Mike Larnach Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Michael David Larnach
  • Born: November 9th, 1952 (Caithness)
  • Height: 5' 10
  • Position: Striker
  • Signed: July 11th, 1972
  • First Manager: Jack Steedman
  • Career Totals: 333 appearances, 105 goals
  • Also Played For: Motherwell, Newcastle United, Stenhousemuir


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1985-86 26 6 5 0 19.2% 23.1% 57.7%
1984-85 36 (2) 10 6 0 44.7% 34.2% 21.1%
1983-84 28 (1) 7 2 0 44.8% 37.9% 17.2%
1977-78 26 8 2 1 23.1% 23.1% 53.8%
1976-77 58 30 0 0 56.9% 27.6% 15.5%
1975-76 44 (3) 13 1 0 61.7% 14.9% 23.4%
1974-75 29 (8) 7 0 0 54.1% 13.5% 32.4%
1973-74 26 (3) 4 0 0 34.5% 24.1% 41.4%
1972-73 43 20 0 0 23.3% 18.6% 58.1%
Totals: 316 (17) 105


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 03/02/86 3rd Round Replay vs. Falkirk (A) 0 - 1
 01/02/86 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H) 1 - 1
 01/01/86 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A) 0 - 3
 28/12/85 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A) 0 - 2
 23/12/85 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H) 0 - 0

 Recent First Team Goals
 10/12/85 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H) 2 - 1
 31/08/85 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A) 2 - 0
 21/08/85 2nd Round vs. Raith Rovers (H) 7 - 2
 17/08/85 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H) 4 - 0
 13/04/85 Division 1 vs. Brechin City (H) 5 - 1

