Manchester is Green

A look at the Irish who built this club

As a city built on the efforts of immigration, Manchester is a city that has Irish roots that go deep. They have impacted on the music scene with representation from acts such as The 1975, The Smiths, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Mick Hucknall, James, The Cult, Primal Scream, Buzzcocks, Moloko and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Play-rights the calibre of Kevin McMahon, Bill Naughton, Tony Walsh and Damian Gorman. Actors and comedians like John Mahoney, Ian McShane, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne, Gerard Kearns, Peter Kay and Jason Manford.

The migration also applied to its sportspeople. Since our inception as a club, those teams throughout the decades have had Irish players in its ranks. In 1893, John Peden joined from Linfield becoming the first from the Island to represent the club. Here are ten more who have written their name in history.

Johnny Carey

Scouted by the club’s Dublin branch, he first arrived at the club in the late 1930’s and helped them gain promotion back to the First Division. Like most professional footballers at the time, his playing career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. Upon its conclusion, he was appointed captain of a side struggling to come to terms with a bombed out stadium and poor form. His calming presence put the club on a better platform and they soon began to improve.

He helped the club to win its first piece of silverware in nearly 40 years with the FA Cup in 1948 where they defeated Blackpool. He was still an important member of the squad that also delivered the third league title in 1952. A distinguished player, his ability on the ball saw him play in nine different positions including goalkeeper. He also captained the first visiting side to defeat England on home soil in 1946. Overall he played more than 300 times for the club and scored 17 goals. He passed away in 1995.

Harry Gregg

Sometimes a player makes a greater impact for what he does off the pitch than on it. The Coleraine born goalkeeper was a record transfer when he arrived at the club from Doncaster Rovers in 1957. The side were reigning league champions and were hotly tipped to become the first side to win the domestic double since Preston North End. They were also looking to become the first British side to win the European Cup. He was joined in the side by the exciting forward Liam Whelan and the stylish Jackie Blanchflower.

Alas the side were unable to achieve their goals. A stalled take-off from Munich airport proved to be the darkest day in the club’s history. Amongst the wreckage, he emerged as a hero. He helped a number of his team-mates to safety in the danger and a few of the passengers. He was unable to win silverware with the club in the subsequent years due to injury and playing time. He will always stand tall for what he did on that terrible evening on 6th of February though. He passed away in 2020.

Liam Whelan

Some players had their time at our club cut short long before they were able to fulfil their talents. Whelan came from a family that was stepped in footballing heritage in Dublin circles and joined us as an 18-year-old. He quickly became a regular in the young and exciting side. A ruthless goal-poacher, he finished as top scorer as the reds won two successive league titles. He was able to anticipate a chance unlike any others. He also produced a top performance in the 1957 FA Cup Final loss to Aston Villa.

Such was the amount of talent coming through that even he lost his place. The emerging Bobby Charlton started ahead of him that fateful night in Belgrade. A nervous flyer, he was heard to say “This may be death, but I am ready” as the plane prepared to take off from Munich. The 22-year-old was one of the eight players and 23 in all that lost their life. Even at that age he had already scored over 50 goals in just under 100 appearances. What he could have achieved at club and international level can only be imagined. A bridge was named after him in his local Cabra and he will always be part of our legacy.

Noel Cantwell

The Cork-born full-back proved to be the lynch-pin to a side who were struggling to recover from the impact of the Munich disaster. He had already garnered a reputation as a stylish and progressive defender at West Ham. His forward-thinking and intelligent play was a major influence on those young players at the club including a certain Bobby Moore. We were struggling to avoid relegation in 1963 when he joined and he helped us to avoid the drop. That same season he also led us to Wembley to win our first FA Cup since 1948.

As a flux of new and exciting players emerged, he proved to be steady influence on them. His fellow countryman, Tony Dunne, praised him along with the likes of Paddy Crerand. League championships arrived under his stewardship in 65 and 67 before he stepped down from playing duties. He played 123 times for us and scored six goals. He died in 2005 and he was honoured with a street named down the Mardyke Road where he grew up.

George Best

“I think I found you a genius.” The words sent to Sir Matt Busby upon our scouts first setting eye on the young winger in Belfast. He initially struggled with home sickness, but once he made his debut in 1963 as a 17-year-old, he did not look back. He won his first title in 65 but it was his display in Lisbon the following season that really put his name on the map. He ripped apart Benfica in a game that sent shockwaves across Europe. His peak came in 68 with the European Cup final at Wembley. His goal in extra-time put the club on the way to winning the trophy for the first time and quell the ghosts of Munich.

