Bernard McNally

Last updated

Bernard McNally
Personal information
Full name Bernard Anthony McNally [1]
Date of birth (1963-02-17) 17 February 1963 (age 61) [1]
Place of birth Shrewsbury, [1] England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) [2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1980–1989 Shrewsbury Town 279 (23)
1989–1995 West Bromwich Albion 156 (10)
1996–1998 Hednesford Town 43 (3)
Telford United
International career
1986–1988 Northern Ireland 5 (0)
Managerial career
2004–2006 A.F.C. Telford United
2008 Pune FC
2009–2010 Hednesford Town
2011–2013 Newtown
2013–2014 Shrewsbury Town (coach)
2014–2015 Port Talbot Town
2015 Hednesford Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bernard Anthony McNally (born 17 February 1963) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in midfield.

Contents

During his club career he played for Shrewsbury Town (1980–1989), West Bromwich Albion (1989–1995), Hednesford Town (1996–1998), and Telford United. He earned five caps for the Northern Ireland national football team from 1986 to 1988, and was included in the 1986 FIFA World Cup team. [3]

Playing career

McNally grew up in the Ditherington area of Shrewsbury, and was a pupil at the Harlescott Grange School. He was signed as a professional by his hometown club Shrewsbury Town, on the eve of the 1981/82 season, and immediately established himself as a first team member in arguably one of the best ever Shrewsbury Town sides. McNally was one of the key Shrewsbury players during their spell in the old Second Division, as Shrewsbury established themselves as Second Division regulars during the mid-80s, and made a total of 284 Football League appearances for Shrewsbury, though it was once said he should be sold and someone else just as good should be bought.

In July 1989, McNally was sold for £385,000 (following a tribunal) to West Bromwich Albion, following talks with both Stoke City and Sunderland. McNally had a successful stint at West Brom, in only his first year at the club he was voted Supporter's Player of the season in 1989/90. Arguably the highlight of his time at The Hawthorns being a member of the squad that won the 1993 Second Division playoffs.

He was unable to command a regular first team place later in his West Brom career, and so made a switch to another West Midlands team, Hednesford Town, in 1996. Hednesford were enjoying a successful spell in the Football Conference, and the experienced Football League veteran was a hit with the Hednesford fans. Arguably the highlight of McNally's Hednesford career was the team's 1996/97 FA Cup run, in which the team reached the fourth round, facing Middlesbrough F.C. at the Riverside Stadium. After taking an early lead in front of a 28,000 crowd, Hednesford were unlucky to lose 3–2, with McNally playing an important role.

After playing for Hednesford, he played briefly at Telford United before retiring as a player

Managerial career

In 2004, one of McNally's former clubs Telford United, went bust following the demise of chairman Andy Shaw's business empire. Despite being unable to save the club, Telford supporters founded a new club, AFC Telford United, playing in the Northern Premier League's First Division. McNally was appointed as the club's first manager, and quickly built up a squad. Despite some early indifferent form, McNally's side soon rose up the table, eventually finishing third in the league and qualifying for the play-offs. Telford were to beat Kendal Town 2–1 in the playoff final, in front of a league record crowd of 4.215 at the New Bucks Head.

Telford struggled in their opening season in the Northern Premier League. With the club second from bottom midway through the season, and following considerable pressure from fans, McNally was sacked, later to be replaced by Willenhall's Rob Smith. Despite the setback, McNally stated in a later radio interview for BBC Radio Shropshire that whilst disappointed, he had no hard feelings towards the club, and was proud to have managed them.

McNally is currently involved in football coaching, and is still remembered with great affection by fans at Shrewsbury Town. To that effect he was invited to be part of the Shrewsbury Town 'Legends' who paraded the pitch at Gay Meadow prior to the ground's final League fixture against Grimsby Town on 5 May 2007.

McNally was appointed by Indian club, Pune FC as head coach in February 2008, [4] a post he held until May 2008.

