Eric McManus

His position in the history of Coventry City was cemented in one game on a wet night against Bayern Munich in October 1970. The Northern Ireland goalkeeper signed from Coleraine for £8,000 in August 1968, had played two league games the previous season, standing in for Bill Glazier, City’s regular keeper, and had performed competently.

He was called up when Glazier picked up a groin injury just three days before the first leg in Munich and 19-year old McManus was promoted. As the rain poured down in Bayern’s compact little Grunwalder Strasse ground, poor Eric’s nerves and inexperience were self-evident as the Germans inflicted a 6-1 defeat. He was probably at fault for three of the goals, including the second, a hopeful long shot from Schwarzenbeck that skidded past his right arm. City’s defence, the rock on which the club’s success had been built, were uncertain throughout and missed the experienced Glazier.

It is fair to say that Eric never recovered from the Munich experience whilst at Coventry and the fans rarely had confidence in him. His final appearance saw him make a nightmare error to present Chelsea with a goal in a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road in December 1971. The following week Cantwell brought in Ron Healey on loan and later Neil Ramsbottom arrived as Glazier’s cover.

In May 1972 Eric joined Notts County for £3,000 and had seven successful years at Meadow Lane, making over 250 appearances for them, the majority in Division Two under the legendary Jimmy Sirrell. In October 1979 Stoke City paid £80,000 to take Eric to the Victoria Ground but the form of Peter Fox meant he had to wait two years for his debut and played only four games in three seasons. His next move however, to Bradford City in 1982, brought his most successful period of his playing career.

In 1984-85 Eric was a regular as the Bantams won the Third Division championship but the celebrations were marred by the tragic fire at Valley Parade in the final game when 56 people died. It was Eric’s last game for the club and he subsequently played a handful of games for Middlesbrough, Peterborough and Tranmere before hanging up his boots in 1987.

He spent nine years coaching Walsall’s youth team before joining Derby in charge of youth recruitment in 1998. He also had a spell as part-time manager for Bromsgrove Rovers.