Jimmy McGeough
Encyclopedia
Jimmy McGeough is a former Northern Irish football player and manager.
His clubs included Derry City
, Lincoln and Waterford United.
Joining Derry in July 1963 he was part of the only Derry City side ever to win the Irish League (Northern Ireland) and was an Irish Cup winner too with the Candystripes. He scored in the European Cup http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196566det.html. Jimmy played his last game for Derry at Coleraine on the 9th of October 1965 bringing an end to a remarkable sequence of never having missed a single match for Derry since his arrival in July 1963.
Derry withdrew from the Irish League in 1973 due to civil unrest.
He signed for Waterford from Derry in December 1965 for £3,000 and was part of the great Waterford side of the 1960s and 1970s. He left for Lincoln City at the end of the 1971/72 season but moved back to the Blues in November 1974 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1974/1025/Pg003.html#Ar00301:0A216423D1C80A71C011A1DA0582340B124E0653440703590733440AF359097A470ECA610581BF09A1D9055A4608CA603F257E428598.
He was capped at Inter-League level by the Irish League
and the League of Ireland
.
Jimmy was appointed the first player-manager of Thurles Town in June 1977 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1977/0601/Pg003.html#Ar00304:05E8720A888913386416087C.
However he departed for New York Apollo
six months later. In 1980, the Apollo came under new ownership which renamed the team the New York United. In 1981, he was the American Soccer League
Coach of the Year. McGeough also spent ten seasons as the head coach of the SUNY Farmingdale. The dates are unknown, but he compiled a 111-76-6 record. McGeough enjoyed success as a coach in the US, mainly with Long Island Rough Riders
. He linked up with Alfonso Mondelo in 2000 to coach Tampa Bay Mutiny
but soon after the Mutiny franchise was closed down by MLS
.
After nearly a quarter of a century in the United States
he was appointed manager of Waterford United
in January 2002 http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2002/0113/waterford.html taking over following Paul Power's resignation late in the 2001 season. He guided the club to a top half finish in the First Division in his first season.
The following year, McGeough's first full season in charge, Waterford won the First Division title. McGeough unearthed some exciting talents with Republic of Ireland under-21
goalkeeper Dan Connor (footballer)
, Daryl Murphy
and Neale Fenn
, all proving to be exceptional signings.
However off the pitch, McGeough had a difficult relationship with club chairman Ger O'Brien. A dip in form with a series of poor results followed and their rift becoming public knowledge. The rift stemmed from McGeough's request to have Kevin O'Brien, the chairman's son, released. A restructuring of the coaching staff, reportedly supported by the manager, saw McGeough handing over some of his power to assistant Giles Cheevers. He was sacked in December 2003 leading to much outrage from Waterford's fans http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2003/1211/jimmy.html.
Jimmy McGeough took charge of Larne FC in August 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3546288.stm and in his first season led the Antrim club to the Irish Cup
final at Windsor Park
. The tiny club also survived in the Irish Premier League before McGeough returned to the U.S.
to rejoin his family. It was reported at the time he returned home that it was due to 9/11-related terrorism laws that prevented McGeough from being out of the US for more than 12 consecutive months.
He is currently coaching children in Florida with his son Jim
who had an extensive professional career. His other sons, Paul and Tony were also professionals in the New York soccer scene. He is married to Belfast-born Margaret Ward and also has a daughter, Annette.
His clubs included Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, Lincoln and Waterford United.
Joining Derry in July 1963 he was part of the only Derry City side ever to win the Irish League (Northern Ireland) and was an Irish Cup winner too with the Candystripes. He scored in the European Cup http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec196566det.html. Jimmy played his last game for Derry at Coleraine on the 9th of October 1965 bringing an end to a remarkable sequence of never having missed a single match for Derry since his arrival in July 1963.
Derry withdrew from the Irish League in 1973 due to civil unrest.
He signed for Waterford from Derry in December 1965 for £3,000 and was part of the great Waterford side of the 1960s and 1970s. He left for Lincoln City at the end of the 1971/72 season but moved back to the Blues in November 1974 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1974/1025/Pg003.html#Ar00301:0A216423D1C80A71C011A1DA0582340B124E0653440703590733440AF359097A470ECA610581BF09A1D9055A4608CA603F257E428598.
