Anthony McNamee
Encyclopedia
Anthony McNamee is an English footballer. He is a left-sided midfielder
and currently plays for Wycombe Wanderers on loan from Milton Keynes Dons
.
. He made his debut under manager Gianluca Vialli
in a friendly at home to Mansfield
, and his league debut against Coventry City
in a 3–0 First Division
win. He continued to make substitute appearances for the remainder of the season, making his first start against Gillingham
on the final day of the season, scoring his first professional goal in the process. Despite only making seven appearances that season, it was enough to scoop him the 2001–02 Young Player of the Season award. McNamee continued to feature under new manager Ray Lewington, making 24 appearances in the 2002–03 season. However, concerns about his asthma
meant that he was limited to a place on the bench, as it was feared he would not be able to last 90 minutes.
These fears, along with his physical stature, put pressure on his footballing career, and he only made two appearances for Watford in the 2003–04 season. McNamee was loaned to Conference
side Barnet
in December 2003, but failed to make much of an impression.
McNamee made a number of appearances towards the end of the 2004–05 season, under both Lewington and new manager Aidy Boothroyd. He extended his contract until 2008, and played more frequently as Watford finished third in the Championship
. He was on the bench for the play-off semi-final legs against Crystal Palace
, but did not play, and he was left out of the 16 for the final against Leeds United
, where Watford clinched promotion to the Premiership. In February 2006, McNamee was selected for Peter Taylor
's Under-21 Football League squad to face Italy's Serie B
team, but did not make the final team.
McNamee made seven appearances for Watford in the middle of their 2006–07 Premiership season, and also scored the only goal in their fourth round FA Cup
victory at West Ham United
. Watford would go on to reach the semi-finals of the competition, but McNamee played no further part and was sent on loan to League One
side Crewe Alexandra
in March 2007 for the remainder of the season. He played five times for the Railwaymen.
Watford returned to the Championship for the 2007–08 season, but McNamee only featured in two League Cup
games. On 18 January 2008, was sold to League One side Swindon Town
for an undisclosed fee. In total he made 103 appearances for Watford, 60 of those from the bench.
in January 2008. He scored his first goal for Swindon in April 2008 in a 6–0 win over Port Vale
.
During a pre-season friendly with Portsmouth
, he impressed Harry Redknapp
, who praised him, saying "If he can produce that every week he won't be here long but can he do it regular?". His form continued into the start of the season, as rumours circulated that scouts across the country had their eyes on three Swindon Town
players, Peter Brezovan
, Simon Cox and Anthony McNamee.
In September 2009, Danny Wilson issued a "hands off" warning as rumours circulated that recently relegated Norwich City
were tabling an offer for McNamee. He told the Swindon Advertiser "Macca’s going nowhere. If we wanted him to go he would have gone already, so that answers everything. He’s going nowhere at all".
with a view to a permanent transfer from Swindon Town
to the formerly mentioned football club in the January transfer window. He made his debut on 5 December 2009 against Oldham Athletic as a substitute on the 82nd minute in a 2–0 win for Norwich City
at Carrow Road
. McNamee made a further appearance later in the month against Millwall
in another 2–0 win for Norwich City
at Carrow Road
as a substitute in the 85th minute in his last game as a loan player for the club.
On 4 January 2010, McNamee signed for Norwich City
making his loan move to the club permanent. McNamee scored his debut goal for Norwich City
to take the lead in a 2–1 home win against Stockport County
on 5 April 2010. Following Norwich City's promotion to Premier League in 2011, McNamee found himself out of favour with manager Paul Lambert
and was expected to leave the club.
club Milton Keynes Dons with the option of a further year. He made his debut three days later, as a late substitute in a 3–1 win away at Carlisle United
.
second loan signing of the day after completing the deal for Marcello Trotta
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and currently plays for Wycombe Wanderers on loan from Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
.
