Harry McNally
Encyclopedia
Harry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic
and Chester City
.
manager, McNally's playing career was spent as an amateur at Skelmersdale United
. Upon retirement as a player, he became coach at the club and later served as manager at Southport
and was a member of coaching staff at Altrincham
as Football League clubs began to take note of his achievements.
McNally was a stonemason by trade, and the son of a miner.
quit to become the manager of Notts County
at the end of the 1982–83 season
, and at about the same time, owner Ken Bates
pulled his investment out of the club, forcing the sale of most of the first team. McNally was appointed manager and rebuilt the squad with youth players and lower–league signings (one of them being Paul Jewell
, who would eventually steer the club into the Premier League as manager), leading the side to a creditable 13th place finish the following season. He ended up having to sell his new squad at the end of the season to alleviate the continuing financial problems, forcing another rebuild. The following season was not as successful, and McNally resigned in February 1985. A few months after McNally's departure, Wigan won the Freight Rover Trophy at Wembley
, thanks largely to the squad McNally had put together.
manager in July 1985, McNally inherited a side that had finished bottom of the Football League a year before and had needed an excellent run under Mick Speight
to avoid a similar fate in 1984–85
. Despite's Speight's success, McNally was appointed in his place amid protests from supporters. He was to soon silence his doubters, as with the help of successful new signings of David Glenn
, Milton Graham
and John Kelly
, the Blues finished runners–up in Division Four for only their second promotion since joining the Football League in 1931. Although he had to contend with the loss of key players Andy Holden
and the prolific Stuart Rimmer
through injury, Chester sealed promotion with three games still to play.
After comfortably guiding Chester to safety in 1986–87
and 1987–88
, McNally enjoyed his most successful season with the club in 1988–89
. He led the Blues to eighth position in Division Three (now League One), missing out on a play–off spot by just four points. The campaign included a 7–0 home win over Fulham
, the club's biggest league win for more than 30 years. Unfortunately the following season saw Chester struggle home in 16th place, amid growing uncertainty over the club's future as it became clear they would be leaving their cherished Sealand Road
home.
During his early years at the club, McNally had given Football League debuts to several players who went on to have long professional careers. Graham Abel, Barry Butler
, Carl Dale
and David Pugh
were successfully captured from non-league football, while Brian Croft
, Chris Lightfoot
, Aidan Newhouse
, Robbie Painter
and Colin Woodthorpe
all progressed through the youth ranks.
season exiled more than 40 miles away at Moss Rose
in Macclesfield
, operating on the lowest average attendance in the whole Football League. McNally guided Chester to safety before the end of the season in 19th place, although he attracted publicity for the wrong reasons after being hospitalised along with new signing Keith Bertschin
after events got out of hand at the club's Christmas party. During the first 12 months in exile, McNally broke Chester's transfer record three times when signing Neil Morton, Eddie Bishop
and Stuart Rimmer
, who made a shock return to the club on the eve of the 1991–92 season
and went on to become the club's record goalscorer.
The following season saw Chester struggling at the foot of the table and when they were thrashed 5–2 at home by fellow strugglers Darlington
on 4 January 1992, there appeared little hope for City to survive. But McNally helped oversee an unlikely great escape, with just four defeats in the final 18 matches of the season (including an outstanding 1–0 win at promotion chasing Stoke City
on 25 April 1992) seeing Chester finish five points above the relegation zone. At the end of the season, The Sun
named McNally as their manager of the year for his achievements on a shoe–string budget.
McNally brought the club home to Chester in the newly renamed Division Two with optimism growing for what lay ahead, but unfortunately age was to catch up on many of his side. A 3–0 win over Burnley
in the first Football League match at the Deva Stadium was the only win in the opening 12 games of the 1992–93
season and McNally was sacked after a 2–2 home draw with Bolton Wanderers
on 17 October 1992. His final signing was Shaun Garnett
, on loan from Tranmere Rovers
.
in 1987.
Earlier that year, McNally had astounded spectators during a Freight Rover Trophy tie away at Chester's arch-rivals Wrexham. Frustrated as Chester trailed 1–0 with time ticking away, he hauled an injured Chester player to his feet, saying they should be prepared to die for the cause. The move did the trick as Chester equalised and went on to record a derby victory in extra–time.
His belief in players giving their all and being prepared to risk all was reflected when Chester embarked on a pre–season tour of Scotland
in 1992. McNally suffered a broken leg when playing in a friendly match, claiming he had to set the right example to his players and could not pull out of the challenge.
Managed 334
Won 111
Drew 100
Lost 123
,) and did some hospitality work at Chester after his sacking. McNally was one of the biggest critics of Terry Smith
's ownership of the club, and resigned after only a few days as a consultant at the club in 2000.
