A prolific goalscorer, the star of the iconic ‘Boys of ’86’ team, and a truly special player.
Frank McAvennie’s time with West Ham United is legendary. In his first spell, the Hammers secured their highest-ever top-flight finish. In his second, the Club returned to the First Division.
When McAvennie played in Claret and Blue, magic usually followed.
Prior to his first transfer to West Ham, McAvennie spent five years in the core of a St Mirren side that regularly pushed Scottish heavyweights Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen, while also testing themselves on the European stage.
The 1982 Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year had begun life as a professional footballer in midfield. It wasn’t until over three years into his first stint with The Buddies that the young Scotsman found his natural place in the team; a desire for more recognition for his efforts pushing McAvennie further up the pitch.
“When I was at St Mirren, I started out as a midfield player,” McAvennie revealed. “I played in midfield for the first three-and-a-half years.
“I was getting double figures amounts of goals every year and the strikers weren’t doing that. They’d get the odd goal and then get the headlines. I wanted those headlines. Sometimes I would get a Man of the Match award but, in a way, that wasn’t enough, and I decided I wanted to play up front.
“For the last year and a bit of my time at St Mirren, I played up front and I loved every minute of it. I really had found my position.”
With 48 goals in 135 league appearances, McAvennie’s value to the team was evident. Whether playing in midfield, or in attack, the Scotsman was pivotal to success for St Mirren.
Amid the pacey attacker’s good form, whispers began to spread surrounding a potential move down south. England, and the First Division, could soon be calling for McAvennie.
The bright lights of the English game would appeal to any young superstar, but McAvennie knew the importance of making that move at the right time, when he could be sure of showing his best.
A change of direction for the Paisley club, with Alex Miller replacing the departed Rikki McFarlane as manager, convinced the striker he was ready for a new challenge.
“I had a few offers to leave St Mirren and go down to England before I did but, to be completely honest, I wasn’t ready,” he admitted. “I knew in myself that I wasn’t. I wanted to wait until I was ready, and I knew I would get into a team.
“St Mirren were a good team at the time too. We were getting into cup semi-finals and we were getting into Europe. It was amazing for the fans. We had trips to Italy and Holland during those years, and it was great for everyone.
“It was probably after around four years at St Mirren that I started to think I was ready. The club had got a new manager in as well and, when new managers come in, they want to change things. The first thing our new manager did was get rid of my strike partner at the time. It didn’t feel right for me.”
McAvennie was ready to try his hand in England. West Ham United were waiting – although history might have played out much differently for the striker, and the Irons, had a meeting with Luton Town gone smoother. It was not until after declining a move to the Hatters that McAvennie would learn of interest from the Hammers. By his own admission, McAvennie was inches from putting pen-to-paper on a Luton contract, only for the Club to scupper the deal.