I love coincidence or at least what appear to be it or serendipity. And here is an example. In 1905 at 16 Hall St., Renton a boy came into the World. He would arguably become the World's greatest footballer of his era, an accolade he would vie for with the Austrian Mattias Sindelar, the Paperman and the Uruguayan, Isabelino Gradin, after Andrew Watson and Artur Friedenreich, the football World's third great Black star. He would begin his professional footballing career not with Renton, which was dissolved in 1922, but nearby Dumbarton, cut his teeth in American soccer, shine briefly, earn his first cap, still just nineteen years of  age, with Aberdeen before top-flight football in England and be given the soubriquet, the Gay Chevalier. His name is Alex Jackson and had by the age of six with his family transferred from Hall to 3, Lennox St. It was a move of little move than a hundred yards but in doing do he would pass the home for the best part of thirty years of an aging bricklayer, but one who in part if indirectly could be said to have made Jackson's career what it became. The older man lived at 3, Hall St. In 1932 he would die at his son's house in Dumbarton, doubtless having watched the young Jackson play there or even as a boy in Renton, but officially still living at the same address. Perhaps for the first fifteen years of Jackson's life they knew each other. Perhaps the older man gave the younger one tips, even coaching. Jackson would certainly have known of him and would have done well to listen closely to every word he uttered. For the man was Archie McCall, a Scottish cap-winner himself, a Scottish Cup winner, the captain of the team that became World Champion, albeit unofficially, and captain, perhaps the real driving force, for a good decade of their village team that until, Jackson was seventeen played at Tontine Park, just up the road.   

By why the preamble and the spotlight on what was and remains still a small, West Dunbartonshire village. In fact the answer is as simple as it is remarkable. It is that if you wish to understand from where working-class football had broken out into the wider World, to England and ultimately world-wide then Renton, led by McColl, is the place. It is story that ultimately had its genesis, as with the rest of the valley of the River Leven, in 1872 but as a process really kicked off in about 1883. In that year Renton F.C. was defeated in the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. Its conqueror was Vale of Leven F.C. The score was a significant 4-1, albeit away. Yet the following season, 1884-5, the two teams would meet each other in the Cup Final and Renton win, 3-1. In the interim something had clearly changed so much so that with a repeat of the score again at the end of the next season, so 1886, this time with Renton on the losing end to Queen's Park in the same final, the change had an air of permanency, which was was only reinforced by another Final win in 1888 and the break-out itself. But that time it had been recognised to a degree in Scotland and was beginning to be noted in England too that this what was still a village team had become something special, the source and repository of a new and better way to play the game, perhaps even in retrospect the instigators of the "Beautiful Game".

The first thing to wonder at with regard to Renton and its teams of the 1880s is how such talent could emerge from so small a place. The population was perhaps 1,500. The players, the best part of a decade of players, were born and lived almost cheek-by-jowl. Main St. was dotted with their homes. The two hundred yards of Thimble St. had three future internationals living there at one time, John Lindsay at one end, Bob Kelso and his brother, James, also a player at the other and James Kelly in between.

The second point of wonder is the players' ages. In 1884 Archie McColl was barely twenty-two. Other players were younger still.

 And whilst Kelly would go on to help found Celtic and be buried in New Stevenston, Kelso would become an Everton stalwart, John Lindsay is even buried in Renton's Millburn Cemetery, as are team-mates James McCall and Duncan McLean, the original understudy to McCall's brother and Renton captain, Archie, at left-back and who carve a significant career elsewhere before returning plus John Murray from the next generation.           

   Millburn Churchyard (4)

John Lindsay

(S) James McCall

(S) Duncan McLean

Duncan McLean was born January 20, 1868 in Renton, Scotland. His father James Henderson McLean (1840-1906), a dye works labourer, and mother Jane Paterson (1841-1494) were both from Renton. In addition to Duncan they had the following children: Jane Wardrop McLean (1866-1947), James Paterson McLean (1869-1902), Isabella McLean (1872-1959), John McPhee McLean (1874-1949), Andrew Wardrop Steele McLean (1878-1864), and Janet Campbell Murray McLean (b. 1881).

In the late 19th century Renton became a center of football excellence. Renton FC was a driving force in the creation of the Scottish Football Association and played in the first competitive game in Scotland. Duncan McLean was a defender for Renton before joining Everton FC in 1890. He was on the championship team with Everton in 1890-91. When Everton decided to leave their home at Anfield, McLean was one of only two players who stayed behind to form Liverpool FC, founded by John Houlding in 1892. McLean was a tough fullback for the first season at Liverpool, scoring six times in 86 games. He left Liverpool in 1895 to join St. Bernard's in Edinburgh, where he ended his career. For more on Duncan McLean and the founding of Liverpool FC, see Team of All the Macs, by Alan Wilson. Skipton: Vertical, 2011. https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/746.

Duncan McLean returned to Renton and married Kate Fox in 1894. They had five children: James McLean (b. 1895), Mary McLean (b. 1897), George Fox McLean (1898-1968), Duncan McLean (b. 1901), and William McLean. Following his football career, Duncan became a labourer at the Turkey Red dye works, where his father worked before him. Following the death of his wife Kate in 1907, he married Jane Kelso of Renton in 1908. She was James's, Bob Kelso's younger brother, widow.  James also played for Renton, made one appearance for Liverpool in 1902-3 before returning to Renton, marrying in 1896 but there committing suicide in 1900, aged 30. Duncan passed away November 17, 1941 at 20 Lennox Street, Renton. He was 73.

Inscription

Erected by James McLean in memory of his wife Jane Paterson McLean who died 30th Oct 1894 aged 54 years. Also three of their family who died in infancy. The above James McLean died 15th Jan 1906 aged 64 years. Their daughter in law Kate Fox, died 24th Dec 1907 aged 39 years. Also their son Duncan died 17th Nov 1941 aged 73 years. Husband of the above Kate Fox.

Gravesite Details

The grave stone is difficult to locate and today is covered in moss. The graveyard is derelict.

(S) John Murray

Two other notable footballers to be buried in Millburn Churchyard are (S) Alexander Brady and James Kelso, see above.

The Other Tours

Alexandria and Bonhill

Dumbarton