Anyone for McGarryism? Seriously?

[pjdaly]

So, 14 games to go. In another thread I posted recently, I praised the spirit of some of the teams we have had in the past who gave everything to steer us clear of the drop-zone. Even though they were not good teams they left absolutely everything out there, and were to be hugely admired for their efforts.

By contrast, back in our most glorious season of 1966-67, when we won promotion from this league, we signed a player called Ron McGarry from Newcastle and he played in the latter stages of our promotion campaign. My recollection of McGarry is that he was frustrating because you could clearly see ability but the application was questionable . Here's a quote from an interview . . .

"If I play badly, I don't worry about it. I know I'll regain my form. Sometimes people make cracks if I have had a bad game, and I say 'you're the mug, you paid to watch'. "

Full article:-

https://www.nufc-history.co.uk/profiles ... Garry.html

In some of those heroic teams I referenced, from the seasons of 1973-74, 1998-99, and 2020-21, we never had anybody as talented as Ron McGarry. But they had the spirit of lions to steer us clear of the drop-zone. I know which type I want to see in these last 14 games.

[FanzoneFan]

I always enjoy reading your posts pjdaly. As a matter of interest can you remember the first game you attended ?

[russell_anderson]

So, 14 games to go. In another thread I posted recently, I praised the spirit of some of the teams we have had in the past who gave everything to steer us clear of the drop-zone. Even though they were not good teams they left absolutely everything out there, and were to be hugely admired for their efforts.

By contrast, back in our most glorious season of 1966-67, when we won promotion from this league, we signed a player called Ron McGarry from Newcastle and he played in the latter stages of our promotion campaign. My recollection of McGarry is that he was frustrating because you could clearly see ability but the application was questionable . Here's a quote from an interview . . .

"If I play badly, I don't worry about it. I know I'll regain my form. Sometimes people make cracks if I have had a bad game, and I say 'you're the mug, you paid to watch'. "

Full article:-

https://www.nufc-history.co.uk/profiles ... Garry.html

In some of those heroic teams I referenced, from the seasons of 1973-74, 1998-99, and 2020-21, we never had anybody as talented as Ron McGarry. But they had the spirit of lions to steer us clear of the drop-zone. I know which type I want to see in these last 14 games.

(In)Famous for is quote after arriving in Barrow as it being "at the end of the longest cul-de-sac in the country".

[bluessupporter]

(In)Famous for is quote after arriving in Barrow as it being "at the end of the longest cul-de-sac in the country".


Probably pinched it from Mike Harding who used to have it in his comedy shows at the then Civic Hall.

[MisterPleasant]

(In)Famous for is quote after arriving in Barrow as it being "at the end of the longest cul-de-sac in the country".


Probably pinched it from Mike Harding who used to have it in his comedy shows at the then Civic Hall.

Unlikely; McGarry pre-dated Harding's touring career.

[Pedro]

Unlikely; McGarry pre-dated Harding's touring career.

What let McGarry and some other players was the drinking culture.
I believe often seen in the 99 club.

[bluessupporter]

Just to nit-pick, Harding used to say the longest cut-de-sac in the world, not the country.

He also described Cleator Moor as one house deep and six miles long.

[pjdaly]

I always enjoy reading your posts pjdaly. As a matter of interest can you remember the first game you attended ?

Thank you for the kind words, Fanzone Fan.

To answer your question, no, actually, I don't exactly recall the first match I ever attended at Holker Street. I am not even sure if it was in the last century or the one before. What I can vaguely recall is my Dad lifting me over the turnstile that used to be at the corner adjacent to the traffic lights (before it was demolished . . . erm . . . obviously). I guess being lifted over the turnstile means I didn't pay to get in. There must be an outstanding bill on my slate. The other memory I have is going up those few steps from the turnstile and being greeted by the green expanse of the Holker Street pitch before me. But, as I say, I have no recollection of who the first opponents were. I remember clearly the names of all the players but, interestingly, have no pictorial reminiscences in my head as to how well or how badly each of those 'names' performed. I mentioned in the 'Walney' thread that I know Tommy Cahill was in the first Barrow team I saw. But, as I mentioned, I have no recollection of how well he played, but I do seem to recall an awareness that he was generally well regarded.

Back to Ron McGarry. It does occur to me that my opinion on "The Pirate" as I think he was known (don't ask me why, no idea) is almost the opposite of what is written in the Newcastle Utd article I included in the opening post. That article suggests he worked prodigiously but was short on talent. My own memory is the reverse - - - that he had talent when he wanted to show it but lacked commitment.

I have heard stories of McGarry that I am certainly not going to relate here . . . partly because they may be totally false and partly because I don't want to face a libel case as McGarry is, I think, 88 now, and the oldest surviving member of the few still left from the promotion squad of 1966-67.

On a positive note, the article does paint a picture of someone who was clearly a character . . . I mean, can you believe that bit where it says that he took to the pitch on one or two occasions with a cigarette??? However, although it's good to be entertained by 'characters', the predicament we are currently in means that we need players who we would trust in the trenches. I just hope there is nobody with us at this time who thinks it doesn't matter, and that we are mugs for paying to watch them. There's nobody with that attitude in our current squad is there??? Well, is there??? We will certainly find out in the remaining 14 matches.

[olefogey]

All good stuff. My own memory of Ron McGarry is that he was great entertainment, playing the sort of passes that no one else in the team could, as well as being a useful finisher. He was also a master of the dark arts. If he was badly fouled there would be no immediate retaliation, but at some point later in the game the player responsible would be seen writhing on the turf, with neither ball nor referee in the immediate vicinity! A friend of mine who had watched him regularly at Newcastle, where he was seen as just a runner, was surprised at the skill levels he showed at Barrow, and put it down to the slower pace and greater space available in the lower division. I also remember him saying when he signed for us that Barrow had one nightclub that was like a pitman's canteen, and that his service would get Billy McAdams back in the Northern Ireland team - definitely a character!

[Pedro]

McGarry had cards printed to give out with his name on and the wording "have goals will travel"

[FanzoneFan]

“ I have heard stories of McGarry that I am certainly not going to relate here . . . partly because they may be totally false and partly because I don't want to face a libel case as McGarry is, I think, 88 now, and the oldest surviving member of the few still left from the promotion squad of 1966-67. “

Now that would make a good post,

[Arvo]

Just to nit-pick, Harding used to say the longest cut-de-sac in the world, not the country.

He also described Cleator Moor as one house deep and six miles long.

It’s actually Cleator that is one house deep and six miles long. Cleator Moor is farther along the road and always seemed to me, when I was dragged up there kicking and screaming as a kid to visit numerous great aunts and uncles, to be one very large council estate of flat-roofed houses.

[xerxes]

It’s actually Cleator that is one house deep and six miles long.

Frizington, a few miles up the road, is also like that.

[xerxes]

Here is a picture with Ron seeming to be enjoying himself in typical fashion. This is from the short-lived 'Zigger' magazine, which was published for a few issues at that time. I wonder where Miss Zigger is now?

IMG_0523.JPEG (778.39 KiB) Viewed 23041 times

[olefogey]

Great picture of the players of that era. Does anyone else think that doesn't look like Tony Field between Mick Hartland and Eric Harrison? I know the face is obscured, but it looks more like Fred Else to me. Mind you, I wouldn't be putting too much money on it!