FINE MARGINS
We catch up with Karl Marginson after completing his first 12 months out of football in 30 years
FROM milkman to professional footballer and then on to becoming the longest-serving manager in the NonLeague game, Karl Marginson shares his feelings openly on a tough 12 months and his experience of not being involved for the first time in 30 years.
It’s been a challenging 12 months for ‘Margy’, but it’s been a period that has presented an invaluable opportunity to learn and grow, starting with him leaving his role as manager of FC United of Manchester and culminating in the death of his father after losing his battle with cancer.
Marginson, who left the Red Rebels just a few weeks into last season, has used his time away from the day-to-day involvement at Broadhurst Park coming to terms with his father’s illness and subsequent passing, and spending time with his family.
Reflection
“On top of a few issues I was having at work, with all the changes going on behind the scenes, I was told that my dad had a tumour, and I just felt that it was the right time for me to take a break,” he told The NLP. “I realise now that it was just what I needed to do.
“It has given me some muchneeded time with my family, meaning that my wife Helen and I could take our first football-free holiday in over 12 years. It also gave me time to reflect on what I have learnt as a manager, and time to study and improve in areas that I feel I needed to.
“I’ve observed training sessions at some fantastic clubs and continued to keep in contact with friends and colleagues within the game to ensure my finger has been on the pulse as best it can be. These are things that will make me an even better manager than I was first time around.”
The chairman who gives the former Football League midfielder his next managerial role will undoubtedly be gaining a man with a superb record as despite going into the FC United job with no previous management experience, Marginson oversaw an unbelievable first 10 years for the club which saw them gain four promotions, winning three league titles and several cups.
His appointment as the rebel club’s first ever manager back in 2005 came as a surprise to everyone, including Marginson, who received a phone call asking him if would like to meet a group of people that were forming a new football club.
“I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan, and like everyone else at that time I had heard the rumours that there was going to be a ‘breakaway’ club formed by disaffected United fans, but I hadn’t ever thought about looking into it, never mind becoming the manager. I was actually playing golf when I took the call but as I was intrigued, I agreed to meet up with the group, and the rest as they say is history.”
In the past, Marginson may have been slightly dismissive of his part in the fantastic history of FC United, starting with nothing through to earning their place in the National League North just 10 years later.
These days, however, the softly
spoken Mancunian, speaks proudly of his growth as a manager and his achievements during his 12-year stint in charge of the club.
Support
“After my second meeting with the newly-formed board it very quickly became obvious that there was a mountain to climb regarding being ready for the first season in the North West Counties First Division. We didn’t even have any bibs, balls or cones, let alone players and a place to train or play matches. I later became the Community Development Manager as well as first team manager, which was
another steep learning curve.”
The on-field statistics certainly back up Marginson’s management credentials, having managed 776 games, winning 397, drawing 147 whilst losing 232, to give him a win percentage of 51 – a huge figure taking the amount of games played into consideration.
When looking at the stats, however impressive they are, it is easy to overlook the fact that Marginson kept the club, one season aside, in and around the top of the table throughout the first ten years of his tenure whilst also helping build the football club outside of the first team. He would also often find himself rebuilding his first-choice squad at the same time as his players
were picked up by clubs higher up the food chain. “From day one, I was responsible for and played a major and active role in the development of the club from one senior male team in 2005 to six teams playing at a range of standards by the time I left. From various under 18 teams at ‘academy’ level to amateur open age team that operate as a reserve team, up to semiprofessional. “I built a successful team of coaches and assistants, a scouting structure that had the inclusion of our supporters at its core, planned, developed and helped the medical professionals, and extensive physiotherapy and wellbeing department to ensure that the playing and backroom staff received the correct support, thus ensuring that they were all in the best possible condition to fulfil their potential.
“All this was during a successful period on the pitch for the first team, who won four promotions and several cups as well as featuring in play-off campaigns in almost every season”
Despite his record as manager, the dream job would come to an end for Marginson when, following a poor run of results at the start of last season, he left Broadhurst Park by ‘mutual consent’, leaving his star striker Tom Greaves to take on a player-manager role. Greaves has since stepped down stating that the role had come too early for him.
Unrest
“There had been a major change behind the scenes and some unrest among supporters, while several high-profile backroom staff had already left the club before I made the decision to step down. I felt that there had been a move to change direction for the club and that I didn’t feature in that new plan. My dad had been ill for a while and after discussing it at home, I felt it best that I took some time out to be with my family.”
In recent months, Marginson has returned to the football environment with a part-time coaching role in the youth set-up at Radcliffe FC, a club he played for towards the end of a successful playing career that began as a YTS player at Stockport County upon leaving school.
Now with his body and mind rejuvenated, he is keen to put all his experience into practice at his next club.
Marginson has one simple message for prospective employers: “My football philosophy is simple: Be adaptable to enable you to win and win well, if you can’t win well, just win.”