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 10/12/85 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 1
 31/08/85 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 0
 21/08/85 2nd Round vs. Raith Rovers (H)  7 - 2
 21/08/85 2nd Round vs. Raith Rovers (H)  7 - 2
 21/08/85 2nd Round vs. Raith Rovers (H)  7 - 2
 17/08/85 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  4 - 0
 13/04/85 Division 1 vs. Brechin City (H)  5 - 1
 13/04/85 Division 1 vs. Brechin City (H)  5 - 1
 05/03/85 Division 1 vs. Forfar Ath (H)  1 - 1
 01/01/85 Division 1 vs. Airdrie (H)  1 - 0
 08/12/84 Division 1 vs. Ayr Utd (A)  4 - 4
 08/12/84 Division 1 vs. Ayr Utd (A)  4 - 4
 29/09/84 Division 1 vs. East Fife (A)  4 - 4
 29/09/84 Division 1 vs. East Fife (A)  4 - 4
 15/09/84 Division 1 vs. Kilmarnock (H)  5 - 0
 11/08/84 Division 1 vs. St Johnstone (H)  3 - 0
 12/05/84 Division 1 vs. Brechin City (A)  2 - 2
 14/04/84 Division 1 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  1 - 0
 29/02/84 Division 1 vs. Morton (A)  2 - 1
 11/02/84 Division 1 vs. Ayr Utd (H)  1 - 2
 26/12/83 Division 1 vs. Raith Rovers (H)  1 - 1
 12/11/83 Division 1 vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 4
 05/11/83 Division 1 vs. Brechin City (H)  1 - 0
 22/10/77 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 2
 22/10/77 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 2
 20/08/77 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 3
 17/08/77 1st Round 1st Leg vs. East Fife (H)  5 - 0
 13/08/77 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 1
 10/08/77 Preliminary Round 2nd Leg vs. Partick Th (H)  1 - 1
 06/08/77 1st Round vs. Stenhousemuir (A)  6 - 1
 06/08/77 1st Round vs. Stenhousemuir (A)  6 - 1
 30/04/77 1st Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 2
 30/04/77 1st Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 2
 26/03/77 1st Division vs. Queen of South (H)  2 - 0
 12/03/77 1st Division vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 2
 02/03/77 1st Division vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 0
 16/02/77 1st Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 0
 22/01/77 1st Division vs. Montrose (A)  3 - 3
 22/01/77 1st Division vs. Montrose (A)  3 - 3
 03/01/77 1st Division vs. Arbroath (H)  8 - 1
 01/01/77 1st Division vs. Dumbarton (A)  1 - 1
 25/12/76 1st Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 2
 15/12/76 Semi Final vs. East Stirlingshire (H)  4 - 0
 15/12/76 Semi Final vs. East Stirlingshire (H)  4 - 0
 04/12/76 1st Division vs. East Fife (A)  6 - 0
 04/12/76 1st Division vs. East Fife (A)  6 - 0
 04/12/76 1st Division vs. East Fife (A)  6 - 0
 06/11/76 1st Division vs. Arbroath (A)  2 - 0
 06/11/76 1st Division vs. Arbroath (A)  2 - 0
 12/10/76 1st Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 0
 12/10/76 1st Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 0
 09/10/76 1st Division vs. Hamilton Accies (A)  2 - 3
 09/10/76 1st Division vs. Hamilton Accies (A)  2 - 3
 29/09/76 1st Division vs. Falkirk (H)  4 - 1
 22/09/76 Quarter Final 1st Leg vs. Rangers (A)  3 - 3
 07/09/76 1st Division vs. Raith Rovers (H)  3 - 0
 07/09/76 1st Division vs. Raith Rovers (H)  3 - 0
 04/09/76 1st Division vs. Arbroath (H)  3 - 0
 01/09/76 Group 8 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  1 - 0
 28/08/76 Group 8 vs. Dunfermline (H)  2 - 0
 21/08/76 Group 8 vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 03/05/76 Final vs. Airdrie (N)  2 - 4
 03/05/76 Final vs. Airdrie (N)  2 - 4
 07/02/76 2nd Division vs. Brechin City (A)  2 - 1
 03/01/76 2nd Division vs. Cowdenbeath (A)  1 - 1
 08/11/75 2nd Division vs. Forfar Ath (A)  2 - 0
 11/10/75 2nd Division vs. Albion Rovers (A)  4 - 0
 11/10/75 2nd Division vs. Albion Rovers (A)  4 - 0
 27/09/75 2nd Division vs. Berwick Rangers (A)  4 - 0
 03/09/75 Supplementary Round 2nd Leg vs. Cowdenbeath (H)  2 - 0
 30/08/75 2nd Division vs. Brechin City (H)  3 - 0
 27/08/75 Group 7 vs. Arbroath (H)  1 - 0
 20/08/75 Group 7 vs. Berwick Rangers (A)  1 - 0
 13/08/75 Group 7 vs. Berwick Rangers (H)  3 - 2
 05/04/75 Division 2 vs. Cowdenbeath (A)  3 - 0
 22/03/75 Division 2 vs. Albion Rovers (H)  2 - 0
 22/02/75 Division 2 vs. Queen's Park (H)  2 - 1
 28/12/74 Division 2 vs. Queen of South (H)  3 - 1
 14/12/74 Division 2 vs. Alloa Athletic (H)  4 - 1
 30/11/74 Division 2 vs. Cowdenbeath (H)  2 - 1
 23/11/74 Division 2 vs. Raith Rovers (A)  2 - 1
 09/02/74 Division 2 vs. Brechin City (H)  2 - 0
 09/02/74 Division 2 vs. Brechin City (H)  2 - 0
 19/09/73 Division 2 vs. Stirling Albion (H)  2 - 0
 18/08/73 Group 9 vs. Stranraer (H)  3 - 0
 28/04/73 Division 2 vs. Dunfermline (A)  3 - 3
 07/04/73 Division 2 vs. Stranraer (H)  4 - 2
 07/04/73 Division 2 vs. Stranraer (H)  4 - 2
 31/03/73 Division 2 vs. Queen's Park (A)  2 - 2
 24/03/73 Division 2 vs. St Mirren (H)  1 - 1
 10/03/73 Division 2 vs. Alloa Athletic (A)  4 - 2
 27/01/73 Division 2 vs. Forfar Ath (A)  3 - 0
 27/01/73 Division 2 vs. Forfar Ath (A)  3 - 0
 27/01/73 Division 2 vs. Forfar Ath (A)  3 - 0
 01/01/73 Division 2 vs. East Stirlingshire (H)  1 - 1
 28/11/72 1st Round vs. Falkirk (A)  3 - 5
 21/10/72 Division 2 vs. Queen of South (H)  1 - 0
 14/10/72 Division 2 vs. Montrose (A)  3 - 1
 07/10/72 Division 2 vs. Forfar Ath (H)  4 - 1
 27/09/72 Division 2 vs. Brechin City (H)  2 - 1
 23/09/72 Division 2 vs. Hamilton Accies (A)  4 - 1
 23/09/72 Division 2 vs. Hamilton Accies (A)  4 - 1
 09/09/72 Division 2 vs. East Stirlingshire (A)  2 - 4
 30/08/72 Group 3 vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 3
 16/08/72 Group 3 vs. Ayr Utd (H)  1 - 0

