One of the unchanged “famous six” from 1952/53 promotion season
- Learn more about former Town player Bill McGarry
- Bill was born on this day in 1927
- Right-half made 381 appearances for The Terriers
One of the unchanged “famous six” during Huddersfield Town’s 1952/53 promotion winning season, Bill McGarry enjoyed over a decade with the club where he made 381 appearances and scored 26 goals.
McGarry completed a £12,000 move to The Terriers in 1951 from boyhood club Port Vale under then-manager George Stephenson, arriving as a much unknown quantity. But it didn’t take long for Town fans to realise that Stephenson had signed a quality player. McGarry was the perfect team player; dependable, competent and a great winner of the ball.
An ever-present for Town and very rarely injured, the right-half played the maximum full 42 league games in each of his first three seasons with the club, 1951/52, 1952/53 and 1954/55. Thereafter he averaged 37 appearances a season, a remarkable accomplishment.
In his second season with the club, McGarry was the number 4 in the famous unchanged back six who won promotion back to the First Division at the first time of asking. All six players played every minute of the League campaign under new boss Andy Beattie, letting in just 33 goals in 42 games and boasting the best defensive record in the Football League that season.
The following season McGarry helped his side to an impressive third place during their first campaign back in the top flight, as The Terriers finished just six points behind champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.
McGarry’s impressive form for Town soon saw him recognised by the England national team. One of only 21 players to play for England whilst at Town, McGarry was first rewarded with an England B cap before going on to make to make two appearances for the senior side at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.
McGarry in fact marked his senior England debut with an assist against the home nation as England progressed through the game 2-0 winners. Town’s right-half held his place in the starting line-up for the quarter-final match against Uruguay, one which ended in a 4-2 defeat for The Three Lions.
After excelling at Town for 10 years, McGarry left in 1961 with four England caps to his name to join Bournemouth as a player/coach and thereafter begin his managerial career.
