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Bernie Slaven
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Bernard Joseph Slaven (born 13 November 1960) is a former professional football striker. He scored 223 goals in 567 league and cup appearances throughout an 18-year career and also earned seven caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Key Information

He started his career in his native Scotland with Greenock Morton in 1980 before moving on to Airdrieonians, Queen of the South, and then Albion Rovers in 1983. He scored 31 goals in 43 appearances to become the highest scorer in the Scottish Football League in the 1984–85 campaign before he was sold on to Middlesbrough for a fee of £25,000 early in the following season. He was promoted three times with the club: out of the Third Division in 1986–87, out of the Second Division via the play-offs in 1988, and again out of the Second Division in 1991–92. He also played for Middlesbrough in the 1990 final of the Full Members Cup and became the first Irish player to score a goal in the Premier League in the inaugural 1992–93 season. He was twice named the club's Player of the Year and scored 146 goals in 381 appearances during his eight years at Ayresome Park.

He took a free transfer to Port Vale in March 1993 and helped the club to lift the Football League Trophy two months later. He returned to the North-East in February 1994 after joining Darlington on a free transfer. He helped the club to avoid finishing bottom of the English Football League at the end of the season before he announced his retirement in May 1995. He later played non-League football for Billingham Synthonia. He went into radio after retiring as a player, presenting shows and providing commentary on Middlesbrough matches with Ali Brownlee for Century Network and Real Radio. He also presented television programmes on Boro TV and published two autobiographies.

Despite being born in Scotland, his Irish grandfather enabled him to win seven caps for the Republic of Ireland, which he did between 1990 and 1993. This short international career resulted in the honour of being named in Ireland's 1990 FIFA World Cup squad – though he did not feature in the tournament.

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Bernie Slaven was born on 13 November 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire but grew up in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow.[3] An only child, his father, Hugh, was a delivery driver for the Co-op and his mother, Alice, was a tailor.[3] He joined Partick Thistle Amateurs at 14 and played at left-half.[4] He went on to play for Eastercraigs and again played left-half as their centre-forward was future Everton player Graeme Sharp.[4] At the age of 18, Slaven rejected an approach from Scottish Second Division club East Stirlingshire and instead joined junior league side Johnstone Burgh. However, he soon became disillusioned with the long train journeys to Johnstone and stopped attending the club.[5] After his contract with Johnstone Burgh ended he joined local club Rutherglen Glencairn.[5] During his time as an amateur footballer he worked for the Co-op, before spending some time unemployed.[5]

He was transferred to Greenock Morton in December 1980 for a fee of £750 but remained with Rutherglen Glencairn for the rest of the season.[5] He made his debut for Morton as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 win over Airdrieonians in October 1981.[6] He made his first start against Celtic at Cappielow and had a goal disallowed during the game, which ended in a 1–1 draw.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Airdrieonians, which was the only goal of his 13 Scottish Premier Division appearances in the 1981–82 season.[6] He soon fell out with manager Benny Rooney after demanding more game time.[7] Slaven made nine non-scoring appearances during the 1982–83 campaign, and was released in the summer.[8]

Slaven joined Scottish First Division club Airdrieonians on a one-month contract after manager Bill Munro needed short-term replacements during an injury crisis.[8] He then spent three months without a club before signing with Dumfries side Queen of the South. He played two Second Division matches for the club before again becoming a free agent.[9] He made little impression at Palmerston Park, and in a later interview teammate George Cloy said of Slaven, "He was just a man who liked playing football. He was a nice enough guy but he wasn't one of the more rowdy ones."[10]

Albion Rovers

[edit]

Slaven joined Albion Rovers in April 1983 after being signed by Benny Rooney – his former manager at Morton; however, it would be Rooney's successor, Andy Ritchie, who converted Slaven from a left-half into a centre-forward.[11] In this new position he scored 31 goals in the 1984–85 season with many set up by Vic Kasule. Slaven won the 1984–85 Daily Record Golden Shot award in the process.[12] Ritchie would not enjoy the benefits of his decision though, as he was replaced by Joe Baker early in the season. Baker went to also appoint Slaven as club captain.[13] Slaven went on to be named as both the club's and the division's Player of the Year.[12] During this time as a semi-professional, he was working as a gardener. Still, Rovers chairman Tom Fagan demanded £40,000 to sell Slaven, a high price for a non-professional third-tier player.[14] Slaven refused to play for Rovers, and was subsequently contacted by a reporter from The Sunday Post, who wrote to 54 English and Scottish clubs on his behalf.[15] Middlesbrough responded to the letter with the offer of a two-week trial.[16]

