To use an old footballing term, yes, George McLean was 'a typical centre-forward.' The sort of player that every team had in the 1960s. Big, bustling, difficult to knock off the ball, and hopefully with an eye for goal.

George joined Exeter City in the summer of 1965. The Grecians had just completed their first ever season in the Third Division, and had found it difficult to adjust to, finishing in 17th place. They had also struggled to score goals, with no player reaching double figures in league fixtures, and so George was seen as the answer to increasing their firepower.

Certainly George came with a good pedigree. Born in Paisley on 16th September 1937, he began his professional footballing career with the mighty Glasgow Rangers, although never quite made the first team. He was then transferred to Norwich City in March 1962, but again had to be content with reserve team football.

However, on his move to Grimsby Town in September 1962, George at long last made his Football League debut and was a regular in their side hitting 41 goals in 91 starts. It was that track record that prompted City manager Ellis Stuttard to sign the player.

Certainly the move at first seemed to be a stroke of genius as City won their first two home matches both by the impressive scoreline of 4-0, with victories over Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United. George scored once in the Oldham game and then hit a brace in the Scunthorpe fixture.

Playing alongside scoring legend Alan Banks, George went on to appear in 34 league matches, scoring eleven goals. He seemed to like scoring his goals in Œtwos', for he achieved that, not only in the aforementioned Scunthorpe game, but also against Gillingham, Brentford and Swindon Town.

He certainly ended the season with a flourish, as he had done at the start of the campaign, with three goals in two matches. But it wasn't enough to save Exeter City from being relegated after just two seasons in the Third Division.

Needless to say there was the inevitable clear out of players, although George was safe enough, having signed a two-year deal on moving to the Grecians. There was also a change of manager at City, with Jock Basford replacing Stuttard.

Although George played in the opening two league matches of the 1966-67 season, he struggled to retain his place, and was appear in a City shirt for the last time when he lined up against Newport County at Somerton Park on 27th December 1966. He had only managed one goal that season, in a 1-1 draw at Southport a month earlier, having featured in a total of 13 league matches that season,

In January 1967, George, who was keen to move back up north, had his wish granted when Workington obtained his signature. At Borough Park he once again discovered his scoring touch and netted 16 league goals in 53 starts. Released in the summer of 1968, George stayed in the same area as he moved to neighbours and great rivals Barrow in June of that year. Holker Street was to be his final port of call, as he had just the one season with the Bluebirds, scoring 9 goals in 27 league outings.