He was capped at Inter-League level by the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
and the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
.
Jimmy was appointed the first player-manager of Thurles Town in June 1977 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1977/0601/Pg003.html#Ar00304:05E8720A888913386416087C.
However he departed for New York Apollo
New York Apollo
The New York Greeks was an American soccer club based in New York City that was a member of the American Soccer League.The team began as the amateur Greek-Americans. The club played lower Premier Division of the German American Soccer League which was based in the New York metropolitan area...
six months later. In 1980, the Apollo came under new ownership which renamed the team the New York United. In 1981, he was the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
Coach of the Year. McGeough also spent ten seasons as the head coach of the SUNY Farmingdale. The dates are unknown, but he compiled a 111-76-6 record. McGeough enjoyed success as a coach in the US, mainly with Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
. He linked up with Alfonso Mondelo in 2000 to coach Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
but soon after the Mutiny franchise was closed down by MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
After nearly a quarter of a century in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
he was appointed manager of Waterford United
Waterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
in January 2002 http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2002/0113/waterford.html taking over following Paul Power's resignation late in the 2001 season. He guided the club to a top half finish in the First Division in his first season.
The following year, McGeough's first full season in charge, Waterford won the First Division title. McGeough unearthed some exciting talents with Republic of Ireland under-21
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
goalkeeper Dan Connor (footballer)
Dan Connor (footballer)
Daniel Connor, more commonly known as Dan Connor, is a retired Irish football goalkeeper formerly of Hereford United....
, Daryl Murphy
Daryl Murphy
Daryl Murphy is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Ipswich Town on loan from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.-Waterford United:...
and Neale Fenn
Neale Fenn
Neale Fenn is a retired English born Irish footballer.- Early career :Fenn previously played for Spurs, making his professional debut in January 1997 starting a memorable 3rd round FA Cup tie at Manchester United in 1997 alongside Rory Allen, which Spurs lost 2-0...
, all proving to be exceptional signings.
However off the pitch, McGeough had a difficult relationship with club chairman Ger O'Brien. A dip in form with a series of poor results followed and their rift becoming public knowledge. The rift stemmed from McGeough's request to have Kevin O'Brien, the chairman's son, released. A restructuring of the coaching staff, reportedly supported by the manager, saw McGeough handing over some of his power to assistant Giles Cheevers. He was sacked in December 2003 leading to much outrage from Waterford's fans http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2003/1211/jimmy.html.
Jimmy McGeough took charge of Larne FC in August 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3546288.stm and in his first season led the Antrim club to the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
final at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
. The tiny club also survived in the Irish Premier League before McGeough returned to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to rejoin his family. It was reported at the time he returned home that it was due to 9/11-related terrorism laws that prevented McGeough from being out of the US for more than 12 consecutive months.
He is currently coaching children in Florida with his son Jim
Jimmy McGeough, Jr.
Jim McGeough is a retired Irish-American soccer defender. His career spanned over a dozen teams in seven leagues including the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.-Player:...
who had an extensive professional career. His other sons, Paul and Tony were also professionals in the New York soccer scene. He is married to Belfast-born Margaret Ward and also has a daughter, Annette.
As a player
- Irish Football League:
- Derry City F.C.Derry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
1964-1965
- Derry City F.C.
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
:- Derry City F.C.Derry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
1964
- Derry City F.C.
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 5- Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1965-66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
- Waterford United
- Top Four CupTop Four CupTop Four Cup was a football competition played between the top four clubs in the League of Ireland from 1956 to 1974.-Final Results:1955/56 - Shamrock Rovers F.C. 1 - 0 Waterford F.C.1956/57 - Evergreen United 2 - 1 Drumcondra F.C....
: 4- Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1967-68,1968–69,1969–70,1970–71
- Waterford United
- League of Ireland ShieldLeague of Ireland ShieldThe League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
:- Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1968-1969
- Waterford United
- Texaco CupTexaco CupThe Texaco Cup was an association football competition involving clubs from England, Ireland and Scotland that had not qualified for European competitions. Irish clubs withdrew from the competition after 1971-72 due to political pressure, and in 1973-74 and 1974-75 competed in a separate Texaco Cup...
:- Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
1974/75
- Waterford United