"Dear Sir,
Last season I was top-scorer in Scottish senior football with 31 goals for Albion Rovers in the Second Division. At present, I am on 'Freedom of contract'. I have no intention of returning to Rovers. I am keen to sample full-time football at the highest level, and wonder if you might consider signing me. I would be willing to come to your club on a trial basis, as I am desperate to get back into the game. I honestly feel I have the ability to play for your club. Although I have not played since I took up 'Freedom of contract' at the end of last season, I have kept fit during the summer training on my own every day. I am 24 years old, and hope that you will at least think over this approach.
Yours sincerely,
BERNIE SLAVEN

— The letter Slaven posted to 54 different clubs on 21 September 1985.[15]

Middlesbrough

[edit]

In a trial game against Bradford City, Slaven scored and impressed enough to win a move to the club, who secured his services after paying Albion Rovers a £25,000 fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on 12 October, and seven days later scored on his competitive home debut for the club to secure a 1–1 draw with Bradford City.[17] Middlesbrough went on a run of five wins in eight games during November and December, but manager Willie Maddren was sacked after picking up just one point in January.[18] Slaven scored two headed goals to secure a 3–1 victory over Grimsby Town on 4 March in new manager Bruce Rioch's first match in charge.[19] However, the final game of the 1985–86 season against Shrewsbury Town guaranteed safety for the winners and relegation for the losers, and a 2–1 defeat for "Boro" saw the club relegated out of the Second Division.[20]

Middlesbrough entered liquidation during the 1986–87 season, and the Official receiver sacked Rioch and his staff and banned the club from Ayresome Park.[21] After a new consortium rescued the club Rioch was reinstated as manager, and though he used the opportunity to overhaul the club's playing staff, Rioch made Slaven a key part of his new squad.[22] Despite this, Rioch was not afraid to publicly criticise Slaven, and following the club's first defeat of the season by Blackpool on 11 October stated that "...he's overdue a good performance, I wasn't pleased with his form and it's time to show us what he gets paid for".[23] He responded well to the criticism, and scored all three goals when Blackpool returned to Ayresome Park in the FA Cup the following month.[23] He played in all the club's 58 league and cup games that season, scoring 22 goals, to help Middlesbrough to secure promotion as runners-up to AFC Bournemouth.

He helped secure a second-successive promotion in 1987–88, which saw Middlesbrough rise from the Third Division to the First Division within two years of avoiding liquidation.[24] He scored 24 goals in 58 appearances, including hat-tricks in a 4–1 win at Huddersfield Town and a 4–0 home win over Shrewsbury Town.[25] However, Middlesbrough lost to Leicester City on the last day of the season and so finished third behind Aston Villa on goals scored, and needed to secure promotion through the play-offs.[26] He scored against Bradford City in the play-off semi-final to help secure a 3–2 aggregate victory and a place against Chelsea in the play-off final.[27] He provided an assist for Trevor Senior in the first leg at Ayresome Park and then scored Boro's second goal to secure a 2–0 win; Chelsea won the return fixture 1–0 at Stamford Bridge, but Middlesbrough won 2–1 on aggregate to replace Chelsea in the top-flight.[27]

Slaven scored a first-half hat-trick in a 4–3 win over Coventry City on 1 October, shortly after he and several teammates agreed new four-year contracts with Middlesbrough.[28] At the end of the month he was moved to the left-wing to accommodate new club record signing Peter Davenport. Still, he soon was returned to centre-forward after Davenport struggled to score the goals to justify his £700,000 transfer fee.[29] In November, Slaven was dropped from the starting eleven for the trip to face Nottingham Forest, which brought to an end his run of 136 consecutive league appearances.[30] The team struggled in the second half of the 1988–89 season, and when Slaven scored both goals in a 2–1 win over West Ham United at Upton Park on 11 April he ended the club's run of 11 league games without a victory.[31] Middlesbrough dropped into the relegation zone for the first time on the last day of the season; their 1–0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday confirmed Middlesbrough's relegation alongside West Ham United and Newcastle United.[31] Having scored 15 league goals despite playing many games on the left-wing of a relegated team, Slaven was named as the North-East Player of the Year by local journalists.[32]

Middlesbrough struggled with injuries throughout the 1989–90 campaign and ended up finishing just one place above the relegation zone, leading to Rioch's dismissal.[33] They did however, manage to beat Port Vale, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa to reach Wembley to face Chelsea in the 1990 Full Members Cup final; this was the club's first appearance at Wembley.[34] The final itself was to be a disappointment however, with a free kick from Chelsea's Tony Dorigo proving to be the only goal of the afternoon.[33] Despite Middlesbrough finishing in 21st-place, Slaven scored 32 goals in all competitions, which led to speculation of a move away from Ayresome Park.[35] He handed in a written transfer request, which was turned down by manager Colin Todd, and Slaven agreed to a new contract and withdrew his transfer request.[36]

