Sammy McIlroy Profile
Samuel Baxter McIlroy, born Belfast, Northern Ireland, August 2, 1954. Sammy McIlroy joined Manchester United as an apprentice in 1969 and would sign professional terms in 1971. The Northern Ireland international was later on the books of Stoke City, Manchester City, Orgryte, Bury, Admira Wacker Modling, Preston North End, and finally Northwich Victoria where he ended his playing career in 1993.
Coming from East Belfast, Sammy McIlroy hails from a district that has produced a great number of highly talented Manchester United players up through the years, including household names such as Trevor Anderson, Georgie Best, Jonny Evans, David McCreery, Eric McMordie, Jimmy Nicholl, and Norman Whiteside. In the case of McIlroy, he was discovered by Manchester United´s Northern Ireland scout Bob Bishop while still a schoolboy player and was advised to seek his fortune in the calmer climes of England as his nation was tottering on the brink of Civil War. The last youth player to be signed by Sir Matt Busby, he arrived in Manchester as a fresh faced teenager during the summer of 1969 and quickly settled down at United, who were known for bridging the gap between different religions and cultures. What the Protestant boy lacked in natural ability he more than made up for in hard work, and he made jaws drop when he found the net on his debut in a high scoring 3-3 First Division draw with Manchester City at Maine Road on the 6th of November 1971.
Manchester City controlled proceedings from the beginning of the first period, but it was Manchester United who opened the scoring when George Best laid off the ball to McIlroy who hammered home to give the visitors the lead six minutes ahead of the break. In the second half, United doubled their advantage as Brian Kidd added a second goal from close range in the 46th minute, only for Francis Lee to reduce the deficit for City from the penalty spot eleven minutes later. The Citizens kept on attacking and the home team had their equaliser two minutes past the hour mark when Lee sent a brilliant through pass to the on-running Colin Bell who rounded United goalkeeper Alex Stepney and put the ball into the empty net to make it two-all, but only one minute later in the derby clash the visiting side regained the lead as a ferocious long distance shot from John Aston Junior ended up in the onion bag. Refusing to surrender, the hosts levelled the score once more thanks to Mike Summerbee who powered the ball into the goal in the 89th minute of the contest after a mistake from Stepney. Sammy McIlroy followed up by scoring his second goal for Manchester United in a 3-1 First Division triumph against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford just a week later, and the rookie went on to clock up four goals during 21 first team appearances for The Reds in his inaugural season in which the club ended eight in the top flight table. The 1972-73 campaign was to be a disappointment, however, with Manchester United finishing in 18th place, and the following season was even worse as the Old Trafford outfit found themselves relegated to the Second Division along with Southampton and Norwich City at the end of the day.
The Northern Irishman proceeded to amass a total of 391 first team appearances for Manchester United, and played an important part in the nothing but fantastic revival of the sleeping giant during the mid-1970s. As for honours, he won the Second Division Championship with United in 1974-75, and pocketed an FA Cup winner’s medal as Tommy Docherty´s boys edged out bitter enemies Liverpool by a 2–1 margin in the final on the 21st of May 1977. He was also a member of the side which played out a goalless draw with the Merseysiders in the FA Charity Shield match at Wembley Stadium on the 13th of August the same year. After leaving Manchester United midway through the 1981-82 campaign, the strong running midfielder would go on to appear for Richie Barker´s Stoke City for whom he scored on his club debut in a comfortable 2-0 First Division win over relegation strugglers Sunderland at Roker Park on the 10th of February 1982. While at Victoria Ground, the playmaker notched up 14 Football League goals in 133 games for the Staffordshire side before he joined forces with none other than Manchester City at the beginning of the 1985-86 season. There followed moves to Orgryte Gothenburg, Bury, Admira Wacker, Preston North End, and ultimately Northwich Victoria.
A composed player and a sublime reader of the game, McIlroy collected an impressive 88 senior caps for Northern Ireland and he played in all of the country’s matches during both the 1982 World Cup in Spain and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. And without doubt, the absolute highlight of his international career arrived in the unforgettable 1-0 World Cup Group Stage victory against hosts Spain at the Estadio Luis Casanova in Valencia on the 25th of June 1982, with Watford striker Gerry Armstrong hitting the winner for The Green and White Army in the 47th minute. Following his retirement from active playing, McIlroy eventually decided to move into management and he became manager at Football Conference Northwich Victoria where he spent one year before taking over fellow Conference side Macclesfield Town, whom he guided to promotion to the Football League in the 1996-97 season. He was later manager at Football League Second Division team Stockport County, where he stayed for just one season, and then Football Conference outfit Morecambe, whom he managed for six years. Sammy McIlroy also managed his native Northern Ireland for nearly three years between 2000 and 2003. Sammy McIlroy Playing Career: Manchester United, Stoke City, Manchester City, Orgryte Gothenburg, Bury, Admira Wacker Modling, Preston North End, Northwich Victoria. Playing Honours: English Football League Second Division 1975, English FA Cup 1977, English FA Charity Shield 1977.
