Thomas McGhee
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Thomas "Tommy" Edward McGhee (born 10th May, 1929 in Manchester, Lancashire) was a footballer best known for his spell at Portsmouth FC during the 1950's, making 136 appearances which gained him England recognition at Amateur and 'B' level.
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[edit] Childhood
Early in his boyhood, McGhee caught the football bug when going to watch his uncle play in the Manchester Amateur League. At the age of twelve he started taking a serious interest in playing when he became a permanent member of the St.Teresa's School team. He later spent two years at the Stretford Technical College, opposite Lancashire County Cricket Club's ground and about half a mile from Old Trafford. In his village, a lady who ran the local shop used to organise coaches - one week to Manchester United and the next to Manchester City. McGhee favoured the latter, and when he went to Maine Road he'd watch City greats like Albert Emptage and Frank Swift who he also saw at the college in 1944 teaching PE to the soldiers.
[edit] Starting out in Football
Towards the end of the war, McGhee started playing senior amateur football. He joined the Fleet Air Arm for a seven year term in November 1946, but due to training, did not play for the first six months. Just one year later that all changed. He was stationed in Scotland and Service Football really started to shape his future. He regularly played for the Air Command and in 1952 he began playing for the Navy in the Inter-Service Championships usually won by the Army or the RAF who were able to field a host of professionals such as Ron Flowers of Wolves, Eddie Firmani of Charlton Athletic, and Jackie Henderson and Gordon Dale both of Portsmouth FC.
[edit] Portsmouth Football Club
In 1952, McGhee signed amateur forms with Portsmouth FC and at the same time joined Wealdstone FC, in North London. It was perfect timing; that season, for the first time in their history, they won the Athenian League championship. McGhee's part in that success was recognised when, in 1953/54, he won three England Amateur international caps. McGhee signed for Portsmouth FC in May 1954. McGhee had previously been on the club's books as an amateur but this had been allowed to lapse. Manager Eddie Lever was impressed with the full back when he turned out for a senior service side against a powerful FA eleven on 31st December 1953 and so kept a keen eye on the player for several months. In May 1954, Lever, knowing that McGhee was being sought after by tops clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, was tipped off that the 25 year-old Petty Officer was on Portsmouth Harbour about to leave for his home in Manchester. The Pompey manager jumped into a taxi and arrived just before the train pulled out and signed him on professional forms for the club.
McGhee's Pompey career began in the reserve team, but in November he was handed his senior debut at home to Everton (5-0). He made tremendous progress, forging a very successful full-back partership with Jack Mansell and he played in every remaining fixture of the exciting 1954/55 season which saw Pompey finish 3rd in Division 1. McGhee only missed two games throughout the next term, obviously proving that he had bridged the huge gap between non-league and First Division football very successfully. His performances led to him being picked to play in an England 'B' international. McGhee remained at Fratton Park for three more seasons, leaving for Reading F.C. in 1959 after Pompey had been relegated to Division 2. He had served Pompey extremely well and was a great favourite with the supporters.
[edit] Life after Portsmouth
In July 1959, McGhee had a short unhappy spell at Reading F.C. where, after making his home debut against Port Vale, a series of injuries restricted him to nine Division 3 appearances. In the 1960s, McGhee played non-league football for Poole Town and Fareham Town.
Tommy McGhee now enjoys his retirement in the Portsmouth area, where he spends his leisure time playing bowls and with his family.
[edit] Trivia
• Tommy McGhee appears on the cover of the Official History of Portsmouth Football Club video set
• He is currently a season ticket holder at Portsmouth FC
• He has said that Sir Tom Finney was the toughest player he ever played against
