SAMMY McILROY 2006 to date
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As a player Sammy with be best remembered as a Manchester United player making his debut at the age of 17 at Maine Road against local rivals Manchester City. Sensational he open the scoring with the first goal, fans and critics of the game where a liking him to Old Tafford legend George Best. January 1973 nearly saw the end of his career when he was involved in a car crash but his usual fighting spirt saw his quickly return to the game. However times where hard at United, 1974 saw the club relegated from the top flight to the old second division but the following season Sammy but a new playing partnership with Stuart Pearson which helped United to regain top flight football. He was never a prolific as a centre-forward but with Jimmy Greenhof joining the club he showed his great versatility in midfield, his game play came og more importance to the team. 1977 saw Sammy win a FA cup winner medal in the final against Liverpool and he scored a late equaliser against Arsenal in the 1979 final, hailed as the best final by critics, only to see Arsenal get a late winner. Sammy goal is said to be one the finest in any final.
While playing for United in the I970's & 80's he was a permanent fixture in the Northern Ireland team play 88 games and scoring 5 goal, he help to send his team to two World Cup final in 1982 & 1986. After a decade at Manchester United (342 game & 57 goals) he parted from Old Trafford and went onto play for Stoke City in a transfer deal of £350,000.00 where he played from 1981 to 85 with 133 games and 14 goals. Others where Orgryte, Manchester City (13 game & 1 goal), Bury twice 1986 to 87, (VFB Molding 1987 to 88) 1988 to 90 with a total of 57 and 2 goals. His last playing team was Preston North End in 1990 with 20 games.
Sammy moved into football management with non-league Macclesfield Town and he took them into the football league in 1996/7 season, it was the second time they had won. Two years earlier they had been denied their place due to ground regulations. 2000 saw Sammy take on the role proudly as manager of the Northern Ireland team and he appointed as his assistant Jim Harvey. 2003 he took the role as manager of Stockport Country but left the club after 13 months.
Sammy McIlroy was appointed caretaker manager, in November 2005, taking over the duties of manager as Jim Harvey recovered from a heart attack. . His assistant being Mark Lillis former Manchester city and Huddersfield Town player. The team finshed fifth in the league and in the play-off's, however the team lost in an exciting two leg tie against Hereford United. Sadly lossing in the 2nd leg in extra time. At the end of the season shortly after Jim Harvey being released as manager the board appionted Sammy as first team manager with a two year contract.
In his first full season as manager, along with his assisant Mark Lillis, he took Morecambe FC to Wembley for the first ever Conference Play-Off final. The team beat Exeter City 2-1 to gain promotion to the Fooball League.
