da bet7k： Whenever I hear the name, Frank McAvennie, I instantly remember the legacy he left after appearing on Soccer AM. After failing to get the ball through the hole in the car-park game ‘Wembley’, he blasted the ball in frustration straight into a ball-boys face. The car-park is still known to this day as the ‘Frank McAvennie car-park.’ But after digging a little further, I realised the former West Ham and Celtic striker represents much more than a funny anecdote.
da blaze casino： The story of McAvennie’s career could be used as a warning to any young professional footballer. Swept from a life as a street cleaner, the Scot’s life exploded into a tale of fame and fortune, which he now openly admits contributed to the demise of his career.
He became the poster-boy of the ‘80s. Scoring goals for fun, winning medals, drinking champagne and having glamour models hanging on his arms would have been just an ordinary Saturday night for the striker. But as with most celebrity-footballers, it was all too good to be true.
Ironically, before becoming a professional footballer, McAvennie attempted to join the British Army, before he started his career in Scotland playing for St. Mirren. Good form and plenty of goals attracted the attention of clubs south of the boarder, and in 1985, he signed for West Ham, forming a formidable partnership up front with Tony Cottee. McAvennie scored 26 in his first season, helping the Hammers to their highest ever league position; finishing third, only four points off winning the league. Not bad for someone who can’t hit the target.
West Ham’s failed to build on their promise and McAvennie became stale at Upton Park. In 1987 he signed for his boyhood club, Celtic. The striker earned himself a place in the record books at Parkhead. Chasing a league and cup double, Macavennie scored twice in the final late on to win the game 2-1.
Despite recapturing his goal-scoring form at Celtic, McAvennie yearned for the London lifestyle and resigned for West Ham in ‘89 for £1.2 million, becoming the Hammers’ record signing. Upton Park felt like home to the Scot, but after turning down Arsenal to return to his old stomping ground, he signalled the end of Frank McAvennie as a top quality striker. Arsenal went on to win the league that season and West Ham were relegated.
A broken leg and lack of form saw McAvennie leave Upton Park once again for Celtic, via Aston Villa for a brief and unsuccessful period. The next few years were spent trying to find his feet at different clubs: Celtic, Swindon, (where he suffered another relegation, this time for the Premier League) Falkirk and he finally ended his career at 35, where it had begun, St. Mirren.
So, when trying to remember the ‘good old days’ it is worth taking the time to really think about the career of Frank McAvennie; once, he really was a quality footballer. But the warning is there for anyone who considers taking the highlife.
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