John Arroll

Born in Glasgow. Arrol signed, part time, for Dundee from East Stirlingshire on 16^th September 1965, as an understudy to Ally Donaldson, alongside Willie Law and David Duncan. There had been some competition for his signature from Plymouth Argyle and Partick Thistle. Plymouth thought they had got their man, after showing him round the club, but he wasn’t keen on moving to England.

He would continue to work as an instrument maker in Glasgow whilst playing part-time.

He made his first team debut on 23^rd February 1966, in a 0-2 home defeat against Celtic, with a further five league appearances, and one in the Scottish Cup, for the 1965-66 season.

An injury to Ally Donaldson gave Arrol his chance in the second match of the 1966-67 season, against Dundee United, which Dundee won 4-1. He made 28 league appearances, and one each in the Scottish and League Cup. Becoming the established first team keeper. Dundee finished in sixth place at the end of the season.

Ally Donaldson regained his place by September the following season. However, manager Bobby Ancell, chose to replace him for the final of the League Cup against Celtic in October, after he had lost six goals in two matches.

The final on the 28^th October ended in a 5-3 defeat for Dundee. Arrol had to do “all sorts of acrobatics, and he did them well.” The Sunday Post reported that he had a fine game, and received four out of five stars. Dundee had played an attacking game, and had given their all. However, arriving back in Dundee with a meal in the Angus Hotel, the team must have felt heartedly dejected.

Dundee were also in the Fairs Cup in the 1967-68 season.

Their first round opponents were DWS Amsterdam. Dundee lost the first leg 2-1. Arrol had “a glorious penalty save, brilliantly fisting clear Kruiver’s kick.” Donaldson was back in goal for the second leg, which Dundee won 3-0.

RFC Liegeois were the second round opponents, and Arrol was between the goalposts, for both legs. Dundee won 3-1 at home, and 4-0 away with George McLean scoring all four.

Dundee received a “bye” in the next round. Which meant they faced F.C. Zurich in the quarter-finals. Yet another change in goal, with Donaldson being favoured for both legs. 1-0 wins both home and away saw Dundee progress to the semi-finals against Leeds United. Ally retained his place for both legs, the first of which Dundee drew, at home, 1-1, and lost 1-0 away.

The following season, 1968-69, Arrol had become the Dark Blues second choice keeper. He made the move to Dunfermline to kick start his career. Still only 23 years of age, he had gained a lot of experience in his years at Dens Park.

The full list of teams he played for throughout his playing career were Dunnochter Hibs, East Stirlingshire, Dundee, Dunfermline, Partick Thistle., Clyde. St Johnstone & Queens Park.

After his playing days finished he had a spell coaching. In 1988 he was sacked, along with manager Mark Clougherty, from his post as assistant manager at Dumbarton, who were bottom of the second division. The pair were appointed in 1987. By 1990, he was Clydebank’s youth team coach.