 List of Games Played
Sorry, there are too many games to display for this player.


Biography

It is fair to say that Mike’s one true footballing home was New Kilbowie Park. It is where he started his senior career and it is where it ended. In between he played for Newcastle United, Motherwell, Ayr United and Stenhousemuir, but it was only at Clydebank where his star shone brightly.

Born in Lybster on the 9th of November 1952, Mike was playing for famed juvenile side Campsie Black Watch. This was a club the Bankies raided for talent for many years, and he was snapped up by Jack Steedman in the summer of 1972.

Mike missed the warm-up matches, but was thrown in at the deep end making his debut against Ayr United in the first league game of the season. He duly scored the only goal of the game. This was no fluke as Mike scored 9 times in his first 16 games as he fairly burst on to the scene. He finished the season with 19 goals including his first career hat-trick against Forfar Athletic.

The next two seasons saw the Bankies struggle in the second division and as such Mike found himself out of the team at times as he did not hit the net as regularly as he did in his first season. However, in season 1974-75 he began to be paired with Joe McCallan more regularly. Although it did not bear fruit initially, the Steedman’s obviously saw something they liked as it became the striking partnership at the start of 1975-76.

This is where things really took off. Aided and abetted by Davie Cooper the Bankies were promoted in successive seasons to the Premier League. In these two seasons McCallan (52), Cooper (37) and Larnach (43) rattled in an incredible 132 goals between them.

Unfortunately, the Bankies lost Davie Cooper to Rangers before the Premier League season began, but despite this Mike opened the season with six goals in his first six games. However, the Bankies really began to struggle, and before the year was out Mike was on his way to Newcastle United in a £100,000 move. When Mike left Kilbowie he had scored 81 goals in 231 games.

Mike made his debut for Newcastle against Liverpool at Anfield, but unfortunately this was the high point as life was tough at St James Park as the Magpies were relegated from the First Division. At the end of the season, Mike returned to Scotland as Motherwell signed him for a fee of £75,000. Unfortunately, Mike was unable to regain his scoring form at Fir Park and the Steelmen were relegated from the Premier League.

With appearances restricted, Mike was allowed to leave for Somerset Park in 1981, with Ayr United paying £30,000 for his services. Goals were hard to come by for Mike, but he could still find the net at Kilbowie scoring the only goal for the Honest men against the Bankies in December 1982.

By the time 1983 came around Mike was given a free transfer and signed for Stenhousemuir. At the same time Clydebank had the prolific duo of Tommy Coyne and Bobby Williamson scoring goals left, right and centre. As if the stars aligned, both of these players left for Dundee United and Rangers respectively, leaving the Bankies with a huge hole in the striking department.

Jack Steedman turned to Mike Larnach who was now just shy of his 31st birthday, paying a nominal fee to Stenhousemuir. It was a homecoming of sorts, and just like his first debut, Mike scored the only goal of the match on his return against Brechin City.

The goals returned for Mike at Kilbowie Park, the place where the fans truly loved him. He formed a new partnership with a young Mike Conroy and again he inspired the Bankies to promotion to the Premier League in 1985.

Mike Larnach was in great form on his return to the top level notching five times in as many games including a hat trick, his last for the club, against Raith Rovers. Mike’s last goal for the club came in December 1985 against Aberdeen as the Bankies defeated the Dons for the first and only time in their history, and he bowed out from playing his last game against Falkirk in February 1986.

Arguably, Mike could have continued playing at a lower level but he instead retired and joined the Bankies coaching staff. At the point of his retirement Mike was the Bankies all time highest goal scorer with 104 goals to his credit. He has since been overtaken by Ken Eadie and Nicky Little, however he remains a firm favourite with the supporters and was one of the first inductees into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Debut

August 16th, 1972
Clydebank FC 1 - 0 Ayr United

League Cup (Group 3)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Mike was born on this date in Caithness.

