Billy McCandless
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" McCandless (1894 – 18 July 1955) was an Irish
international football player and manager. As a player McCandless normally played at left-back, most notably at Rangers
where he won 8 league titles with the side. Following his retirement from playing he went into management, enjoying most success with Welsh sides Newport County
, Cardiff City
and Swansea Town
, taking all three sides to the Division Three South
title.
, and started his career with non-league sides Ligoniel and Barn before joining Linfield
in 1914. He stayed with the Blues for 6 years, helping them to Irish Cup
success in 1916 and 1919 before his performance in a 2-0 defeat to England
while playing for Ireland prompted a number of British sides to show interest in signing him. Eventually joining Rangers
in 1920 for £2,500, a record fee for an Irish player at the time, he went on to add 8 League titles to his honours collection while playing at Ibrox
where he formed a formidable full back pairing with another Irishman, Bert Manderson
.
In 1930, by then a veteran, McCandless was given the opportunity to move into football management by Ballymena
, where he was appointed player-manager. He returned to Scotland in 1933 to take charge of Dundee
before moving to Newport County
in 1937, where he helped them to promotion to Division 2
in 1939 despite using just 13 players throughout the season. Following the end of the war the majority of his title winning team moved to different clubs and, after falling out with the board over the future of the team, he resigned. A month later he was appointed Cardiff City
manager in 1946 and took the side to the Division Three South
title in his first year finishing nine points clear of second place Queens Park Rangers
but, after only a few months of the following season, he left to join local rivals Swansea Town
. At the club he completed a unique treble, having taken three Welsh sides to the Division Three South title.
He died on 18 July 1955 in Swansea
, while still the club's manager.
. He went on to win a total of 9 caps for Ireland, making his final appearance on 2 February 1929 in a 2-2 draw with Wales
.
Rangers
Cardiff City
Swansea Town
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
international football player and manager. As a player McCandless normally played at left-back, most notably at Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
where he won 8 league titles with the side. Following his retirement from playing he went into management, enjoying most success with Welsh sides Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, taking all three sides to the Division Three South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
title.
Club career
McCandless was born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, and started his career with non-league sides Ligoniel and Barn before joining Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
in 1914. He stayed with the Blues for 6 years, helping them to Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
success in 1916 and 1919 before his performance in a 2-0 defeat to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
while playing for Ireland prompted a number of British sides to show interest in signing him. Eventually joining Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1920 for £2,500, a record fee for an Irish player at the time, he went on to add 8 League titles to his honours collection while playing at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
where he formed a formidable full back pairing with another Irishman, Bert Manderson
Bert Manderson
Bert Manderson was an Northern Irish footballer who played for Rangers and Ireland.Manderson, a right-back, made his Rangers debut in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen on 27 March 1915. He had joined Rangers from Glenavon for £150. He previously had spells at Cliftonville and Belfast Celtic...
.
In 1930, by then a veteran, McCandless was given the opportunity to move into football management by Ballymena
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
, where he was appointed player-manager. He returned to Scotland in 1933 to take charge of Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
before moving to Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in 1937, where he helped them to promotion to Division 2
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...
in 1939 despite using just 13 players throughout the season. Following the end of the war the majority of his title winning team moved to different clubs and, after falling out with the board over the future of the team, he resigned. A month later he was appointed Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
manager in 1946 and took the side to the Division Three South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
title in his first year finishing nine points clear of second place Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
but, after only a few months of the following season, he left to join local rivals Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. At the club he completed a unique treble, having taken three Welsh sides to the Division Three South title.
He died on 18 July 1955 in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, while still the club's manager.
International career
McCandless won his first Ireland cap on 25 October 1919 in the first post-war international, a 1-1 draw with EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He went on to win a total of 9 caps for Ireland, making his final appearance on 2 February 1929 in a 2-2 draw with Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
Player
Linfield- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
Winner: 2
-
- 1916, 1919
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
Winner: 1
- County Antrim Shield
- 1917
- 1916, 1919
Rangers
- Scottish League Winner: 8
-
- 1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930
Manager
Newport County- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Winner: 1
-
- 1938-391938-39 in English footballThe 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
- 1938-39
Cardiff City
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Winner: 1
-
- 1946-471946-47 in English footballThe 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
- 1946-47
Swansea Town
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Winner: 1
-
- 1948-491948-49 in English footballThe 1948–49 season was the 69th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth won the First Division title for the first time with a team of no recognised stars and very few international players. They won the league by five points from Manchester United and Derby...
- 1948-49