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Manchester United Appearances
1971-72 Season:
Manchester City 3 Manchester United 3
Stoke City 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Stoke City 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 3 Leicester City 2
Southampton 2 Manchester United 5
Stoke City 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Coventry City 2
Manchester United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3
Southampton 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Southampton 1
Manchester United 0 Chelsea 1
Leeds United 5 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Everton 0
Stoke City 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Crystal Palace 0
Sheffield United 1 Manchester United 1
Leicester City 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Stoke City 0
1972-73 Season:
Manchester United 1 Ipswich Town 2
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0
Everton 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Leicester City 1
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0
West Ham United 2 Manchester United 2
Oxford United 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 0 Coventry City 1
Manchester United 3 Oxford United 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 0
Sheffield United 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Bristol Rovers 2
Manchester United 2 Liverpool 0
1973-74 Season:
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Stoke City 0
Manchester United 2 Queens Park Rangers 1
Leicester City 1 Manchester United 0
Ipswich Town 2 Manchester United 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Southampton 0
Manchester United 2 Coventry City 3
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Sheffield United 2
Manchester United 2 Ipswich Town 0
Queens Park Rangers 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
West Ham United 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1
Manchester United 0 Ipswich Town 1
Coventry City 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Leeds United 2
Derby County 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Sheffield United 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 3 Burnley 3
Norwich City 0 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 0
Manchester United 3 Everton 0
Southampton 1 Manchester United 1
Everton 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Manchester City 1
Stoke City 1 Manchester United 0
1974-75 Season:
Orient 0 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 4 Millwall 0
Manchester United 2 Portsmouth 1
Cardiff City 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Nottingham Forest 2
Manchester United 5 Charlton Athletic 1
West Bromwich Albion 1 Manchester United 1
Millwall 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Bristol Rovers 0
Manchester United 3 Bolton Wanderers 0
Norwich City 2 Manchester United 0
Fulham 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 0
Manchester United 1 Notts County 0
Portsmouth 0 Manchester United 0
Blackpool 0 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Southampton 0
Manchester United 4 Oxford United 0
Bristol City 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Burnley 2
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 1
Hull City 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Sunderland 2
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 0
Sheffield Wednesday 4 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 0 Orient 0
Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 0
York City 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 West Bromwich Albion 1
Oldham Athletic 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Walsall 0
Walsall 3 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0
Manchester United 2 Norwich City 2
Sunderland 0 Manchester United 0
Norwich City 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Bristol City 1
Oxford United 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Hull City 0
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 4 Cardiff City 0
Bolton Wanderers 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Norwich City 1
Nottingham Forest 0 Manchester United 1
Bristol Rovers 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 York City 1
Manchester United 3 Oldham Athletic 2
Southampton 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Fulham 0
Notts County 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 4 Blackpool 0
1975-76 Season:
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Manchester United 2
Birmingham City 0 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 5 Sheffield United 1
Manchester United 1 Coventry City 1
Stoke City 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Manchester United 2 Brentford 1
Queens Park Rangers 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Ipswich Town 0
Derby County 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 0 Leicester City 0
Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 2
Leeds United 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Arsenal 1
West Ham United 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Norwich City 0
Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester City 4 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 0
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 0
Sheffield United 1 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Everton 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Burnley 1
Manchester United 2 Oxford United 1
Manchester United 2 Queens Park Rangers 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 3 Peterborough United 1
Manchester United 3 Birmingham City 1
Coventry City 1 Manchester United 1
Leicester City 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 0 Liverpool 0
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Derby County 1
Manchester United 4 West Ham United 0
Manchester United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 3 Leeds United 2
Norwich City 1 Manchester United 1
Newcastle United 3 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 0
Derby County 0 Manchester United 2
Ipswich Town 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Everton 1
Burnley 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Stoke City 1
Manchester United 0 Southampton 1
Manchester United 2 Manchester City 0
1976-77 Season:
Manchester United 2 Birmingham City 2
Coventry City 0 Manchester United 2
Derby County 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 5 Tranmere Rovers 0
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Newcastle United 2 Manchester United 2
Ajax 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Middlesbrough 0
Manchester United 2 Sunderland 2
Manchester City 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 2 Ajax 0
Leeds United 0 Manchester United 2
Sunderland 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Sunderland 0
West Bromwich Albion 4 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Juventus 0 1-0
Manchester United 2 Norwich City 2
Manchester United 7 Newcastle United 2
Manchester United 0 Ipswich Town 1
Juventus 3 Manchester United 0
Aston Villa 3 Manchester United 2
Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 West Ham United 2
Manchester United 0 Everton 3
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Everton 0
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 0
Ipswich Town 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Walsall 0
Manchester United 2 Coventry City 0
Manchester United 2 Bristol City 1
Birmingham City 2 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Queens Park Rangers 0
Manchester United 3 Derby County 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 0 Liverpool 0
Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 1
Southampton 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Manchester City 1
Manchester United 2 Southampton 1
Manchester United 1 Leeds United 0
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 1
Manchester United 2 West Bromwich Albion 2
Norwich City 2 Manchester United 1
Everton 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Stoke City 0
