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Billy McEwan (footballer born 1951)
Encyclopedia
William Johnston McGowan "Billy" McEwan (born 20 June 1951) is a former Scottish
football player and now manager. He had a 14 year playing career in the Scottish and English professional leagues, playing for seven different clubs. McEwan then undertook a coaching career; he has managed six different English league clubs, plus one club on a caretaker basis twice. McEwan is currently the manager of Antigua Barracuda
.
, North Lanarkshire
, McEwan started his playing career as a midfielder
with Scottish
non-League side Pumpherston Juniors
before joining Hibernian
in 1969, making 60 appearances and scoring two goals for the Edinburgh
club. McEwan left Hibernian in May 1973 to join Blackpool
, and went on to play for Brighton & Hove Albion
, Chesterfield
, Mansfield Town
, Peterborough United
and Rotherham United
whom he left in the 1982–83 season.
after he replaced Ian Porterfield as manager on 27 March 1986. The following season Sheffield United finished ninth in Second Division
after an unspectacular season. More disappointing performances in the 1987–88 season followed, and McEwan was forced to resign before taking over as manager of Rotherham United
and guided them to the Fourth Division
Championship in the 1988–89 season. McEwan later had a spell as manager at Darlington
, but he was replaced by Alan Murray
midway through his second season.
McEwan then spent nine years on the coaching team at Derby County
. He was caretaker manager there twice in April to June 1995 and in January 2002, after the sackings of Roy McFarland
and Colin Todd
respectively. In 2003 he was sacked by the then manager John Gregory, but was restored into the post when he was found to have been unfairly dismissed. Altogether he was on the coaching staff under five managers at Derby. He left Derby on 19 October 2004, saying "I am looking for a new challenge. The time was right for me to move on".
McEwan was appointed as manager of York City
on 10 February 2005, where in his first full season he achieved a position of 8th in the Conference National
. McEwan said that he rejected an offer from an unnamed Football League
club to take over as their manager in October 2005. During October 2006, he threatened to walk out on the club if the fans were not satisfied with his efforts.
McEwan issued a public apology to York City's supporters and on loan West Bromwich Albion
striker Rob Elvins
after the teams home defeat to Conference bottom club Tamworth
on 3 February 2007. McEwan was named Conference Manager of the Month for April 2007, but was then sacked by York on 19 November 2007.
McEwan was linked with the managerial vacancy at Mansfield Town
in March 2008, and he was appointed as their manager on a three-year contract on 4 July 2008. McEwan was sacked by the club on 10 December.
McEwan was appointed as technical director of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association
in March 2010 and in April was made manager of Antigua Barracuda
.
Mansfield Town
York City
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player and now manager. He had a 14 year playing career in the Scottish and English professional leagues, playing for seven different clubs. McEwan then undertook a coaching career; he has managed six different English league clubs, plus one club on a caretaker basis twice. McEwan is currently the manager of Antigua Barracuda
Antigua Barracuda FC
Antigua Barracuda is an Antiguan professional soccer team based in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
Playing career
Born in ClelandCleland, North Lanarkshire
Cleland is a small village near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland - see . The two nearest towns are Wishaw and Motherwell. The village has a strong mining heritage and is a typical example of a working class village in North Lanarkshire and the Glasgow area...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, McEwan started his playing career as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
with Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
non-League side Pumpherston Juniors
Pumpherston F.C.
Pumpherston F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club based in Pumpherston, near Livingston, West Lothian. Their home ground is Recreation Park, with one of the largest pitches in Scottish football. Club colours are gold and black....
before joining Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1969, making 60 appearances and scoring two goals for the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
club. McEwan left Hibernian in May 1973 to join Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, and went on to play for Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
whom he left in the 1982–83 season.
Managerial career
McEwan's first coaching appointment was at Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
after he replaced Ian Porterfield as manager on 27 March 1986. The following season Sheffield United finished ninth in Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
after an unspectacular season. More disappointing performances in the 1987–88 season followed, and McEwan was forced to resign before taking over as manager of Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
and guided them to the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
Championship in the 1988–89 season. McEwan later had a spell as manager at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, but he was replaced by Alan Murray
Alan Murray (footballer)
Alan Murray is a former footballer, coach and manager.- Biography :Murray spent the first years of his playing career at Middlesbrough, gradually honing his coaching skills as he struggled to break into the first team...
midway through his second season.
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. He was caretaker manager there twice in April to June 1995 and in January 2002, after the sackings of Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
and Colin Todd
Colin Todd
Colin Todd is an English football manager and former player. As a player, he made more than 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sunderland, Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town, and also played in the North American Soccer League...
respectively. In 2003 he was sacked by the then manager John Gregory, but was restored into the post when he was found to have been unfairly dismissed. Altogether he was on the coaching staff under five managers at Derby. He left Derby on 19 October 2004, saying "I am looking for a new challenge. The time was right for me to move on".
McEwan was appointed as manager of York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on 10 February 2005, where in his first full season he achieved a position of 8th in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. McEwan said that he rejected an offer from an unnamed Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
club to take over as their manager in October 2005. During October 2006, he threatened to walk out on the club if the fans were not satisfied with his efforts.
McEwan issued a public apology to York City's supporters and on loan West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
striker Rob Elvins
Rob Elvins
Robert Mark "Rob" Elvins is an English footballer who plays for Worcester City as a striker.-West Bromwich Albion:Elvins was born in Alvechurch, Worcestershire and progressed through the youth system at West Bromwich Albion. He played a number of times for the reserve team and won the club's Young...
after the teams home defeat to Conference bottom club Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
on 3 February 2007. McEwan was named Conference Manager of the Month for April 2007, but was then sacked by York on 19 November 2007.
McEwan was linked with the managerial vacancy at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in March 2008, and he was appointed as their manager on a three-year contract on 4 July 2008. McEwan was sacked by the club on 10 December.
McEwan was appointed as technical director of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association
Antigua and Barbuda Football Association
The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association is the governing body of football in Antigua and Barbuda. They control the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.-Competitions:...
in March 2010 and in April was made manager of Antigua Barracuda
Antigua Barracuda FC
Antigua Barracuda is an Antiguan professional soccer team based in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
As a player
HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
- Drybrough CupDrybrough CupThe Drybrough Cup was a Scottish annual football tournament. It was held from 1971 until 1974, and was revived from 1979 to 1980. It was open to the four highest-scoring teams from Division 1, and the four highest-scoring teams from Division 2. The format allowed the tournament to have three...
winner: 1971–72, 1972–73 - Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
runner-up: 1971–72 - Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winner: 1971–72
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
- Second Division titleFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
winner: 1976–77
As a manager
Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
- Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
winner: 1988–89
York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
- Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
Manager of the Month Award winner: April 2007
Managerial statistics
- As of 10 December 2008.
| Team | Nation | From | Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... | 27 March 1986 | 2 January 1988 | 86 | 27 | 34 | 25 | 31.4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
1 April 1988 | 1 January 1991 | 141 | 52 | 49 | 40 | 36.9 | ||||
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
1 May 1992 | 4 October 1993 | 57 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 22.8 | ||||
| Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... (caretaker) |
29 April 1995 | 15 June 1995 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 00.0 | ||||
| Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... (caretaker) |
14 January 2002 | 30 January 2002 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 00.0 | ||||
| York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
10 February 2005 | 19 November 2007 | 131 | 52 | 48 | 31 | 39.7 | ||||
| Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
4 July 2008 | 10 December 2008 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 30.8 | ||||
| Antigua Barracuda Antigua Barracuda FC Antigua Barracuda is an Antiguan professional soccer team based in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
April 2010 | March 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |