McShane Harry Image 1 Manchester United 1950

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Holytown, Lanarkshire born outside left Harry McShane began his football career with Belshill Athletic, from where he was signed by Second Division club Blackburn Rovers in April 1937, making his Football League debut against Chesterfield on Christmas Day 1937, also playing in the return fixture at Saltergate two days later. These would prove his only first team matches before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, during which he guested for Manchester City, Blackpool, Reading and Port Vale.

After the War he signed for First Division club Huddersfield Town in September 1946 and played League football again the same month after a gap of nearly nine years, scoring his only goal in 15 matches for The Terriers on his top flight debut against Derby County but then suffered a broken arm. He moved to Bolton Wanderers in July 1947 where he became a regular part of the team from the start of 1948-49, and by the time he transferred to Manchester United in exchange for defender John Ball and £5,000 in September 1950 he had scored 7 goals in 99 matches for The Trotters.

He was signed to replace the departing Charlie Mitten.and  scored seven goals in 31 appearances in the 1950-51 season, as The Red Devils finished runners up in the League Championship. His first goal at Old Trafford came on 7th October 1950, in a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. He was part of the United side that won the League Championship in 1951-52, scoring once in 12 league matches that season. His goal was an important one, as it came against rivals Manchester City in a 2-1 win at Maine Road on 15th September. He then struggled with a cartilage injury, and appeared just five times in the 1952-53 campaign, as Matt Busby’s side dropped to eighth place.

McShane failed to break into the first-team in the 1953-54 season, and in February 1954 was transferred to George Hardwick’s Oldham Athletic for £750 after 8 goals in 57 matches for United. The Latics were relegated out of the Second Division at the end of the 1953-54 season, and then finished tenth in the Third Division (North) in 1954-55. McShane scored 6 goals in 42 matches during his time at Boundary Park.

He later joined non-league Chorley (as player-coach) in 1955, Wellington Town in 1956, and Droylsden in 1958. After retiring as a player, McShane became the coach of Stalybridge Celtic. He then worked as a scout for Manchester United, where he was credited with bringing Wes Brown to the management’s attention. He was also an announcer at Old Trafford during the 1960s.