Archie McHard

All at the club were saddened to learn of the passing last night of former player Archie McHard, aged 88.

Archie signed for Clyde in January 1955, making the step up from juniors Yoker Athletic. He made his Bully Wee debut in August of that year, scoring a brace of goals against Dunfermline Athletic in a League Cup victory at Shawfield. Archie also played in memorable friendly wins against Arsenal at Highbury and Manchester United shortly after his debut.

Although his first full season ended in relegation, Archie played a prominent role in helping the club return to the top-flight at the first time of asking in a record breaking 1956-57 season. He scored 20 goals in 40 appearances and gained a Second Division championship winner’s medal, as The Bully Wee also reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, semi-finals of the League Cup, and the Glasgow Cup Final.

The outside-right/centre-forward began to find chances limited over the next couple of seasons with the emergence of George Herd and Johnny Coyle as Clyde won the Scottish Cup and finished fourth in the Scottish League in 1958. One of Archie’s final appearances came in the 1958 Glasgow Cup Final against Rangers, which The Bully Wee won after a replay.

Archie left Shawfield in the summer of 1959 and joined Bradford Park Avenue for a couple of seasons, before hanging up his boots and returning to his hometown of Dumbarton. He made a total of 63 competitive appearances for Clyde, scoring 26 goals.

The thoughts and condolences from all at the club are with Archie’s family at this sad time.