by George Graham of Manchester United. Also making their Scotland debut that day were Danny McGrain, Jim Holton, Derek Johnstone and also Derek Parlane of Rangers.
Alas, this was Peter’s only win in a Scotland jersey; a few days later and Scotland were to lose 2-1 to Northern Ireland at Hampden. Injury ruled Peter out of the 1-0 defeat to England at Wembley with Ally Hunter of Celtic coming in to gain his third cap. However, Ormond brought back Peter for two friendlies in June that year; a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in Berne and a similar defeat to World Champions Brazil at Hampden.
Come September of that year Ormond chose Ally Hunter ahead of McCloy, for the Czechoslovakia game in which Scotland would qualify for the World Cup and so with the emergence of David Harvey at International level and Stewart Kennedy at Ibrox, Peter’s Scotland career was over.
Happy Birthday Peter and all the best.
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