Top-class goalkeeper was an ever-present as Dundee won 1962 First Division title
PAT LINEY, who has died aged 86, was a top-class goalkeeper whose 16-year-long career highlight was as the ever-present custodian in Dundee FC’S old First Division title-winning 1961/2 season, the only time in the club’s history the Dark Blues have won the top-tier league.
In a nail-biting finish Dundee beat Rangers to the title, having earlier in the season declared their intent by defeating the Glasgow giants 5-1 at a fog-shrouded Ibrox. Although not the highest profile player in a team that included such internationalists as Alex Hamilton, Ian Ure, Gordon Smith and Alan Gilzean, Liney played his part and was highly appreciated by teammates for his consistency and ability to rise to the occasion.
Later he joined his boyhood heroes, St Mirren, before crossing the Border to play for now-defunct Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City. He achieved a career total of more than 350 senior matches. At
5ft 10ins, by current standards he was not tall for a goalkeeper but was very acrobatic and an excellent shot stopper. He was also a talented singer who performed professionally in venues in Dundee and in England, often being billed as “The Singing Goalkeeper”. He was an extremely likeable gent who was excellent company and a gifted raconteur.
Patrick Liney was born in Linwood, near Paisley, where he was brought up along with his siblings. He attended St Mirin’s Academy, playing football outfield until one day the team’s goalkeeper was injured and Pat stepped in, launching his career between the posts.
Initially he played for youth team Linwood Thistle before joining junior side Dalry Thistle. From a young age he was an enthusiastic St Mirren fan, and attended all their home games, usually with his father; although he recalled in an interview that if his dad was working he would go on his own, aged eight or nine, “and be first in the ground as soon as the turnstiles opened”.
After his national service with the army, he was given the opportunity of a trial with St Mirren but an injury sustained with Dalry Thistle meant he had to withdraw. After reportedly saving five penalties for Thistle in a junior cup tie Liney attracted Dundee’s attention and was signed in 1957 by manager Willie Thornton, the former Rangers and Scotland player.
At first, Liney played second string to
Bill Brown, the Scotland internationalist, and replaced him because of illness for his debut on May 10, 1958 against Rangers at Ibrox, in a 1-0 win. After Brown’s transfer to Spurs in June 1959, Pat became the regular number one.
By then, manager Bob Shankly was beginning to assemble a team combining youth and experience to challenge for honours. It culminated on April 28, 1962 in Dundee clinching the old First Division title, defeating St.johnstone 3-0 at Muirton Park.
Pat did well to keep a clean sheet but three days earlier he had made a crucial contribution to the team’s success by saving a St Mirren penalty at Dens Park to secure a vital win for Dundee, who edged ahead of Rangers with one game remaining.
Later he recalled “being probably the coolest guy in the packed ground” while facing the penalty taken by Jim Clunie; Pat’s father had tipped him off beforehand where Clunie would place it, helping Liney to pull off a marvellous save. After full-time he was mobbed by celebrating fans and needed a police escort to reach the dressing-room.
His role in the title win was highlighted by Alan Gilzean’s tribute: “Pat Liney’s contribution to Dundee’s championship season should never be underestimated and the fact he was an ever-present speaks for itself. He was rock solid and never let us down.”
That summer Liney played in all five Dundee games in the international
New York tournament but the following season, surprisingly and disappointingly, he was displaced by new goalkeeper
Bert Slater, missing out on the club reaching the European Cup semi-final. He only played twice more before his transfer to St Mirren in 1964. He played more than 60 times for them.
In 1966 he was transferred to Bradford Park Avenue and a year later joined
Bradford City, where he remained until 1972, when he returned to Park Avenue for a final season.