Watford
McNamee started his career at WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. He made his debut under manager Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is an Italian football manager and former player. Since retiring, he has gone into management and punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sport Italia....
in a friendly at home to Mansfield
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, and his league debut against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in a 3–0 First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
win. He continued to make substitute appearances for the remainder of the season, making his first start against Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on the final day of the season, scoring his first professional goal in the process. Despite only making seven appearances that season, it was enough to scoop him the 2001–02 Young Player of the Season award. McNamee continued to feature under new manager Ray Lewington, making 24 appearances in the 2002–03 season. However, concerns about his asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
meant that he was limited to a place on the bench, as it was feared he would not be able to last 90 minutes.
These fears, along with his physical stature, put pressure on his footballing career, and he only made two appearances for Watford in the 2003–04 season. McNamee was loaned to Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
in December 2003, but failed to make much of an impression.
McNamee made a number of appearances towards the end of the 2004–05 season, under both Lewington and new manager Aidy Boothroyd. He extended his contract until 2008, and played more frequently as Watford finished third in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He was on the bench for the play-off semi-final legs against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, but did not play, and he was left out of the 16 for the final against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, where Watford clinched promotion to the Premiership. In February 2006, McNamee was selected for Peter Taylor
Peter John Taylor
Peter John Taylor is an English football manager and former player and current head coach of the Bahrain national football team...
's Under-21 Football League squad to face Italy's Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
team, but did not make the final team.
McNamee made seven appearances for Watford in the middle of their 2006–07 Premiership season, and also scored the only goal in their fourth round FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
victory at West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. Watford would go on to reach the semi-finals of the competition, but McNamee played no further part and was sent on loan to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in March 2007 for the remainder of the season. He played five times for the Railwaymen.
Watford returned to the Championship for the 2007–08 season, but McNamee only featured in two League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
games. On 18 January 2008, was sold to League One side Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
for an undisclosed fee. In total he made 103 appearances for Watford, 60 of those from the bench.
Swindon Town
McNamee made his debut for Swindon in a 0–0 draw with Crewe AlexandraCrewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in January 2008. He scored his first goal for Swindon in April 2008 in a 6–0 win over Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
.
During a pre-season friendly with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, he impressed Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
, who praised him, saying "If he can produce that every week he won't be here long but can he do it regular?". His form continued into the start of the season, as rumours circulated that scouts across the country had their eyes on three Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
players, Peter Brezovan
Peter Brezovan
Peter Brezovan, born 9 December 1979 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia , is a former Slovak under-21 international footballer who currently plays for English team Brighton & Hove Albion....
, Simon Cox and Anthony McNamee.
In September 2009, Danny Wilson issued a "hands off" warning as rumours circulated that recently relegated Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
were tabling an offer for McNamee. He told the Swindon Advertiser "Macca’s going nowhere. If we wanted him to go he would have gone already, so that answers everything. He’s going nowhere at all".
Norwich City
He later signed on an emergency loan to Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
with a view to a permanent transfer from Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
to the formerly mentioned football club in the January transfer window. He made his debut on 5 December 2009 against Oldham Athletic as a substitute on the 82nd minute in a 2–0 win for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
. McNamee made a further appearance later in the month against Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in another 2–0 win for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
as a substitute in the 85th minute in his last game as a loan player for the club.
On 4 January 2010, McNamee signed for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
making his loan move to the club permanent. McNamee scored his debut goal for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
to take the lead in a 2–1 home win against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on 5 April 2010. Following Norwich City's promotion to Premier League in 2011, McNamee found himself out of favour with manager Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
and was expected to leave the club.
Milton Keynes Dons
On 31 August 2011, McNamee left Norwich on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract at League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Milton Keynes Dons with the option of a further year. He made his debut three days later, as a late substitute in a 3–1 win away at Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
.
Wycombe Wanderers
On 24th November, McNamee joined Wycombe in search of first team football. He signed on a loan deal until 7th January 2012. The signing was manager Gary Waddock'sGary Waddock
Gary Patrick Waddock is a former professional and international footballer. He is currently manager at League One club Wycombe Wanderers. He formerly managed Queens Park Rangers and Aldershot Town...
second loan signing of the day after completing the deal for Marcello Trotta
Marcello Trotta
Marcello Trotta is an Italian footballer playing as a striker for Wycombe Wanderers in Football League One on loan from Fulham.-Career:...
.