McNally died from a heart attack
in Chester
on 12 December 2004, aged 68. While he had no surviving close relatives, several notable footballing figures attended his funeral.
Chester City Football Club have now re-named a stand to honour their former manager, known as the Harry McNally Terrace. This was opened on 26 December 2006 by EX chairman Stephen Vaughan
, with a plaque also presented the same day on behalf of the fans by Chester City Supporters' Trust.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
The Non-League Background
Unusually for a Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
manager, McNally's playing career was spent as an amateur at Skelmersdale United
Skelmersdale United F.C.
Skelmersdale United F.C. are a football club from Skelmersdale, West Lancashire competing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. The club is a member of both the Liverpool F.A. and the Lancashire County Football Association.-The first 75 years:...
. Upon retirement as a player, he became coach at the club and later served as manager at Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
and was a member of coaching staff at Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
as Football League clubs began to take note of his achievements.
McNally was a stonemason by trade, and the son of a miner.
Joining the Latics
He joined Wigan as a coach in 1981, becoming assistant manager the following year. The club's manager, Larry LloydLarry Lloyd
Laurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s....
quit to become the manager of Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
at the end of the 1982–83 season
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
, and at about the same time, owner Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....
pulled his investment out of the club, forcing the sale of most of the first team. McNally was appointed manager and rebuilt the squad with youth players and lower–league signings (one of them being Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
, who would eventually steer the club into the Premier League as manager), leading the side to a creditable 13th place finish the following season. He ended up having to sell his new squad at the end of the season to alleviate the continuing financial problems, forcing another rebuild. The following season was not as successful, and McNally resigned in February 1985. A few months after McNally's departure, Wigan won the Freight Rover Trophy at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, thanks largely to the squad McNally had put together.
The Early Chester Years
When he became Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
manager in July 1985, McNally inherited a side that had finished bottom of the Football League a year before and had needed an excellent run under Mick Speight
Mick Speight
Mike Speight is a former English footballer who had a long spell with Sheffield United and later had a five–month caretaker manager stint at Chester City in 1984–85.-Playing career:...
to avoid a similar fate in 1984–85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
. Despite's Speight's success, McNally was appointed in his place amid protests from supporters. He was to soon silence his doubters, as with the help of successful new signings of David Glenn
David Glenn
David Glenn is a former English professional footballer who played as a full back. He played in The Football League for Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Chester City.-Playing career:...
, Milton Graham
Milton Graham
Milton Graham was a professional footballer with A.F.C. Bournemouth, Chester City and Peterborough United in the 1980s...
and John Kelly
John Kelly (footballer born 1960)
John Kelly is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End, Chester City, Swindon Town, Oldham Athletic, Walsall & Huddersfield Town....
, the Blues finished runners–up in Division Four for only their second promotion since joining the Football League in 1931. Although he had to contend with the loss of key players Andy Holden
Andy Holden
Andy Holden is a Welsh former football player. He had playing careers at Chester City, Wigan and Oldham Athletic and is the long-serving reserve team manager at Everton...
and the prolific Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer is an English former footballer who is Chester City's record goalscorer. He scored 134 league goals in two spells for Chester, and also represented seven other clubs during his professional career....
through injury, Chester sealed promotion with three games still to play.
After comfortably guiding Chester to safety in 1986–87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
and 1987–88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
, McNally enjoyed his most successful season with the club in 1988–89
1988-89 in English football
The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
. He led the Blues to eighth position in Division Three (now League One), missing out on a play–off spot by just four points. The campaign included a 7–0 home win over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, the club's biggest league win for more than 30 years. Unfortunately the following season saw Chester struggle home in 16th place, amid growing uncertainty over the club's future as it became clear they would be leaving their cherished Sealand Road
Sealand Road
Sealand Road was the home stadium of Chester City Football Club from 1906 until 1990. Although officially known simply as The Stadium, it was more commonly referred to as Sealand Road...
home.
During his early years at the club, McNally had given Football League debuts to several players who went on to have long professional careers. Graham Abel, Barry Butler
Barry Butler (footballer born 1962)
Barry Geoffrey Butler is an English former professional footballer who spent eight years with Chester City from 1985 to 1993...
, Carl Dale
Carl Dale
Carl Dale is a Welsh former professional footballer. He remains a cult favourite among the fans of his former teams.-Club career:...
and David Pugh
David Pugh (footballer)
David Pugh is a former professional footballer who mainly played as a winger for Chester City and Bury during the 1990s.-Playing career:...
were successfully captured from non-league football, while Brian Croft
Brian Croft
Brian Graham Alexander Croft is a retired English professional footballer who played as a winger. The majority of his Football League appearances were made for his hometown club Chester City in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Playing career:Croft joined Chester as a schoolboy, with his debut coming as...
, Chris Lightfoot
Chris Lightfoot (footballer)
Chris Lightfoot was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for four clubs. He later managed in non-league football....