He went six games without a goal early in the 1990–91 season but broke this run with a hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Goldstone Ground on 27 October.[37] However, he was substituted at half-time during a home defeat to Charlton Athletic on 10 November, and reacted badly, leaving the ground and not witnessing the second half.[38] He returned to the starting eleven the following week and went on to claim a goal in his next five appearances.[39] However, he again fell out with Todd after being played at left-wing in January. He was dropped from the first team altogether after telling the media that "if the manager is not going to play me in the middle, then he should drop me".[40] He returned to the centre-forward role and claimed two goals in a 3–0 home win over rivals Newcastle United on 12 March, though went on to finish the season on a run of 15 games without a goal.[41] Middlesbrough finished in the play-off places but lost out to Notts County in the semi-finals.[41] Todd intended an overhaul of the playing squad and placed Slaven on the transfer list along with ten of his teammates.[41]

Todd was sacked in June 1991, and his successor Lennie Lawrence decided to keep Slaven and to play him in a partnership with new signing Paul Wilkinson.[42] However, Slaven picked up a calf strain in pre-season and lost his first-team place to Stuart Ripley.[43] He regained his first-team place early in September after scoring three goals as a substitute against Portsmouth and Oxford United.[44] On 28 September, he scored the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over rivals Sunderland.[45] However, Lawrence felt that Slaven was too individualistic, and in November he spent £700,000 on Hull City striker Andy Payton, who he hoped would prove to be an effective striker partner for Paul Wilkinson.[46] Payton scored on his debut against Bristol City on 23 November, but Slaven claimed the other two goals in a 3–1 victory, and Payton left the field on a stretcher after picking up an injury.[46] Slaven injured his knee in January. After undergoing surgery, he was ruled out of action for five weeks.[47] He scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Brighton on 21 March but fell out with Lawrence and was dropped for the end of season promotion run-in.[48] He returned for the crucial final game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers however, and set up a late Jon Gittens equaliser before a late winner from Wilkinson secured a 2–1 victory and the second automatic promotion place for Middlesbrough.[49] That season Middlesbrough had also reached the semi-final of the League Cup; in the second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford Slaven equalised to send the game to extra time, before Ryan Giggs scored the winning goal.[50]

On 19 August 1992, he became Ireland's first goalscorer in the Premier League when he scored both Middlesbrough goals in a 2–0 win over Manchester City.[51] With Payton and Ripley both moved on, Slaven started seven of the club's first ten Premier League games of the 1992–93 season, and scored in consecutive games against Aston Villa and Manchester United.[52] His goal against Manchester United on 3 October proved to be his last for Middlesbrough as Lawrence began playing Wilkinson on his own up front from October, leaving Slaven on the bench for most of the rest of the campaign.[52] Slaven again requested a transfer, and Lawrence said he would listen to any offers the club received.[52] Lawrence sent Slaven to train with the youth team after the pair fell out during a training ground session, and Slaven was made available on a free transfer after he told the press how strained the pair's relationship had become.[53]

Port Vale

[edit]

In March 1993, Slaven signed for John Rudge's Second Division Port Vale on a free transfer.[54][55] He was sent off on his debut in a 1–0 win over Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 20 March – the first red card of his career – after kicking Adrian Whitbread in retaliation for a bad challenge.[56] He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" with a 25 yards (23 m) volley in a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at Springfield Park on 17 April.[57] Four days later he scored the only goal of the game in the Football League Trophy southern area final second leg match with Exeter City at St James Park to secure Vale a place in the final.[58] He also scored on the final day of the season to help turn round a half-time 2–1 deficit to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road into a 4–2 win; however, they ended the season in third-place, one point behind promoted Bolton Wanderers, and so entered the play-offs.[58] He went on to provide the cross for Martin Foyle to score the winning goal past Stockport County in the play-off semi-finals.[58] Stockport County were also Vale's opponents in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley on 22 May, and Slaven managed to set up Paul Kerr for Vale's first goal before scoring the second decisive goal of a 2–1 victory.[59] Ironically it was Sky TV's match summariser, Lennie Lawrence, who was tasked with naming Slaven as the man of the match just two months after letting him go on a free transfer.[60] Eight days later he featured again at Wembley in the play-off final, which ended in a 3–0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.[60]

He started the 1993–94 season with a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Barnet in the first home game of the campaign on 21 August.[61] However, he picked up a calf strain and lost his first-team place to Nicky Cross, who performed well in Slaven's absence.[62] He was also punched in the face by Peter Swan in a training ground incident, though the pair would eventually make up and become friends.[62] Slaven wanted to return to the North-East to be with his wife Karen and new-born son Dominic; however, manager John Rudge was reluctant to lose Slaven despite being unable to promise him a contract for the following season.[63] He scored his last goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Premier League Southampton in an FA Cup third round replay at Vale Park on 18 January.[64]

