Alan Niven (soccer)
{{short description|Australian footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alan Niven
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = 4 July 1955
| birth_place = England
| death_date = 5 March 1999 (aged 43)
| death_place =
| height =
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| years1 = 1975
| clubs1 = Nuneaton Borough
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1977–1988
| clubs2 = Brisbane Lions
| caps2 = 252
| goals2 = 11
| years3 =
| clubs3 = Mt Gravatt
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 =
| clubs4 = Rochedale Rovers
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 =
| clubs5 = St Helens
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| nationalyears1 = 1981–1983
| nationalteam1 = Australia
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Alan Niven (4 July 1955 – 5 March 1999) was an Australian international footballer who played as a defender.
Niven was born in England and played youth football for Wolverhampton Wanderers. After representing Nuneaton Borough, he moved to Australia, where he made over 250 appearances for Brisbane Lions in the National Soccer League.
He made eight appearances for the Australian national team.
Early life
Club career
Niven played youth football for Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite news|url=https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2014/10/06/dressing-room-dressing-down-haunts-gerry/|title=Dressing room dressing-down haunts Gerry|accessdate=2 June 2020|date=6 October 2014|website=WolvesHeros.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/N/NI.html|title=Niven, Alan|accessdate=2 June 2020|website=OzFootball.net}}
In 1975, Niven made three appearances for Nuneaton Borough – one in the Southern League Premier Division and two in the Midland Floodlit Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.fromtowntotown.org.uk/assets/nuneaton-borough-1970-79_part-2_approved.pdf|website=FromTownToTown.org.uk|accessdate=2 June 2020|title=Nuneaton Borough 1970-1979 – Part 2}}
From 1977 to 1988, Niven represented Brisbane Lions in the Australian National Soccer League, making 252 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
International career
Style of play
Niven played as a defender.
Gerry O'Hara, who played with Niven at Wolverhampton, described Niven as a left back with a similar playing style to Scott Golbourne.
After football
Niven went on to work for the Queensland Government at the Queensland Water Resources Commission and the Department of Natural Resources.{{cite news|url=http://waterysauces.org.au/newsletters/28.pdf|title=Rest in Peace|newspaper=Warty Sorcerers - Auldies and Baldies|page=6|accessdate=2 June 2020|date=March 1999}}
Death
Career statistics
=Club=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="11"|Brisbane Lions
|1977 |rowspan="11"|National Soccer League |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| 1978
|19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | |||
| 1979
|14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | |||
| 1980
|25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 2 | |||
| 1981
|27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| 1982
|28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | |||
| 1983
|30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 5 | |||
| 1984
|29 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 2 | |||
| 1985
|18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 2 | |||
| 1986
|15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | |||
| 1988
|25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Total
!252 | 11 | 22 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 274 | 12 |
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Australia
|1981 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total | 8 | 0 |
Honours
=International=
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/NEL.html Alan Niven] at OzFootball
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, Alan}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players
Category:Queensland Lions FC players
Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Australia men's international soccer players
Category:English emigrants to Australia
Category:Place of birth missing