Sunderland 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Leicester City 1
Queens Park Rangers 4 Manchester United 0
Leeds United 1 Manchester United 2
Middlesbrough 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Queens Park Rangers 0
Liverpool 1 Manchester United 0
Bristol City 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2
West Ham United 4 Manchester United 2
Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2
Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0
1977-78 Season:
Birmingham City 1 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 2 Coventry City 1
Manchester United 0 Ipswich Town 0
Derby County 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester City 3 Manchester United 1
Saint Etienne 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Chelsea 1
Leeds United 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Liverpool 0
Manchester United 2 Saint Etienne 0
Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 2
FC Porto 4 Manchester United 0
West Bromwich Albion 4 Manchester United 0
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 5 FC Porto 2
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2
Nottingham Forest 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Norwich City 0
Manchester United 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Manchester United 0 Nottingham Forest 4
Everton 2 Manchester United 6
Manchester United 3 Leicester City 1
Coventry City 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Birmingham City 2
Carlisle United 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Carlisle United 2
Ipswich Town 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 4 Derby County 0
Manchester United 1 West Bromwich Albion 1
West Bromwich Albion 3 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Bristol City 1
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 2
Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1
Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0
Newcastle United 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 2 Manchester City 2
Manchester United 1 West Bromwich Albion 1
Leicester City 2 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Everton 2
Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 1
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 3 Queens Park Rangers 1
Norwich City 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 3 West Ham United 0
Bristol City 0 Manchester United 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 1
1978-79 Season:
Manchester United 1 Birmingham City 0
Leeds United 2 Manchester United 3
Ipswich Town 3 Manchester United 0
Stockport County 2 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Everton 1
Queens Park Rangers 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Nottingham Forest 1
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 0
Manchester United 1 Watford 2
Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 2
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Bristol City 3
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 1 Southampton 1
Birmingham City 5 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Ipswich Town 0
Everton 3 Manchester United 0
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Derby County 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Bolton Wanderers 3 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Liverpool 3
Manchester United 3 West Bromwich Albion 5
Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0
Fulham 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 2
Manchester City 0 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Fulham 0
Colchester United 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Aston Villa 1
Manchester United 2 Queens Park Rangers 0
Bristol City 1 Manchester United 2
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Coventry City 4 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 4 Leeds United 1
Middlesbrough 2 Manchester United 2
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 2
Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1
Norwich City 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Bolton Wanderers 2
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Coventry City 0
Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester United 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Norwich City 0
Manchester United 0 Derby County 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Manchester United 0
Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Chelsea 1
1979-80 Season:
Southampton 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Middlesbrough 1
Manchester United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Derby County 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 Manchester United 1
Norwich City 4 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Stoke City 0
Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
West Bromwich Albion 2 Manchester United 0
Bristol City 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Ipswich Town 0
Everton 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Southampton 0
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Crystal Palace 1
Manchester United 5 Norwich City 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 1 Leeds United 1
Coventry City 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Nottingham Forest 0
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 3 Arsenal 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Middlesbrough 1 Manchester United 1
Derby County 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Stoke City 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 4 Bristol City 0
Manchester United 2 Bolton Wanderers 0
Ipswich Town 6 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Everton 0
Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 0
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester United 2
Nottingham Forest 2 Manchester United 0
Bolton Wanderers 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 4 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Norwich City 0 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 1
Manchester United 2 Coventry City 1
Leeds United 2 Manchester United 0
1980-81 Season:
Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Manchester United 0
Birmingham City 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Coventry City 1
Manchester United 1 Sunderland 1
Coventry City 1 Manchester United 0
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 5 Leicester City 0
Manchester United 1 Widzew Lodz 1
Leeds United 0 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 2 Manchester City 2
Widzew Lodz 0 Manchester United 0
Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 3
Manchester United 0 Arsenal 0
Ipswich Town 1 Manchester United 1
Stoke City 1 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 2 Everton 0
Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Coventry City 0
Manchester United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Middlesbrough 1 Manchester United 1
Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Manchester United 4
Manchester United 1 Southampton 1
Norwich City 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 2 Stoke City 2
Arsenal 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Liverpool 0
West Bromwich Albion 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 2
Manchester United 2 Birmingham City 0
Manchester United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Manchester City 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1
Southampton 1 Manchester United 0
Aston Villa 3 Manchester United 3
Manchester United 1 Nottingham Forest 1
1981-82 Season:
Coventry City 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 0 Nottingham Forest 0
Manchester United 1 Ipswich Town 2
Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 1 Swansea City 0
Manchester United 1 Leeds United 0
Manchester United 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester City 0 Manchester United 0
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Southampton 3 Manchester United 2
Watford 1 Manchester United 0
Manchester United 1 Everton 1
Total Appearances: 419