Later career

[edit]

Slaven joined Darlington in February 1994, who were struggling at the bottom of the Third Division.[65] He made the move to be closer to his young family.[66] Despite playing at a lower standard, he found shooting chances hard to come by, and ended the 1994–95 campaign with two goals in 11 appearances.[65] Darlington avoided dropping into non-League after Slaven scored the winning goal against Chesterfield that moved Darlington above Northampton Town and off the bottom of the table.[67] The "Quakers" again fared poorly in 1994–95 under Alan Murray. Though Slaven managed to hit seven goals in 31 games he was given a free transfer in May 1995.[68] He decided to retire from professional football after a consultant advised him that a troubling back injury would only get worse with further stress.[69] He played for Northern League side Billingham Synthonia during the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons, scoring 22 goals in 21 appearances.[70]

International career

[edit]

Slaven qualified for Republic of Ireland through his Irish grandfather.[71] He took the decision to represent Ireland after being consistently overlooked for the Scotland team by manager Andy Roxburgh, and stated that: "if I'd been scoring for Celtic or Rangers I'd have walked into the side, there are people getting in the team that can hardly play the game".[72] After calling Slaven up in 1990, Ireland manager Jack Charlton said that "Bernie is the type of player who could benefit from Cascarino's knock downs... we have been looking for a player like Bernie for quite a while now".[73] He made his international debut in a friendly on 28 March 1990, and scored the only goal of the game against Wales from a rebound after Kevin Sheedy had a penalty saved by Neville Southall.[74] He won a second cap as a substitute against Finland on 16 May, before he was named in the Ireland squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.[75] Slaven did not feature in the tournament however, and suffered from homesickness. Tony Cascarino claimed in his autobiography that Slaven would telephone his dog every night when away from home with the squad: "... Bernie would be howling like Lassie into the phone 'Woof, woof, aru, aru, woof!' He'd be kissing the receiver and lavishing affection – 'Hello, lovey dovey' – on a dog!"[76] A church-going Catholic, Slaven stated that the highlight of the tournament was the day when the squad met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.[77] He won the last of his seven caps on 17 February 1993, in a 2–1 win over Wales in a friendly at Tolka Park.[78]

Style of play

[edit]

Slaven was a forward who scored many goals due to his excellent first touch, anticipation and finishing skills.[79] He was criticised for his defending and heading skills, as well as his habit of frequently standing in an offside position.[80] His customary goal celebration was to jump up on the fence at the Holgate End at Boro's old ground, Ayresome Park. When the ground was knocked down in 1996, Slaven acquired a section of the fence from the Holgate End and displayed it in his back garden for some years.[81]

Media career

[edit]

Slaven was granted a testimonial match by Middlesbrough against Hereford United at the Riverside Stadium in 1996, but was embarrassed by a low turnout of 3,537.[82] He went into radio after retiring as a player, and co-hosted Century FM's coverage of Middlesbrough matches with Ali Brownlee from 1996 to 2007.[83] Brownlee tended to be positive and optimistic about Middlesbrough, whereas Slaven would be more critical and realistic.[84] The pair also presented shows for NTL's "Boro TV" channel from 1997 until Slaven was sacked in December 2002 after he missed a filming session in protest at the company's habit of failing to pay wages on time.[85] In 1999, Slaven bared his buttocks in Binns department store window in Middlesbrough after telling Brownlee on Century FM that if Middlesbrough beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, he would perform the dare.[86] Middlesbrough ran out 3–2 winners, so Slaven had to go ahead with the dare, with the score painted on his cheeks.[86] He went on to recreate the moment on television for They Think It's All Over's "Feel The Sportsman" round.[87] He announced his intention to stand for the newly created post of Mayor of Middlesbrough in October 2002, but withdrew from the race before the election as his candidacy was a publicity stunt for Century FM rather than a serious attempt to enter politics.[83] He went on to present Legends Football Phone-In for Real Radio North East and later Koast Radio from 200 to 2014, alongside him were Malcolm Macdonald and Eric Gates who was replaced later by Micky Horswill.[88][89] He released two autobiographies: Strikingly Different in 1996, and Legend? in 2007.[90]

In 2015, Slaven became a Patron of Sporting Memories, a charity that supports former players and older fans living with dementia, depression or loneliness.[91]

