Alan Lamb (footballer, born 1952)

Alan Lamb

Personal information
Full name	Alan David Lamb[1]
Date of birth	3 July 1952[1]
Place of birth	Falkirk, Scotland[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1977	Preston North End	80	(2)
1977–1978	Port Vale	54	(3)
1978–1979	Dundee	24	(2)
1979–1980	St Johnstone	14	(1)
Total		172	(8)
National team
1974	Scotland U23	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Alan David Lamb (born 3 July 1952) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a midfielder. He won one cap for Scotland under-23s in 1974.

He began his career at Preston North End in 1972, and played under Sir Bobby Charlton. He moved to Port Vale for a £5,000 fee in March 1977, before joining Dundee on a free transfer in May 1978. He helped the club to the First Division title in 1978–79, before finishing his career with St Johnstone.

Playing career

Lamb began his career at Preston North End in 1972, who avoided relegation out of the Second Division by a single point in 1972–73 under Alan Ball's stewardship. Bobby Charlton was appointed manager in 1973. The "Lilywhites" failed to avoid the drop in 1973–74 however. They finished ninth in the Third Division in 1974–75, after which Harry Catterick took charge at Deepdale. Unsuccessful promotion campaigns followed in 1975–76 and 1976–77.

He was purchased by Port Vale manager Roy Sproson for a £5,000 fee in March 1977, as a replacement for the recently sold Colin Tartt.^[1] He was a regular in the side, featuring in 15 games towards the end of the 1976–77 season.^[1] He made 47 appearances in 1977–78, scoring three goals, as the "Valiants" suffered relegation into the Fourth Division under Bobby Smith.^[1] Lamb left Vale Park on a free transfer to Dundee in May 1978.^[1]

He made 24 appearances, as Tommy Gemmell took the Dens Park club to the Premier Division as champions of the First Division in 1978–79. Lamb then moved on to Alex Stuart's St Johnstone, and played 14 games in 1979–80, before leaving Muirton Park in the summer.^[2]

Statistics

• Sourced from Alan Lamb profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Preston North End	1971–72	Second Division	9	1	0	0	0	0	9	1
	1972–73	Second Division	14	0	0	0	1	0	15	0
	1973–74	Second Division	20	0	0	0	1	0	21	0
	1974–75	Third Division	25	1	4	0	3	0	32	1
	1975–76	Third Division	8	0	0	0	3	0	11	0
	1976–77	Third Division	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		80	2	4	0	8	0	92	2
Port Vale	1976–77	Third Division	14	0	0	0	1	0	15	0
	1977–78	Third Division	40	3	4	0	3	0	47	3
	Total		54	3	4	0	4	0	62	3

Honours

with Dundee

• Scottish Football League First Division champion: 1978–79

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 166. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. "ALAN LAMB". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.