    Sunday, November 9th, 1952

  • Signed For Clydebank FC

    Tuesday, July 11th, 1972

  • First Team Debut

    Clydebank FC 1 - 0 Ayr Utd
    League Cup (Group 3)

    Wednesday, August 16th, 1972

  • First Goal

    Clydebank FC 1 - 0 Ayr Utd
    League Cup (Group 3)

    Wednesday, August 16th, 1972

  • League Debut

    Clydebank FC 0 - 3 Stirling Albion
    League (Division 2)

    “They are all going home." sang the Stirling Albion fans when the Clydebank supporters started filing out of Kilbowie immediately Albion's third goal hit the net. And who could blame the home fans?

    Saturday, September 2nd, 1972

  • First League Goal

    East Stirlingshire 4 - 2 Clydebank FC
    League (Division 2)

    This Clydebank team must be thankful the Trades Description Act does not apply to football. If it did they would all surely be serving terms of life imprisonment. That is allowing, of course, for the

    Saturday, September 9th, 1972

  • 50th Appearance

    Forfar Ath 0 - 2 Clydebank FC
    League (Division 2)

    Although there was little between the teams in the early stages, this was an easy two points for Clydebank.McColl just missed with a low drive and Hamilton shot over in the Forfar reply. Forfa

    Saturday, September 15th, 1973

  • 50th League Appearance

    Clydebank FC 2 - 0 Brechin City
    League (Division 2)

    Two early second-half goals by Mike Larnach bagged the points. for Clydebank, who should have been well ahead at the interval.They monopolised play in the first half, but their finishing was r

    Saturday, February 9th, 1974

  • 100th Appearance

    Celtic 4 - 1 Clydebank FC
    Scottish Cup (4th Round)

    A 20,000-plus crowd greeted Bankies last Saturday as they took the field for their Cup tie against Celtic at Parkhead. Everyone but their own fans had written off the Bankies chances and an injury in

    Saturday, February 15th, 1975

  • 100th League Appearance

    Clydebank FC 0 - 1 Berwick Rangers
    League (2nd Division)

    Clydebank's proud undefeated League record was dismally smashed at Kilbowie on Saturday. In deplorable conditions, they hit rock bottom form and were sunk by a last-gasp penalty that gave lowly Berwic

    Saturday, November 29th, 1975

  • 50th Goal

    Clydebank FC 3 - 0 Raith Rovers
    League (1st Division)

    Clydebank warmed up for their forthcoming league cup tie against Rangers with a convincing victory last night at Kilbowie Park. The Rangers manager, Jock Wallace, watched the game as did Dave McKay th

    Tuesday, September 7th, 1976

  • 50th League Goal

    Clydebank FC 8 - 1 Arbroath
    League (1st Division)

    Rampant Bankie stormed back to the top of the table last Monday with a scintillating performance which demolished visitors Arbroath.It was a measure of Bankies' width in attack that the man of

    Monday, January 3rd, 1977

  • 200th Appearance

    Clydebank FC 3 - 0 Dundee
    League (1st Division)

    Bankies took a giant step towards Premier League football next season when they emphatically beat challengers Dundee at Kilbowie last Saturday. A super double by Joe McCallan and a Billy McColl penalt

    Saturday, February 19th, 1977

  • 200th League Appearance

    Motherwell 0 - 1 Clydebank FC
    League (Division 1)

    Match report coming soon

    Saturday, September 22nd, 1984

  • 300th Appearance

    Clydebank FC 1 - 2 Partick Th
    League (Division 1)

    Match report coming soon

    Saturday, March 23rd, 1985

  • 100th Goal

    Clydebank FC 4 - 0 Dundee
    League (Premier Division)

    Match report coming soon

    Saturday, August 17th, 1985

  • Last Goal

    Clydebank FC 2 - 1 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    Tuesday, December 10th, 1985

  • Last Appearance

    Falkirk 1 - 0 Clydebank FC
    Scottish Cup (3rd Round Replay)

    Monday, February 3rd, 1986