Career statistics

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Club statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[92][93]
Club Season League FA Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Greenock Morton 1981–82 Scottish Premier Division 13 1 0 0 1 0 14 1
1982–83 Scottish Premier Division 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Total 21 1 0 0 2 0 23 1
Airdrieonians 1983–84 Scottish First Division 2 0 0 0 4 0 6 0
Queen of the South 1983–84 Scottish Second Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Albion Rovers 1983–84 Scottish Second Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1984–85 Scottish Second Division 39 27 0 0 4 4 43 31
Total 42 27 0 0 4 4 46 31
Middlesbrough 1985–86 Second Division 32 8 1 0 1 1 34 9
1986–87 Third Division 46 17 3 3 9 2 58 22
1987–88 Second Division 44 21 5 0 9 3 58 24
1988–89 First Division 37 15 1 1 6 2 44 18
1989–90 Second Division 46 21 3 0 10 11 59 32
1990–91 Second Division 46 16 3 0 9 4 58 20
1991–92 Second Division 38 16 2 0 9 2 49 18
1992–93 Premier League 18 4 1 0 2 0 21 4
Total 307 118 19 3 55 25 381 146
Port Vale 1992–93 Second Division 10 2 0 0 5 2 15 4
1993–94 Second Division 23 7 4 1 4 1 31 9
Total 33 9 4 1 9 3 46 13
Darlington 1993–94 Third Division 11 2 0 0 0 0 11 2
1994–95 Third Division 26 5 2 1 3 1 31 7
Total 37 7 2 1 3 1 42 9
Billingham Synthonia total[70] 21 22 0 0 0 0 21 22
Career total[94] 465 184 25 6 77 33 567 223

International statistics

[edit]
Republic of Ireland national team[93]
Year Apps Goals
1990 4 1
1991 2 0
1993 1 0
Total 7 1

Honours

[edit]

Middlesbrough

Port Vale

Individual

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bernie Slaven

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Bernard Joseph Slaven (born 13 November 1960) is a Scottish-born former professional footballer who played as a centre-forward and earned seven caps for the national team. Best known for his prolific goalscoring at , where he netted 147 goals in 382 appearances from 1985 to 1993, Slaven became a club legend, ranking sixth in the all-time scoring charts and the only non-English player in the top ten. His career highlights include leading the in goals with 31 for Albion Rovers in the 1984–85 season and featuring in the 's squad for the in . Born in Paisley, Scotland, Slaven was introduced to football by his father and developed a passion for the sport supporting Celtic FC as a child. He began his professional career in Scotland with clubs including Greenock Morton, Airdrieonians, Queen of the South, and Albion Rovers, where his standout performance as the league's top scorer earned him a £25,000 move to Middlesbrough in October 1985 following a trial. At Middlesbrough, Slaven played a pivotal role in two consecutive promotions from the Third Division to the First Division between 1986 and 1988, scoring over 20 goals in all competitions in multiple seasons, including a brace in a memorable 4–1 victory over rivals Newcastle United in 1987. After leaving Middlesbrough in 1993, he had brief spells at Port Vale and Darlington before retiring in 1999 with non-league Billingham Synthonia. Internationally, Slaven qualified for through his grandparents and debuted in a 1990 friendly against , scoring the only goal of the match to secure a 1–0 win. Under manager , he earned six more caps and was selected for the 1990 World Cup squad, though he did not feature in any matches as reached the quarter-finals. Following retirement, Slaven transitioned into media and has been a prominent voice in coverage, commentating over 500 matches alongside Alastair Brownlee on BBC Radio Tees and hosting the long-running "The Three Legends" show on Century Radio for more than 3,000 episodes. He also fronted Middlesbrough's in-house channel, wrote two autobiographies—"Strikingly Different" and "Legend?"—which raised funds for charity, and contributed a weekly column to the from 2000 to 2021. Slaven remains active in the community, hosting events at the and celebrating 40 years on in 2025.

Early life and youth career

Childhood and family background

Bernard Joseph Slaven was born on 13 November 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He grew up in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow, a large council estate located about ten minutes' drive from the city center, which reflected his working-class roots in post-war Scotland. As an , Slaven was raised by his parents in this modest environment, where ties and local influences shaped his early years. His father, Hugh Slaven, played a pivotal role in his introduction to football, taking him to Parkhead to watch Glasgow Celtic matches starting from the age of seven. Hugh, who later passed away, instilled a passion for the sport in his son during these formative outings. Slaven's boyhood heroes were all associated with Celtic, including midfielder and winger , as well as forward , whose skillful play captivated him as a young fan. These idols from the club's successful era in the 1960s and 1970s fueled his early interest in football, emerging naturally from his family's support and the vibrant local football culture.

