John McMaster (footballer, born 1955)

John McMaster

Personal information
Date of birth	(1955-02-23) 23 February 1955 (age 70)
Place of birth	Greenock, Scotland
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Port Glasgow
1972–1987	Aberdeen	204	(20)
1972–1973	→ Peterhead (loan)
1987–1988	Morton	29	(2)
Total		233	(22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John McMaster (born 23 February 1955) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for the bulk of his career with Aberdeen.

McMaster made 316 appearances (47 as substitute) and scored 20 goals for Aberdeen and secured multiple winners medals between 1974 and 1986, including the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, two Scottish League titles and three Scottish Cups. ^{[2] [3]}

McMaster had to be given the kiss of life during a Scottish League Cup game against Rangers on 3 September 1980 after Willie Johnston stamped on his neck at Ibrox Stadium, ^[4] and he was badly injured against Liverpool in the European Cup a month later, which kept him out of the game for a year.

In 1987, he signed for his hometown club Morton ^{[5] [3]} before retiring to become assistant manager of the club, during which he developed several players including future Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes. ^[2] He has since worked as a scout for Swansea City in the west of Scotland. ^{[2] [3]}

In November 2017, he was one of four inductees into the Aberdeen Hall of Fame. ^[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club [7] [8]	Seasons	League			Scottish Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aberdeen	1972-73	Scottish Division One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1973-74		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1974-75		1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	0
	1975-76	Scottish Premier Division	21	3	2	1	1	0	0	0	24	4
	1976-77		2	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	5	0
	1977-78		32	4	6	1	5	3	2	0	45	8
	1978-79		27	3	4	1	7	0	4	0	42	4
	1979-80		34	4	5	1	11	4	2	0	52	9
	1980-81		10	2	0	0	4	1	3	0	17	3
	1981-82		31	1	6	0	8	1	4	0	49	2
	1982-83		24	2	2	0	6	0	9	0	41	2
	1983-84		12	0	2	0	7	0	4	0	25	0
	1984-85		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	1985-86		7	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
	1986-87		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		204	20	29	4	54	9	28	0	315	33
Peterhead (loan)	1972-73	Highland League	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Greenock Morton	1986-87	Scottish First Division	9	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	9	0
	1987-88	Scottish Premier Division	20	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	21	2
	Total		29	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	30	2
Career total			233+	22+	29+	4+	55	9	28	0	345+	35+

Honours

Player

Aberdeen

• Scottish Premier Division: 1979–80, 1983–84, 1985–86
• Scottish Cup: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84,1985–86
• Drybrough Cup: 1980–81 ^[9]
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1982–83
• European Super Cup: 1983

References

1. "McMaster, John McMaster - Footballer | BDFutbol". www.bdfutbol.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
2. Charlie Allan (19 October 2016). "John McMaster: I could see Derek was a winner the first day we met at Morton". Evening Express . Retrieved 4 November 2018.
3. Paul John Coulter (22 May 2017). "Greenock-born Aberdeen hero John McMaster to give insight into playing for Sir Alex Ferguson". Greenock Telegraph . Retrieved 4 November 2018.
4. Irvine, Neil (20 January 2002). "No more late hate shows". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
5. "Morton player John McMaster". FitbaStats. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
6. "2017 AFC Hall of Fame". Aberdeen F.C. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
7. "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
8. "Greenock Morton FC Archive".
9. "Match Report: Drybrough Cup Final". AFC Heritage. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.

External links

• John McMaster at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
• Profile and stats at AFC Heritage Trust