An A-Z of Liverpool F.C., Part 7

Just 'M'!

The Team of All the Macs

When John Houlding formed what became Liverpool FC (see ‘Liverpool FC’above), he and his Irish mate and club secretary John McKenna, later to become manager in the 1985/86 season, originally raided north of the border for players, to form what became known as the Team of All the Macs. McBride, McCartney (no relation!), McOwen, McQue, Matt McQueen (also later to manage the club and win the title - see below), Hugh McQueen, McVean - plus the manager! It starts to sound a bit like the firemen from Camberwick Greeen!

Matt McQueen

Having won the league with Liverpool in 1921/2, manager David Ashworth suddenly announced the shock decision that he was leaving Anfield and going to Oldham Athletic, to be nearer his sick wife. One of Liverpool’s Directors, and a former member of the Team of Macs, was given the manager’s job, initially on a temporary basis. But Matt McQueen oversaw the club’s successful defence of their first division title, and ended up staying in situ for five years and 229 games.

Matt and his brother Hugh had been two of the many Scotsmen recruited by John McKenna shortly after Liverpool were founded in 1892. Both played in Liverpool’s first-ever Football League match, against Middlesbrough Ironopolis in September, 1893. Matt later qualified as a Football League referee, before his appointment as a Director at Liverpool.

Before he stood down as manager, McQueen made one of Liverpool’s most significant signings ever, South African Gordon Hodgson, who would go on to score nearly 250 senior goals for the club in less than 400 appearances.

Matt lived in Kemlyn Road, just outside the stadium.

Merseyside

The county of which Liverpool sits at the centre (though not geographically!). Includes Southport, St.Helens, Birkenhead, Wallasey and the north part of The Wirral peninsula. Is rumoured to have three football teams, including Tranmere Rovers, who are based in Birkenhead.

The first all-Merseyside FA Cup Final, in 1986, was notable for the chants of “Mereyside, la-la-la” from both ends of Wembley, an act of unity in defiance of the Thatcher government’s stated dislike of the place, presumably because it persistently refused to follow much of the rest of the country and vote for her party.

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