1. Robert Gerald McGrory was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League for Burnley and Stoke City with whom he later had a long spell as manager.
17 Facts About Bob McGrory
1. 2.
Bob McGrory played football with Dumbarton before joining English side Burnley in August 1920.
3.
Bob McGrory spent 15 seasons as a player for Stoke, racking up 511 appearances without scoring.
4.
Bob McGrory took over as Stoke manager in 1935, and in his first season in charge guided the team to a highest finish of 4th.
5.
Bob McGrory remained in charge until 1952 when he ended his 31-year association with the club.
6.
Bob McGrory spent a short spell in charge of Merthyr Tydfil, leaving after one season due to ill health and dying a year later.
7.
Bob McGrory joined Stoke on 23 April 1921, spotted by soon to be chairman Arthur Sherwin.
8.
Rumours has it that Bob McGrory had reservations about joining Stoke as he did not like the look of the city.
9.
Bob McGrory acquired the reputation as a fearless man-marker, and if 'dour' described McGrory's approach on the field, it aptly summed up the non-nonsense Scot's personality off it.
10.
Bob McGrory proved to be one of the few Stoke players to cope with the top-flight as Stoke were relegated back to the Second Division.
11.
Bob McGrory took over from Alec Milne as club captain in 1925 a position he did not lose for ten years.
12.
Aware of the financial problems that had dogged the club in the past, Bob McGrory implemented a policy of blooding young talent.
13.
Bob McGrory replaced himself with Charlie Scrimshaw while Frank Soo displaced Harry Sellars in midfield and the emerging Freddie Steele edged out Tommy Sale.
14.
Under Mather, McGrory's roommate and best friend, Bobby Liddle lost his place in the side to Matthews and McGrory took every opportunity to avenge this injustice.
15.
Bob McGrory refused and as a result Stoke held him to his previous contract and Matthews was 21 days over the deadline before signing.
16.
Bob McGrory was manager of Stoke during World War II during which time Stoke found a number of impressive younger players.
17.
Bob McGrory tried in vain to re-establish Stoke as title contenders and after two consecutive relegation battles he left Stoke in May 1952 ending his 31-year stay at Stoke City.