His good looks and style ensured he was often on both the front and back pages. The added attention, along with personal issues, saw him raise the ire of managers in the seasons that followed. He left the club in 1974 and embarked on a nomadic career that saw him rarely stay at a club for longer than a season. Even in his twilight, there was consideration of Northern Ireland selecting him for the 82 World Cup. He passed away in 2005 due to complications from a liver transplant. He will forever be immortalised as part of our holy trinity though.

Sammy McIlroy

Not many can claim to be the final signing of Matt Busby and spotted by the same scout who recommended George Best. But not many players had the character and drive of Sammy Mac. He arrived as a 15-year-old and made his debut two years later. The club was in a major flux at the time as they tried move on after the reign of Busby. The attacking midfielder was part of a young and unsettled squad that was relegated in the 1973/74 season. From the ashes a new and hungry side emerged with him at the core of it.

They swept back to the First Division the year after and became one of the most exciting and swashbuckling teams around. He was part of the side to win the 1977 FA Cup for the first time in 15 years denying Liverpool a possible treble. He scored himself in the final two years later as we staged a dramatic comeback. He departed the club in 1982 having scored 71 times in 417 game. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland squad of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. He remains an icon for those of a particular generation.

Paul McGrath

The ‘Black Pearl’ of Inchicore was one of those players that was an icon for many on both sides of the Irish Sea. Growing up in tough circumstances, he joined us from from Dublin side St. Patrick’s Athletic in 1982. A very introverted character, he struggled to deal with being abroad, before establishing himself in the side. He was assisted by fellow countrymen Frank Stapleton and Kevin Moran. He steadied the side in the 85 Cup Final after the sending-off of the latter before going on to emerge victorious.

It was the arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson, and his determination to stamp out the drinking culture at the club, that hastened his exit. His heavy drinking and chronic knee issues made him believe that McGrath had to retire. Instead he joined Aston Villa and helped them finish second in 90. His form in the debut Premier League season saw the midlands side push us all the way and him named as player of the year. He also starred as Republic of Ireland progressed to the knock-outs in World Cup 1990 and 1994. Persistent injuries meant he retired in 98. He has thankfully defeated the demons that plagued him for years and remains a popular character.

Norman Whiteside

A case of what could have been. He arrived from Belfast as a 13-year-old and quickly made an impact on the team upon making his senior debut in 82. He became the clubs youngest ever goal scorer, the youngest to appear at the World Cup and the youngest to score in the League Cup Final. Despite his youth, he had an impressive physique and able to bully defenders senior to him. He scored in the 83 FA Cup replay to land Ron Atkinson his first trophy and became a hero on the terraces. His curled effort in the 85 Final proved to be the winner that year to give him a second piece of silverware.

Unfortunately, he was subject to the same problems as McGrath had. He struggled for form under Sir Alex and the club sold him to Everton in 89. He was forced into early retirement at the age of 26 due to chronic knee injuries. It was from here that he embarked in a completely different career by becoming a qualified podiatrist. His work on ailments of knees and ankles has helped lengthen the career of others that he was unable to. He is also a popular after-dinner speaker.

Roy Keane

Not too many midfielders have a movie dedicated to them or former political leaders debating his actions on tv. But then again, Keane was a man to follow his own beat. Overlooked as a youngster due to his height and build, he eventually signed with Nottingham Forest in 90. He helped the club to both the 91 FA Cup and 92 League Cup Finals. He stood out in a relegated side in the inaugural Premier League and bigger clubs came calling. He joined us on a British record fee and soon began paying it back. He became the most successful captain in our history with 17 trophies in total. His tough-tackling, hard-running and determination made him a legend with the fans.

He was not far away from controversy though. He got criticism for calling certain fans prawn sandwich eaters, got lengthy bans for wild challenges on Gareth Southgate and Alfie Haaland, and divided a country ahead of the World Cup in 02. It was an interview calling out other players in the squad on MUTV that led to his departure from the club in 05. He briefly played for Celtic before retiring with a knee issue. He is now better known for some opinionated views on Sky and ITV.

Jonny Evans

The young lad who came and won the lot. Having originally come over as a 16-year-old, the Belfast native spent the early part of his career out on loan with Royal Antwerp and Sunderland. Competition was fierce at the time with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Nemenja Vidic in the side. His hard work and application soon began to pay dividends though. He was a key member of the side who won five title in seven years along with the Champions League and more.

The arrival of Louis Van Gaal spelled the end of his time at the club and he left to play for West Brom and Leicester City. On the international front, he was part of the Northern Ireland side at Euro 2016 and gained over a 100 caps. He returned on a free transfer in 2024 and played his way back into the side. He came off the bench to help us beat Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. Having hung up his boots at the end of last season, he has took on a number of roles at the club. He is currently part of the backroom staff under Michael Carrick.

Lets hope that there will be Irish players wearing the shirt for the reds for many years to come.