Duncan MacLean had been working as a shipyard engineer in Glasgow, while on Partick Thistle’s books as an amateur, when his job took him to the Cowes shipyards. He was playing for Cowes in the Hampshire League when he caught the eye of George Thomas, a Southampton director. Duly signed, he could not initially get a place in the side that was bidding for their third consecutive Southern League title.

When he eventually made it for the last eight games, he played in four positions and obliged with three goals, including one in the last-day win at Bristol City, as the Saints came from behind to snatch the title from their hosts.

Not resting on their laurels, Southampton brought in new forwards in the summer of 1900 and allowed Duncan to leave for the Football League, with First Division Derby. Failing to get a first-team game, he returned to the Glasgow shipyards. But he was soon back in Cowes for a longer stint, during which he was in the side that won the Hants Senior Cup in 1906.

After which, he remained on the Isle of Wight, working for the Union-Castle Line and turning out, for a while, for their Southampton-based works-team. During WW1 he was an engine fitter at Harland & Wolff Repair Yard and in 1947 he was still working in Woolston as he approached his 74^th year while taking in matches at The Dell. In 1952 his son wrote to the Sports Editor of the Echo asking if he could organise for Duncan to attend the forthcoming Dundee United Floodlight match and two tickets were duly provided. He later moved to the Isle of Wight to live with his son.