World War II disrupted what could have been a successful spell for Stoke, but in the first season after the war they made their first real attempt to win the First Division, but an ongoing dispute with star winger Stanley Matthews saw him leave for Blackpool just before the end of the season and Stoke went on to lose their must-win match against Sheffield United.

He spent a short spell in charge of Merthyr Tydfil, leaving after one season due to ill health and dying a year later.

[4] He missed only a dozen of a possible 224 Scottish Football League fixtures (the top division continued to be contested officially during World War I) across his six seasons with the Sons[5] – even squeezing in a single wartime guest appearance for Partick Thistle[6][7] – and began at attract interest from south of the border, also coming into international consideration when selected for the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match in March 1920 along with clubmate James Scott.

[8] Burnley signed him in August 1920 for a fee of £3,500 but he failed to become a regular at Turf Moor, making three appearances in a season where the Clarets won the Football League championship.

He acquired the reputation as a fearless man-marker, and if 'dour' described McGrory's approach on the field, it aptly summed up the non-nonsense Scot's personality off it.

[3] His career at Stoke the took a dramatic turn as Mather left to become manager of Newcastle United and chairman Sherwin offered the job to McGrory who accepted.

He replaced himself with Charlie Scrimshaw while Frank Soo displaced Harry Sellars in midfield and the emerging Freddie Steele edged out Tommy Sale.

[3] It was brave management and it paid off as the young players developed into one of the most exciting teams in the country in the 1930s and in McGrory's first season in charge they finished a highest ever position of fourth with 47 points.

[1] Stoke rejected his request and Matthews wrote to the local paper thanking the fans for their support and he forged an uneasy truce with the management and board.

[1] In 1953 Merthyr Tydfil, an ambitious non-league side seeking election to the Football League, tempted McGrory out of retirement, although ill-health meant his tenure lasted just one season.