Amateur football career

Slaven's interest in football was sparked early by his father, Hugh, who introduced him to the sport during his childhood in Glasgow's Castlemilk area and took him to Celtic Park matches from the age of seven, where he idolized players like Jimmy Johnstone and Kenny Dalglish. He began his playing days in Scotland's amateur and junior leagues, developing his abilities at the local level before turning professional. Slaven featured for several youth and amateur sides, including Partick Thistle Amateurs, Eastercraigs—where he lined up alongside future Everton forward Graeme Sharp—and Johnstone Burgh. These experiences in competitive but unpaid environments allowed him to build foundational skills in competitive matches. Slaven later joined Glencairn in the junior ranks ahead of his professional breakthrough, continuing his progression as a forward in Scotland's non-league scene. No senior-level s or appearances are recorded from his period, reflecting the nature of these clubs and leagues.

Club career

Early professional clubs

Slaven began his professional career with Morton in 1981, following his time in football, where he made limited first-team appearances and scored one over two seasons. In 1983, he had brief spells on loan at Airdrieonians, appearing twice without scoring, and at Queen of the South, where he also featured in two matches as a trialist but netted no goals. Slaven joined Albion Rovers in late 1983, initially struggling with just three goalless appearances that season, but he exploded in 1984–85, scoring 31 goals in the league (in 40 league matches) to finish as the Scottish Football League's top scorer overall, with 31 goals across approximately 43 appearances in all competitions. His prolific form at the Third Division club led to a transfer to English side in October 1985 for a fee of £25,000.

Middlesbrough

Slaven joined in October 1985 from Albion Rovers for a fee of £25,000, having demonstrated prolific scoring form with 31 goals in the 1984–85 Scottish Second Division season. Over his eight-year spell at the club until , he made 307 league appearances and scored 118 goals, contributing to a total of 381 appearances and 147 goals across all competitions. Slaven played a key role in three promotions during his time at : ascending from the Third Division as champions in 1986–87, from the Second Division via the play-offs in 1987–88, and from the Second Division as runners-up in 1991–92 to reach the inaugural . In the promotion-winning 1991–92 Second Division campaign, he netted 15 league goals in 37 appearances. The following 1992–93 debut season proved injury-hit for Slaven, restricting him to 18 league matches and 4 goals overall, though he achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first international to score in the competition with a brace in Middlesbrough's 2–0 victory over Manchester City on 19 1992. A productive partnership with striker Ian Baird, especially in the late 1980s, saw Slaven's clinical finishing complement Baird's robust hold-up play, forming one of the club's most effective forward lines. Slaven's consistent goal threat and contributions to the club's upward trajectory earned him enduring status as a fan favorite, including two Middlesbrough Player of the Year awards in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

Port Vale

Slaven transferred to Port Vale on a free transfer from in 1993, bringing his experience as a proven goalscorer to the Second Division club. During his time at spanning the end of the 1992–93 season and the 1993–94 season, he made 33 league appearances and scored 9 goals in the 1993–94 season, contributing significantly as a veteran forward in manager John Rudge's squad. Overall, across all competitions, Slaven featured in 46 matches and netted 13 goals during his time with the team. A highlight of Slaven's Port Vale tenure was his role in the club's victory in the 1993 Football League Trophy, known as the Autoglass Trophy that year. In the final against County at on 25 April 1993, Port Vale secured a 2–1 win with goals from Paul Kerr and Slaven himself, marking the club's first triumph at the national stadium and providing a memorable moment in Slaven's career. Slaven's experience from Middlesbrough's campaign the previous season helped him adapt quickly, adding composure and finishing prowess to the attack. As an established striker, Slaven played a key part in Port Vale's strong promotion challenge during the 1993–94 Second Division season, where the team finished as runners-up and earned promotion to the First Division. His goals and leadership bolstered the forward line alongside players like Martin Foyle, helping secure the club's return to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1989.

Later career and retirement

After leaving Port Vale in January 1994, Slaven joined on a free transfer in February 1994, where he continued to contribute as a forward in the Third Division during the 1994–1995 season. He made 37 league appearances and scored 7 goals for the club, helping to stabilize their position in the lower tiers of English football. In September 1995, at the age of 34, Slaven announced his retirement from professional football due to a persistent back that medical consultants advised would worsen with continued play. This marked the end of an 18-year professional career that had seen him progress from Scottish lower divisions to the English top flight. Slaven made a brief return to competitive football in non-league with Synthonia from 1997 to 1999, scoring an impressive 22 goals in 21 appearances and fully retiring thereafter. His prolific goal-scoring record across clubs like influenced opportunities in his post-playing endeavors.

International career

Republic of Ireland

Slaven, born in Paisley, , was eligible to represent the through his Irish grandparents. His strong goal-scoring form at led to his first call-up to the national team in 1990 by manager . Slaven made his debut on 28 March 1990 in a friendly against at , , where he scored the only goal of the 1–0 victory. Between 1990 and 1993, he earned a total of seven caps for , starting in five matches and appearing as a substitute in two, scoring one goal overall. His appearances included friendlies against , , , and (three times), as well as a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier versus . Slaven's final cap came on 17 February 1993 in a 2–1 friendly win over at , .

