McFall, Ronnie

Player Career

Ronnie began playing for Portadown , a club from his hometown; his debut as an adult team took place in August 1964 ^[6] . He was involved in the youth team of Northern Ireland ^[7] . The peak of McFall's career as a player is considered to be his performance for the Scottish Dundee United ^[7] , after which he returned to his native league and joined Ards . Returning to Portadown in 1971, McFall became the owner of a number of Northern Ireland Cups and took part in the 1974/75 UEFA Cup games . The last club in his player’s career was Glentoran , with whom he won the championship in the 1976/77 season and participated in the 1977/78 Champions Cup .

Coach Career

In January 1979, McFall became a playing trainer for Glentoran ^[8] , and from the next season he focused exclusively on coaching. In his new capacity, McFall helped Glens, among other things, win the championship ( 1980/81 ) and the Cup ( 1982/83 ), but in December he was fired from the club after a series of unsuccessful results ^[9] .

In December 1986, McFall led Portadown, a club he was a fan of, but lacked major achievements. ^[10] Under his leadership, the club won 23 trophies, including 4 championships ( 1989/90 , 1989/90 , 1995/96 , 2001/02 ), 3 Cups ( 1990/91 , 1999/99 , 2004/05 ) and 2 League Cup ( 1995/96 , 2008/09 ).

McFall is a big fan of Scottish specialist Alex Ferguson , who for a long time was ahead of him for a month in the dispute of the head coaches of Europe’s football clubs, who began working with Manchester United in November 1986 ^[3] . In December 2011, Ferguson in a special address congratulated McFaul on the 25th anniversary of coaching at Portadown ^[10] . When in May 2013, the Scot left his post, McFall passed this status. Ronnie planned to remain at his post as long as his health would allow him ^[10] .

In 2009, McFall also led the Northern Ireland national team for players of the national championship no older than 23 years old, who participated in the International Challenge Trophy 2009-2011 ^[11] .

At the end of the 2013/14 season, he signed a new contract with Portadown for two years ^[12] . After the unsuccessful start of the 2015/16 season, the club board issued a statement supporting the specialist, despite criticism from the fans of the team. Nevertheless, McFall admitted that the moment was approaching when the search for his successor should begin, and offered to help the club’s board in this process and contribute to a smooth transition ^[13] . On March 5, 2016, after losing in the quarter-finals of the Cup of the country from the Lurgan Celtic club's second-strongest division, he resigned and announced the completion of football activities ^{[14] [15]} .

Portadown defender Ross Redman is McFall's nephew. ^[16]

March 21, 2016 for the “huge contribution” made “to the city and society, not only as a professional player, but also for working as the manager of the Northern Ireland team in the series of competitions International Challenge Trophy in 2009 and, in particular, for 29 years of working as a football manager “Portdown” club - the longest period in the post of head coach of the club in European football among active colleagues at the time of his resignation ”Ronnie became the first holder of the“ City Freedom ”award from the authorities of the Armagh district , Banbrid Well and Craigavon ^[17] . In May 2017, he also became the first owner of a more honorable Freedom of Boro award from the authorities of the same region ^[18] .

Team

As a player at Portadown:

• Northern Ireland Championship :
  • Second place: 1971/72 , 1973/74
  • Third place: 1972/73
• Northern Ireland Cup :
  • Finalist: 1971/72
• Northern Ireland Gold Cup :
  • Winner: 1971/72
  • Finalist: 1972/73

As a Glentoran player:

• Northern Ireland Championship :
  • Champion: 1976/77
  • Second place: 1975/76 , 1977/78
• Northern Ireland Gold Cup :
  • Winner: 1976/77 , 1977/78
• Ulster Cup :
  • Winner: 1976/77

As the head coach of Glentoran:

• Northern Ireland Championship :
  • Champion: 1976/77
  • Second place: 1981/82 , 1982/83 , 1983/84
  • Third place: 1979/80
• Northern Ireland Cup :
  • Winner: 1982/83
• Northern Ireland Gold Cup :
  • Winner: 1982/83
  • Finalist: 1983/84
• Ulster Cup :
  • Winner: 1981/82 , 1982/83 , 1983/84

As head coach of Portadown:

• Northern Ireland Super Cup :
  • Winner: 1999
• Northern Ireland Championship :
  • Champion: 1989/90 , 1990/91 , 1995/96 , 2001/02
  • Second place: 1991/92 , 1993/94 , 2002/03 , 2003/04 , 2011/12
  • Third place: 1994/95 , 1997/98 , 2004/05 , 2005/06
• Northern Ireland Football League Championship
  • Champion: 2008/09 (access to the Premier League)
• Northern Ireland Cup :
  • Winner: 1990/91 , 1998/99 , 2004/05
  • Finalist: 1989/90 , 1999/2000 , 2001/02 , 2009/10 , 2014/15
• Northern Ireland League Cup :
  • Winner: 1995/96 , 2008/09
  • Finalist: 1987/88 , 2010/11
• Northern Ireland Gold Cup :
  • Winner: 1992/93
  • Finalist: 1988/89 , 1989/90 , 1990/91 , 1998/99
• Ulster Cup :
  • Winner: 1990/91 , 1995/96
• Floodlit Cup :
  • Winner: 1990/91 , 1992/93 , 1994/95
• Mid Ulster Cup :
  • Winner: 1992/93 , 1993/94 , 1994/95 , 1997/98 , 2001/02 , 2002/03
  • Finalist: 1990/91 , 1991/92

Personal

As head coach of Portadown:

• Northern Ireland Football Coach of the Year : 1981, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2002

• Player profile and coach profile on the Transfermarkt website
• Soccerway Profile