Jimmy McMullan

Early life and Third Lanark

McMullan was born in Denny, Stirlingshire in 1895. He began his football career with junior side Denny Hibernian in 1911 before graduating to the Scottish League with Third Lanark the next year. Initially considered an inside left, by the time he left in 1913 he was playing predominantly as a left half.

Partick Thistle and Maidstone United

He joined Thirds' Glasgow rivals Partick Thistle in 1913. He stayed eight seasons with Thistle but missed out on participating in their Scottish Cup-winning side of 1921 through injury. In the close season of 1921 McMullan became embroiled in controversy. Partick turned down a £5,000 offer from Newcastle United for his signature and the player, determined to play in English football, signed for non-league Maidstone United as player-manager. He returned to the Glasgow club in the summer of 1923. In February 1926 he eventually earned his long-desired move to the Football League aged 30, when Manchester City signed him for £4,700.

Manchester City

McMullan made his debut for his new team in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool on 27 February 1926. Tommy Browell scored the goal for City in that game. Despite containing a number of England players such as Frank Roberts, Billy Austin, Sam Cowan and Tommy Johnson, City finished in twenty-first place in the First Division that season and were relegated into the second division. McMullan played in the 1926 FA Cup Final defeat to Bolton Wanderers. McMullan…

McMullan joined Oldham Athletic as a player-manager in 1933. After a brief spell there, he was appointed the first-ever manager of Aston Villa in 1934 (before his appointment, the team was selected by a committee). However, the move proved disastrous, resulting in Villa's first ever relegation in 1935–36 after 61 years in the top flight. McMullan later managed Notts County (1936–37) and Sheffield Wednesday (1937–1939). He died on 28 November 1964 in Sheffield (the same day as another former Sheffield Wednesday manager, Billy Walker).

McMullan is regarded as one of Manchester City's best ever players. In 1977, Manchester City Council named eleven streets in a new estate in Moss Side after famous City players including McMullan, Frank Swift, Fred Tilson, Sam Cowan, Horace Barnes, Max Woosnam, Tommy Browell, Eric Brook, Sam Cookson, Billy Meredith and Tommy Johnson.

Manchester City

FA Cup runner-up: 1925–26,1932–33