William Harry McGarry (10 June 1927 – 15 March 2005) was an England international association footballer and manager who spent 40 years in the professional game.
A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II and spent the next six years with the club.
[2] McGarry began his career at local non-League club Northwood Mission, based in Hanley, before joining David Pratt's Port Vale as an amateur in April 1945, signing professional forms in June of that year.
[1] He forced his way into the first XI by November 1947 and scored his first goal on boxing day in a 5–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
[1] "Terriers" manager George Stephenson bought McGarry to play in a defensive partnership with Laurie Kelly.
McGarry played all 44 games in an extremely settled defence that featured himself, Kelly, Don McEvoy, Len Quested, Ron Staniforth, and goalkeeper Jack Wheeler; remarkably, the six men played every minute of the campaign, and had the best defensive record in the Football League with just 33 goals conceded in 42 league games.
Town's solid defence then helped them to finish third in the top-flight in 1953–54, just six points behind champions Wolverhampton Wanderers; McGarry was again an ever-present, scoring four goals in 43 appearances.
Bill Shankly took charge at Leeds Road in November 1956 and took the club to 12th in the Second Division in 1956–57; he kept faith with McGarry, who scored twice in 36 appearances.
He scored once in 38 games in 1959–60; Town posted a sixth-place finish under new boss Eddie Boot, who took charge after Shankly left the club to manage Liverpool.
[2] He spent two years at Dean Court, scoring twice in 78 league games, before hanging up his boots and devoting himself to management.
Magnificently fit, Bill was aggressive, busy, good in the air and a player of tremendous enthusiasm for the game.
[10] His post as player-manager as Don Welsh's successor at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1961 was the start of a long career in management for McGarry.
McGarry left Watford (who appointed Ken Furphy in his place) to take charge at recently relegated Ipswich Town in October 1964, following Jackie Milburn's brief and unsuccessful tenure.
Just months into the 1968–69 campaign, he walked out on Ipswich (who appointed Bobby Robson in his stead) to take charge at fellow First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had just sacked his former teammate Ronnie Allen.
[4] He built a team around speedy winger Dave Wagstaffe, central midfield duo Mike Bailey and Kenny Hibbitt, and strike partners Derek Dougan and John Richards.
They lost 2–1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the home leg of the final and could only manage a 1–1 draw at White Hart Lane, and were thereby denied European silverware.
"The older players like Mike Bailey, Derek Dougan and Waggy [Dave Wagstaffe] were leaving and he tried to replace them like for like, but you couldn't do it.
"He headed abroad and replaced Ferenc Puskás as coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, but soon returned to England.
[1] He was appointed as manager of Newcastle United the following month, after Richard Dinnis's brief and unsuccessful reign at St James' Park.