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John William McCartney

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Name: John William McCartney Nationality: Scotland
Position: right-back Signing Information: Transferred from: Cowlairs FC, 08/1894, £
Birthdate: 00-00-0000 Years at Club: 1894-1895
Age: () Debut: 08/09/1894 v Burton Wanderers (A) 0-1 (League Division Two)
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland Previous clubs: Cartvale FC, Thistle FC, Glasgow Rangers, Cowlairs FC
Height: Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Luton Town, 04/1895, £
Weight: Passed Away: 18/01/1933
Nobody in Manchester United's entire history looked less a footballer than John McCartney. A portly, nay, round, player who contemporary reporters did not shy of calling "fat", he even had the face of someone twice the age. Yet McCartney could move on the football field, putting his hefty physique to good use while defending from full-back.
At 14, he began his career with Cartvale FC in Renfrewshire, where he was from. A spell with Glasgow Thistle followed before John became Rangers' regular left-back in 1886-87. This exalted status came to an end in August 1887 when the defence shipped 8 goals in a friendly against Preston North End! John was ushered across town to Cowlairs, whom he served until 1894. The highlight was 1890-91 when they were founding members of the Scottish League.
When McCartney joined Newton Heath, he turned professional for the first time. He was made captain for the 1894-95 season and handed the right-back spot. It was a pleasant campaign for the Heathens, at least from an attacking perspective: 126 goals in all were scored, with the chunky full-back admirably claiming four of them. Still, McCartney moved to Luton Town in March 1895 in order to get an extra job on the side, something which was surprisingly against the rules at Newton Heath at the time. Curiously, though, he returned for the ultimate game - a playoff against Stoke. Little good did it do: Heath lost 0-3 and failed to move up!
He served the Hatters for three years, mostly as skipper, overseeing their inaugural Football League campaign in 1897-98. After that, he got himself into better trim and headed to Barnsley, where he played until he hurt his knee in a collision with Blackpool's Harold Hardman (future Manchester United player and chairman) in 1900, forcing his retirement. John stayed with Barnsley, first as a groundsman, then as a trainer, and, finally, manager.
At the time, a manager's success was gauged more on a club's financial wellbeing rather than its trophy haul. Accordingly, McCartney proved a very successful manager. On taking on the Barnsley job, he famously traveled to Scotland with £10 and came back with a whole team... and change! One of his later discoveries was George Wall, Manchester United's first great left winger.
McCartney then coached St. Mirren for about 6 years then Hearts for a decade. This included WWI, of course, and, after several of his players lost their lives in action, the deeply stricken John resigned his post. Later he spent seven years at the helm at Portsmouth, culminating in promotion to Division One in 1927, after which he promptly resigned, citing illness. His health got worse at his next job - back with Luton Town - and he was forced to undergo a partial leg amputation.
John finally left the game in December 1929, returned to Edinburgh and took on a job as a newspaper writer. He submitted football stories under the alias "Sir Gorgonzola" until he passed away in his home on Moat Street in January 1933. Thousands lined up the streets for his funeral. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude.
Goals Appearances Opponent Manager Club Manager
Stadium Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
Red cards  
 
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-Continental Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Appearances
No Season League Goals League Appearances League Cup Goals League Cup Appearances FA Cup Goals FA Cup Appearances Charity Shield Goals Charity Shield Appearances European Cup Goals European Cup Appearances UEFA Cup Goals UEFA Cup Appearances Super Cup Goals Super Cup Appearances Cup Winners Cup Goals Cup Winners Cup Appearances Inter-Continental Cup Goals Inter-Continental Cup Appearances Club World Cup Goals Club World Cup Appearances Season
Goals
Season
Apps
1 1894-1895 1 19 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20
TOTALS 1 19 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20
Matches Played

 

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This site was originally conceived by Mark Graham and launched in 1996, the oldest Manchester United page on the internet today, built to preserve & showcase the history of the club & share results, stats & information of Manchester United.
Since it's inception it has grown considerably with the gargantuan contribution of Roy Redshaw & research of Jim Briggs, Charbel Boujaoude & Rob Compton.

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