, Aidan Newhouse
Aidan Newhouse
Aidan Robert Newhouse was an English former footballer. He holds the record for being the youngest player to appear for Chester City in a Football League match...
, Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter is a former English professional footballer. He played in The Football League for six clubs between 1987 and 2001, usually as a striker.-Playing career:...
and Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe is a veteran English footballer currently serving as assistant manager at Colwyn Bay F.C..-Early career:...
all progressed through the youth ranks.
Later years
Chester spent the 1990–911990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
season exiled more than 40 miles away at Moss Rose
Moss Rose
Moss Rose is a multi-purpose stadium in Macclesfield, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Macclesfield Town F.C....
in Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, operating on the lowest average attendance in the whole Football League. McNally guided Chester to safety before the end of the season in 19th place, although he attracted publicity for the wrong reasons after being hospitalised along with new signing Keith Bertschin
Keith Bertschin
Keith Edwin Bertschin is a former professional footballer and currently a coach at Sunderland.-Career:Bertschin, a striker, began his professional career with Ipswich Town , before playing for Birmingham City , Norwich City , Stoke City , Sunderland , Walsall , Chester City...
after events got out of hand at the club's Christmas party. During the first 12 months in exile, McNally broke Chester's transfer record three times when signing Neil Morton, Eddie Bishop
Eddie Bishop
Eddie Bishop , is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League in England for Tranmere Rovers, Chester City and Crewe Alexandra and also played and managed in non-league football....
and Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer is an English former footballer who is Chester City's record goalscorer. He scored 134 league goals in two spells for Chester, and also represented seven other clubs during his professional career....
, who made a shock return to the club on the eve of the 1991–92 season
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
and went on to become the club's record goalscorer.
The following season saw Chester struggling at the foot of the table and when they were thrashed 5–2 at home by fellow strugglers Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on 4 January 1992, there appeared little hope for City to survive. But McNally helped oversee an unlikely great escape, with just four defeats in the final 18 matches of the season (including an outstanding 1–0 win at promotion chasing Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 25 April 1992) seeing Chester finish five points above the relegation zone. At the end of the season, The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
named McNally as their manager of the year for his achievements on a shoe–string budget.
McNally brought the club home to Chester in the newly renamed Division Two with optimism growing for what lay ahead, but unfortunately age was to catch up on many of his side. A 3–0 win over Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in the first Football League match at the Deva Stadium was the only win in the opening 12 games of the 1992–93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
season and McNally was sacked after a 2–2 home draw with Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on 17 October 1992. His final signing was Shaun Garnett
Shaun Garnett
Shaun Garnett is a former English professional footballer who played as a defender. He played in The Football League for six clubs and is now a coach at Tranmere Rovers.-Playing career:...
, on loan from Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
The Maverick Manager
Everyone who knew Harry McNally has a favourite story about him. Players who played under him often speak with affection about a number of the bizarre incidents he was involved in, such as jumping in a bath containing no cold water when raging at how Chester had thrown the points away in a 4–4 draw with BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 1987.
Earlier that year, McNally had astounded spectators during a Freight Rover Trophy tie away at Chester's arch-rivals Wrexham. Frustrated as Chester trailed 1–0 with time ticking away, he hauled an injured Chester player to his feet, saying they should be prepared to die for the cause. The move did the trick as Chester equalised and went on to record a derby victory in extra–time.
His belief in players giving their all and being prepared to risk all was reflected when Chester embarked on a pre–season tour of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1992. McNally suffered a broken leg when playing in a friendly match, claiming he had to set the right example to his players and could not pull out of the challenge.
Chester City FC Managerial Record
Won 111
Drew 100
Lost 123
Life After Chester
Surprisingly, McNally didn't manage another club, but frequently offered his services as a scout to other clubs (including Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End and BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
,) and did some hospitality work at Chester after his sacking. McNally was one of the biggest critics of Terry Smith
Terry Smith (football)
Terry Smith is an American-born American Football player, sports coach and businessman. After starting his playing career as a defensive back for American Football franchise New England Patriots, Smith went on to coach the Great Britain Spartans American football team...
's ownership of the club, and resigned after only a few days as a consultant at the club in 2000.
McNally died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
on 12 December 2004, aged 68. While he had no surviving close relatives, several notable footballing figures attended his funeral.
Chester City Football Club have now re-named a stand to honour their former manager, known as the Harry McNally Terrace. This was opened on 26 December 2006 by EX chairman Stephen Vaughan
Stephen Vaughan, Sr
Stephen Vaughan is an English businessman from Liverpool. As owner of Vaughan Promotions, originally a boxing promotion and management company, he has owned Barrow A.F.C. and Chester City football clubs, and has served as chairman of both...
, with a plaque also presented the same day on behalf of the fans by Chester City Supporters' Trust.