1990 FIFA World Cup

Bernie Slaven earned a surprise call-up to the Republic of Ireland's 22-man squad for the in , despite having earned just three caps in friendlies prior to the tournament. His debut had come in a friendly against on , 1990, where he scored Ireland's only goal in a 1-0 victory, a performance that likely factored into manager Jack Charlton's decision to include him as a forward option. Slaven traveled with the team to but remained an unused substitute throughout the campaign, seeing no playing time in any of 's matches. In the group stage, drew 1-1 with on June 11, 0-0 with on June 17, and 1-1 with the on June 21, advancing as runners-up in Group F. The team's run ended in the round of 16 against on June 25, where a 0-0 draw led to a 5-4 defeat after extra time, marking Ireland's first-ever appearance at the as a notable achievement. Slaven's selection for the , even without minutes on the pitch, stood as a significant highlight of his brief international career.

Playing style and legacy

Style of play

Slaven operated predominantly as a centre-forward, a role in which he excelled through sharp tactical awareness and opportunistic play. His preferred setup involved striking partnerships that complemented his attributes, most notably with during their time at , where Slaven described Baird as his favourite partner for their synergistic front-line dynamic. Slaven's strengths lay in his intelligent positioning and poaching instincts, allowing him to anticipate plays in the , make effective runs off the ball, and demonstrate clinical finishing to convert chances efficiently. These qualities were underscored by his prolific output, including 147 goals across 382 appearances for .

Legacy at Middlesbrough

Bernie Slaven is widely regarded as an icon at Middlesbrough Football Club, where he scored 147 goals in 382 appearances during his eight-year tenure from 1985 to 1993. His contributions were pivotal in the club's revival following its near-liquidation in 1986, as he played a key role in securing back-to-back promotions from the Third Division in 1987 and the Second Division in 1988, helping to restore stability and ambition to the team. Slaven's scoring prowess extended to the 1992–93 season, where his goals, including a notable brace in Middlesbrough's 2–0 victory over Manchester City, symbolized the club's entry into the inaugural . Slaven's enduring status as a "Boro legend" is reflected in the club's official recognitions, including his inclusion in the Legacy Numbers initiative, which honors significant players by assigning them permanent numerical markers in club history—Slaven received number 570 and was presented with it pitchside alongside fellow legends. This accolade underscores his lasting impact on Middlesbrough's identity and fanbase, with supporters frequently citing his loyalty and goal-scoring record as emblematic of the club's resilient spirit during a transformative era. In October 2025, Slaven's legacy was celebrated through a special "This Is Your Life" event at Town Hall, marking 40 years since his arrival on in 1985. The evening featured tributes from club chairman Steve Gibson and other Middlesbrough greats, including , , and , highlighting Slaven's role in the club's promotions, appearances, and cultural significance to the community.

Post-retirement career

Media career

Following his retirement from professional football in 1995, Bernie Slaven transitioned into broadcasting, beginning with radio commentary for matches on Century FM alongside Alastair Brownlee in 1996. The partnership lasted until 2007, encompassing over 500 match commentaries, during which they won a Gold Award in the sports category at the 2006 New York Festivals Radio Awards for their coverage of the Cup Final. Slaven's insightful and occasionally critical style complemented Brownlee's enthusiasm, making their broadcasts a staple for local fans. Slaven also co-hosted the popular phone-in show The Three Legends on regional radio from the early 2000s until 2014, alongside and , producing over 3,000 episodes that drew record listening figures across the North East. The program featured lively debates on football topics, often focusing on regional clubs like , Newcastle United, and . On television, Slaven fronted hourly shows on Boro TV, Middlesbrough's dedicated cable channel, from its launch in 1998 until its closure in 2005, including the interview series Bernie's About where he spoke with club legends. He hosted content such as match previews and behind-the-scenes features, contributing to the channel's early success before its closure. In print media, Slaven wrote a regular column for the Evening Gazette from 2000 to 2021, offering analysis on matches, player performances, and club news, which became a valued voice for supporters. As of 2025, Slaven maintains his involvement in matchdays by hosting one of the lounges at the , engaging fans with pre- and post-game discussions.

Writing and other ventures

Slaven authored two books detailing his football and personal experiences. His first, Strikingly Different, published in 1996 as a softback , chronicles his professional journey in the sport. In 2007, he released Legend? The Autobiography, a hardback co-written with Dave Allan, with all profits directed to the Ann Charlton Lodge in , ultimately raising £32,000 for the charity through approximately 3,000 sales. Beyond books, Slaven has produced 23 career-related items, including DVDs, a calendar, and other memorabilia such as signed prints and bundles. These products, often tied to his time at and , are sold to engage fans and preserve his legacy in football history. He maintains a personal website, bernieslaven.co.uk, which facilitates fan interaction, direct sales of these items, and promotion of his authored works. Post-retirement, Slaven has not taken on major or managerial roles, instead channeling his efforts into writing and entrepreneurial ventures.

