Born in Glasgow on 28th December 1939, Frank McLintock was raised in the infamous ‘Gorbals’ district of the City, which almost certainly contributed to his becoming a hard, determined ant talented wing half, who made his League Debut as an eighteen year old for Leicester City in 1957. Having spent seven years at Filbert Street, Frank was then signed by Arsenal for a Club Record fee of £80,000. He immediately went into the Gunner’s first team and soon reverted to playing at the back as an extremely reliable Centre Half. As a practical ever present in a fine Arsenal side, he was rewarded with the Captaincy by Manager Bertie Mee in 1967. It was as Captain, four years later in 1971, that Frank did something that very few players get to do in the English game, lifting both the (Old) First Division Trophy and the F.A. Cup in Arsenal’s first ever Double Winning side. It was also in 1971 that he was named by the Football Writers Association as ‘Footballer of the Year’. Frank finished his playing career across London at Queens Park Rangers, again as Centre Half and Captain, signing for them in 1973 and finally retiring in their blue and white colours in the close season of 1977.
During his career, Frank made 708 appearances for his three Clubs, scoring 62 Goals. He also represented his native Scotland on nine occasions and in 1972, he was invited to Buckingham Palace to be made a Member of the British Empire (M.B.E).