Harry McNally
This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. (March 2021) |
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Harold McNally | ||
Date of birth | 7 July 1936 | ||
Place of birth | Doncaster, England | ||
Date of death | 12 December 2004 | (aged 68)||
Place of death | Chester, England | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Skelmersdale United | |||
Managerial career | |||
1978–1979 | Southport | ||
1983–1985 | Wigan Athletic | ||
1985–1992 | Chester City | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Harold McNally (7 July 1936 – 12 December 2004) was an English football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.
The Non-League Background
Unusually for a
McNally was a stonemason by trade, and the son of a miner.[3]
Joining the Latics
He joined Wigan as a coach in 1981, becoming assistant manager the following year. The club's manager,
The Early Chester years
When he became Chester City 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
After comfortably guiding Chester to safety in
During his early years at the club, McNally had given Football League debuts to several players who went on to have long professional careers.
Later years
Chester spent the
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.[12] At the end of the season, The Sun named McNally as their manager of the year for his achievements on a shoe–string budget.[9]
McNally brought the club home to Chester in the newly renamed
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 Bury 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.[10] 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.[10]
Chester City FC Managerial record
Managed 334
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
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.[3]
Chester City Football Club have now renamed a stand to honour their former manager, known as the Harry McNally Terrace. This was opened on 26 December 2006 by EX chairman
References
- ^ "Harry McNally 1936–2004". chester-city.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ "Old Boy (see December 25)". Altrincham FC official website. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Harry McNally 1936–2004 (funeral report)". chester-city.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Harry, it was a pleasure". Ye Olde Tree & Crown. Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
- ^ On the Borderline. p. 101.
- ^ On the Borderline. p. 103.
- ^ On the Borderline. p. 106.
- ^ a b On the Borderline. p. 111.
- ^ a b c FourFourTwo, March 2005, A Minute's Silence, p.40
- ^ On the Borderline. pp. 108–111.
- ^ On the Borderline. stats section.
- ^ a b On the Borderline. p. 114.
- ^ "Harry resigns after disagreements". chester-city.co.uk. 23 June 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ "Homage to City hero". Chester City official website. 27 December 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2008.