Personal life

Family and residence

Bernie Slaven has been married to his wife Karen since the early , with the couple residing together in the area. The couple has two sons, and Ryan. was a young child during Slaven's benefit match in the 1996–97 season, when Slaven carried him onto the pitch at . Their younger son Ryan was diagnosed with at age 14 in 2011 and receives ongoing care from specialists at in . Slaven has made his long-term home in Middlesbrough, Teesside, England, since moving there from Scotland to join Middlesbrough F.C. in 1985. He purchased his first house in the area shortly after arriving and has remained settled in the North East of England without any major relocations following his retirement from professional football in 1995.

Charitable activities

Slaven has been a patron of the Sporting Memories Foundation since 2015, supporting its efforts to use sport-based activities to raise awareness and provide support for individuals affected by , depression, and loneliness. Through sales of his 2007 Legend?, Slaven raised £32,000 for the Ann Charlton Lodge, a Redcar-based providing care for patients, with all profits from the book's 3,000 copies directed to the cause. As of 2025, Slaven actively participates in Middlesbrough fan events to support fundraising for local charities, including hosting evenings featuring fellow club legends such as to engage supporters and generate proceeds for community initiatives.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Bernie Slaven's spanned multiple teams across Scottish and English football, culminating in a total of 466 league appearances and 188 goals, alongside 567 total appearances (including cup competitions) and 223 goals. The following table provides a breakdown of his appearances and goals by club, focusing on league statistics where available:
ClubLeague AppearancesLeague Goals
Greenock Morton211
Airdrieonians20
Queen of the South20
Albion Rovers4331
307118
Port Vale339
377
Billingham Synthonia2122
Total466188
These figures reflect Slaven's contributions across professional and semi-professional levels, with his most prolific period at .

International statistics

Bernie Slaven earned seven caps for the national team at senior level between 1990 and 1993, during which he scored one goal. His international career began amid a strong scoring run for , which prompted his selection by manager . Slaven made his debut on 28 March 1990 in a friendly against at , , scoring the winner in a 1–0 victory to secure Ireland's first historical win over the Welsh. The majority of his appearances were in friendlies ahead of major tournaments, with one outing in a qualifier. The table below details all of Slaven's senior international appearances:
DateOpponentResultCompetitionGoals
28 Mar 19901–0Friendly1
16 May 19901–1Friendly0
27 May 19900–0Friendly0
2 Jun 19903–0Friendly0
6 Feb 19913–0Friendly0
1 May 19910–0UEFA Euro 1992 Qualifier0
17 Feb 19932–1Friendly0
Totals: 7 appearances, 1 goal (6 friendlies, 1 qualifier).

Honours

Club honours

During his time at , Slaven contributed to three promotions, including back-to-back successes in the late that elevated the club from the third tier to the top flight. In the 1986–87 season, finished as runners-up in the to secure promotion to the Second Division. The following year, 1987–88, the team again achieved runners-up status in the Second Division, earning promotion to the First Division. Slaven's goal-scoring form played a pivotal role in these campaigns, helping the club rise rapidly from near-financial collapse. Middlesbrough's resurgence continued in the 1991–92 season, where they finished second in the Second Division to gain promotion to the inaugural FA Premier League. Later in his career, Slaven joined Port Vale on a free transfer in March 1993 and helped the club win the Football League Trophy (also known as the Autoglass Trophy) that year. Port Vale defeated County 2–1 in the final at on 22 May 1993, with Slaven scoring the second goal to secure the victory.

Individual awards

Bernie Slaven earned recognition for his goal-scoring prowess and consistent performances across various leagues during his professional career. In the 1984–85 season with Albion Rovers in the Scottish Second Division, he topped the Scottish Football League scoring charts with 31 goals in 43 appearances, a feat that highlighted his emergence as a prolific striker for a lower-tier club. He was also named SPFA Second Division Player of the Year and Albion Rovers Player of the Year for 1984–85. At , where he became a fan favorite, Slaven was voted the club's Player of the Year twice, reflecting his pivotal role in the team's attack during the late . These honors came in the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons, periods in which he contributed significantly to the side's efforts in the First Division. He also received the Hennessy's North-East Player of the Year award for the 1988–89 campaign, after netting 25 goals in all competitions despite the team's relegation. Later in his career, during Middlesbrough's inaugural season in the in 1992–93, Slaven made history as the first international to score in the competition, achieving this milestone with both goals in a 2–0 victory over Manchester City on 19 August 1992.

References

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