Lawrie McMenemy is at an age where paying tribute to departed friends is sadly all too familiar. He knew World Cup winner Gordon Banks through Alan Ball, one of his former players at Southampton. More surprisingly, he was also close to legendary actor Albert Finney, who died this month.
‘We met at the cricket ground in Southampton,’ says McMenemy. ‘Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove invited Anne and myself and we got on famously with this couple sat next to us. It turned out to be the Finneys!
‘Albert had this incredible career but was so down to earth. He’d turned down a knighthood because he felt it was snobbery — he pulled my leg because I’d got an MBE! We became friends and his wife, Pene, did call to warn us he’d been taken to hospital up in London.’
Lawrie McMenemy has fond memories of the FA Cup and Doncaster will be on his mind
Fortunately, Lawrie is in fine health at 82 and able to drive himself in a Mercedes for our interview date at the Potters Heron hotel, Romsey, where he once unveiled European footballer of the year Kevin Keegan as Southampton’s new signing.
‘Nobody knew anything about it — couldn’t happen today,’ he says proudly as he steps into the foyer.
The 6ft 4in former Coldstream Guardsman remains taller and more commanding than anyone else in the building. But this time, he is not here to reminisce about the Keegan signing, winning the FA Cup with Southampton in 1976 or even being Graham Taylor’s firefighter for England.
All thoughts are on his first pro club, Doncaster Rovers, who face Crystal Palace today as they bid to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Rovers were on the bottom rung of the League ladder when they took a punt on a 32-year-old McMenemy in late 1968.
McMenemy congratulates midfielder Nick Holmes after the FA Cup triumph in 1976
His playing career had been ended by injury during national service and his only previous managerial experience came at part-time Bishop Auckland, later moving on to coach at Sheffield Wednesday.
‘Doncaster was my first proper job as a manager,’ says McMenemy. ‘The first thing that struck me was the chairman’s house, a Mr F J Wilson who owned garages. I’d never seen a house with outside lights and an electric gate. Very impressive.’
The work itself was more humble. The going rate for Fourth Division managers was £50 a week and every penny counted at Doncaster, who were overshadowed by Don Revie’s Leeds and the Sheffield clubs.
‘I hadn’t had an illustrious playing career and my predecessor, George Raynor, had managed Sweden to the (1958) World Cup Final against Brazil. No wonder the players thought: “Who’s he?”. I had to earn respect and that made me work harder to win them over. And I didn’t have a bag of money — you had to improve players rather than buy new ones.
Southampton celebrate beating Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final at Wembley
‘Luckily, I’d gained confidence and a sense of discipline from the army. I also learned a lot. I realised young players needed coaching, older ones needed managing. My
