Yesterday BN published a short article about a player who turned out for Hereford United in 1946/47 and went on to play for Manchester United.
Today we can confirm that player was Harry McShane.
Below is his pen-pic complied by Ron Parrott.
Born Holytown, near Motherwell 8th April 1920, died 12th November 2012
Christened Henry, Harry as he was always known, started his career playing for his local Boys Brigade and was a reserve for the Scottish Schoolboys team v Ireland in 1934. He then had one season at Bellshill Athletic before signing up as a 17-year-old professional for Blackburn Rovers in April 1937, where he made two first-team appearances for them that season. When war broke out, Harry served with the RAF in North Africa and in Italy. By consent, he was allowed to turn out for Hamilton Academicals during the war years, as well as guesting for Manchester City, Blackpool, Reading and Port Vale.
When Harry was de-mobbed in Hereford in November 1946, he played twice for the club before being transferred to Huddersfield Town. A skilful left-winger, his first game for United was played out of position at centre-forward in a 4-0 SL defeat at Yeovil Town and in his rightful position on the left wing in a 3-1 Welsh Cup defeat at Oswestry.
He made 15 league appearances for Huddersfield before signing for Bolton Wanderers in 1947, where he scored six times in 93 league games over four seasons. He then moved on to Manchester United in 1950 and in another four seasons scored eight times in 56 league appearances, helping them to runners-up spot in 1950/51 and going one better to win the First Division the following season. Harry then moved a short distance away and scored five goals in 41 games for Oldham Athletic before dropping into non-league football as player-coach with Chorley and finally ending his career with Wellington Town and Droylsden. After retirement, Harry coached Stalybridge Celtic before returning to Old Trafford in a scouting capacity, where his biggest discovery was Wes Brown, as well as acting as the stadium announcer during the sixties. Harry's son Ian McShane is a famous actor and played the title role in the TV series "Lovejoy".