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![]() McGrath (standing, fifth from left) with Ireland in 1960 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael McGrath | ||
Date of birth | 7 April 1936 | ||
Place of birth | Dublin | ||
Position(s) | Left half | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1953–1954 | Home Farm | ||
1954–1966 | Blackburn Rovers | 269 | (8) |
1966–1967 | Bradford Park Avenue | 50 | (2) |
1967–1968 | Bangor City | ||
International career | |||
1958–1967 | Ireland | 22 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Michael McGrath (born 7 April 1936) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a left half.
McGrath began his career with Dublin club Home Farm before moving to England to join Blackburn Rovers in August 1954. He made 269 Football League appearances over the next ten years at Ewood Park. and played with players including Peter Dobing, Derek Dougan and Mike England. He helped the club win promotion to the First Division and appeared in the 1960 FA Cup Final where he scored an own goal in a 3–0 defeat to Wolves.
In March 1966 he signed for Bradford Park Avenue where he made 50 league appearances before becoming player manager at Bangor City F.C. He also played 22 times for the Republic of Ireland national team[1] and made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland B team in 1957.
He later lived in Blackburn and retired after 24 years working for Thwaites Brewery.