Tribute to United’s first Irish captain after fan campaign
Patrick O’Connell was dubbed the ‘saviour of Barcelona’ - but lies in an unmarked grave
AFOOTBALL hero and former Manchester United captain is to be honoured after a campaign by fans.
Patrick O’Connell was the first Irishman to skipper United in 1915 after arriving at Old Trafford a year earlier for a then astronomical fee of £1,000.
He was also a hugely successful manager and is hailed as ‘ the man who saved Barcelona’ after becoming one of the first Brits to make his mark on the European game.
Patrick managed the Catalan giants during the Spanish Civil War between 1935 and 1940.
He took the club on a tour of Mexico and the USA in 1937, with the money raised immediately wired home to help pay off crippling debts.
Patrick rebuilt the team during the conflict winning the Mediterranean League and the Catalan Championship.
However, to this day, he lies in an unmarked grave in St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, as he died destitute in 1959, aged 71.
After hearing this, a group of fans launched a fundraising campaign to have his grave restored.
They appealed for famous names to donate shirts which could be auctioned off - and had an overwhelming response.
Shirts signed by David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Roy Keane were donated, while City legend Mike Summerbee and broadcaster Fred Eyre also handed over shirts signed by Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.
The shirts helped the campaign break its £5,000 target, and the grave will now be restored in September.
There is also enough money for a plaque to be put up outside the house where he was born on Fitzroy Avenue in Dublin.
Fellow United captain Martin Buchan will be at the unveiling, along with Patrick’s grandson Mike O’Connell, who lives in Leigh.
At the same time a mural will be unveiled in Belfast containing the words “When You Take My Soul Don’t Take My Pride” from the Oasis song Cast No Shadow.
One of those behind the campaign, Fergus Dowd, 40, said: “He was the first Irishman to captain United and was the first in a long line of great Irish players for the club.
“He’s also probably the most successful Irish manager in history. But if you stood outside Old Trafford and stopped people, I bet no one would know who he is.
“His story is such an amazing one.”
‘If you stood outside Old Trafford I bet no one would know who he is’