Tributes paid to former Macc boss
‘Larger than life’ character loses cancer fight
TRIBUTES have been paid to a “larger than life” football manager, player and commentator, following his death aged 76.
Phil Staley’s career took him to a host of clubs across the north west, including Macclesfield Town early in his career.
He passed away on September 7 following a brave battle with cancer, leaving a wife Andrea and three children.
Based in Poynton for much of his footballing life, Phil enjoyed two seasons as the Moss Rose under chairman Alan Brocklehurst between 1978 and 1980.
Phil, who emigrated to Brisbane, Australia, for nine years before returning to the UK and latterly served as a councillor in Nantwich, and published a series of amusing stories spanning more than 40 years in amateur football - ‘Get Those Sheep Off The Pitch’.
The book was put together with close friend Jon Keighren with whom Phil shared a commentary box for Signal Cheshire’s Stockport County games for three or four seasons, and includes an account from Phil’s fledgling Macc Town career.
Thrilled to sign with the club, he had stopped to fill up with petrol on the way home, before realising he had left his wallet at home amidst all the excitement.
“I did not have a single penny on me, so went into the shop to explain my predicament to the cashier,” he said.
“She told me I would have to fill in several forms. I said: ‘There’s no problem, I’ve just been appointed manager of Macclesfield Town so I will be passing here again tomorrow.
“Can I just drop the money off then?’ She replied: ‘I don’t care if you’re the manager of England, you’re still filling these forms in!”
Jon said: “He was one of those people who said yes to everything.
“He was a character within the non-league game. I think that’s what he would like to be remembered for.”
Jon encouraged his friend to write a book after being entertained on many a long car journey together to away matches at places like Norwich and Southampton. They would get together at Phil’s house in Poynton and talk about his stories.
In Get Those Sheep Off The Pitch, Phil recounted escapades from his life in football, including being paid in fish at Fleetwood and getting around a sixgame stadium ban at Droylsden by asking to use an old lady’s balcony that overlooked the ground along with some walkie talkies.
“There were some flats behind the ground and he said ‘I bet we can see the ground from there’,” said Jon.
“He turned up, and this old lady had laid out sandwiches, a flask of coffee and a four-pack of lager. Instead of a six-game ban I think he did about nine! When he was at Fleetwood they couldn’t afford to pay him as manager so he said ‘I can’t travel from Poynton to Fleetwood for no money’.
“He used to drive back after the game with a case full of fish on ice. It used to go off pretty quickly. He used to pull into the Bull’s Head pub and sell the fish out of his car. The car would absolutely stink!
“He was interviewed on Match of the Day, and snapped up a player from Tommy Docherty’s Man United. You can underestimate him and he played down his achievements.
“He ended up on ITV doing match reports, which bearing in mind he was somebody who had never been a broadcaster, he did remarkably well. He was just a brilliant character and great fun and will be missed by everybody.”
He added that what he admired most about Phil was that he managed to juggle his involvement in football while earning a living and supporting his family.
Phil’s funeral will take place at Stockport Crematorium at 1.45pm on Tuesday, September 27.