In September 2009 he was appointed as Caretaker Manager of Southern League Premier Division side Hednesford Town. The club had struggled in the first half of their season under former first team manager Simon Lines, therefore McNally had to work quickly to get the club back on track. Success saw the club finish 4th earning a playoff position. Hednesford Town lost in the play-off semi-finals to Chippenham Town. He was manager until September 2010.

In June 2011 he was appointed as manager by Welsh Premier League club Newtown [5] In 2011/12 Newtown went to the league cup final, but lost the match on penalties. The 2012/13 season was mixed for McNally and Newtown, as they kept their league status for another season. That season Newtown beat Bangor City at home and beat The New Saints at Park Hall for the first time in 11 years. In the season of 2013/14, McNally saw his Newtown team play some great football, but it was announced that he was to leave the club to take a coaching roll at former club Shrewsbury Town F.C. McNally's final match was a 2–0 win against Port Talbot Town, which left Newtown in 5th place in the early season table. Bernie was given a very good send off from the club as the fans and staff were all grateful of the work he had done with a very small budget.

On 6 September 2015, it was announced that McNally would take over the managerial position at Hednesford Town FC.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hednesford Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Hednesford Town Football Club is a football club based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One West and play at Keys Park. They won the FA Trophy in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Telford United</span> Association football club in Wellington, England

AFC Telford United is a football club based in Telford, Shropshire, England. The club was formed in 2004 after the original Telford United, founded in 1872, folded due to financial problems. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division Central and play at the New Bucks Head in Wellington, part of the new town of Telford. The club's colours are white and black.

James Martin Quinn is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witton Albion F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup Second Round on at least three occasions. The club will play in the Northern Premier League Division One North in the 2015–16 season.

Jay Denny is an American soccer player.

Steven William Leslie is a Scottish born footballer who plays for Grantham Town. He is predominantly a left-sided midfielder. He has had spells in the English lower leagues, playing for teams including Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United.

Dean Stephen Edwards is an English former professional footballer. After starting his career at Shrewsbury Town, he played for Kuopion Palloseura and Vaasan Palloseura in Finland, before returning to England to play for Telford United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Exeter City, Torquay United and Northampton Town, scoring for Torquay in two different Wembley appearances. After ending his career at Sliema Wanderers and Hong Kong Rangers, he managed several clubs in non-league football.

Darren Campion is an English retired footballer who predominantly played at left-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Glover (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1989)

Daniel Glover is an English footballer and manager who plays as a striker for Northern Premier League Division One West club Chasetown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Perry</span> English footballer

Kyle Blain Perry is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Roger Preece was an English professional footballer who mainly played as a midfielder but could also play as a full back. He played in The Football League for three clubs and has also played and managed in non–league football.

Chukwuemeka Ibezimife Nwadike is an English former professional footballer of Nigerian descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone Barnett</span> English footballer

Tyrone Barnett is an English professional footballer who plays for Southern League Premier Division Central club Alvechurch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hurst (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1992)

James Hurst is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Ilkeston Town, where he plays as a defender.

Telford Town Football Club is an English football club from Telford, Shropshire. The club plays in the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One and were formerly known as Wellington Amateurs.After many years in the Wellington League, the team was promoted to the Shropshire County Football League. They were promoted to the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2006. "The Ams" won Division One three times in four seasons and gained promotion to the Premier Division for 2012–13. In 2024 the club was taken over by businessman and former Hednesford Town owner Hayden Dando and renamed Telford Town Football Club.

The 2013–14 Football Conference season was the tenth season with the Conference consisting of three divisions and the thirty-fourth season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, whilst the Conference North and Conference South exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the playoff of the Premier division will be promoted to Football League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Jones (footballer)</span> English footballer

Ethan Jones is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One West side Hednesford Town, where he plays as a forward.

Elliott James Durrell is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Southern League Premier Division Central club Stourbridge.

Ryan Joseph Sears is a Welsh footballer who plays as a right back for Cymru Premier club Newtown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bernard McNally". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p.  332. ISBN   978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. 1986 FIFA World Cup: Northern Ireland Squad FIFA . Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  4. "Pune FC: Exit Hall, Enter McNally". I League. 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  5. "Bernard McNally appointed Newtown manager". BBC Sport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.