The brave soldier who crossed football divide
In the week which marked the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, Paul Britton tells the story of one young man who died in battle – but not before making an impression on both Red and Blues
THE Manchester derby fell on Armistice Day on Sunday, with City hosting United at the Etihad Stadium.
A minute’s silence was observed ahead of kick-off and players wore poppies on their shirts as a mark of respect.
Former players of both City and United who fought in the First World War were also remembered.
And a talented player, who gave his life in the conflict, played for both clubs, the M.E.N can reveal.
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Maguire was a hard-working full-back who caught the eye of United while playing for local side Hurst United, now Ashton United, in 1909. He was a teenager at the time.
He was given the chance to register as an amateur with the Reds in January, which he did in 1911, and made a number of appearances for the club’s reserves.
Previously a brick-layer by trade, Maguire went on to play for City at Hyde Road – it’s believed he returned to Hurst United first after being released by United.
He made his City debut in March, 1913, when City lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Sports writer and historian Iain McMullen researched his story and details are published on the website Football and the First World War.
In total, Maguire made 15 appearances for the club.
According to records Maguire, a pupil at Corpus Christi School in Miles Platting and Woodhouses School in Failsworth, Oldham, went on to enlist as a private with the Manchester Regiment in May, 1915, a year into the war.
Based in Cleethorpes, he started to play for Grimsby Town before being sent to the front, where he served with the 17th battalion.
He died attacking a German trench near Flers in France in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.
Maguire was 26 and married with a family.
In an obituary after his death newspaper reports stated he was the ‘mainstay’ of Hurst and had ‘everything to do with their great success in the Manchester League.’
The Ashton Reporter said when his death was confirmed: “It was while at Hurst that he caught the eye of the Hyde Road officials [Manchester City]. A better back never played for the Hurst team.
“The Hurst committee at the time were very sorry to part with him, but they were not anxious to stop his rise in the football world.”
It’s understood he held the rank of private, but had been appointed as a lance corporal at the time of his death.
The first day of the Somme was bloodiest day in British military history.
Almost 60,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers were killed or wounded on July 1 and there would be more than a million casualties on both sides by the end of the 141day offensive.
Maguire, like many thousands of other fallen soldiers, has no known grave.
He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France and he’s also honoured on the war memorial at St Chad’s Church in Cheetham Hill.