Although John McKenna never held the title of Manager, he was an instrumental figure in the early years of Liverpool Football Club, helping establish the team in the late 19th century.

From Ireland to Anfield

Like his friend William Barclay, John McKenna was born in Ireland.  After a difficult childhood, McKenna moved to Liverpool in search of better opportunities, falling in love with sport, and in particular football.  Towards the end of the 19th century, he met and became friends with John Houlding, the man who owned Anfield Stadium. This friendship would prove crucial in the creation of LFC, as well as its rapid rise during the club's early years.

 The Birth of Liverpool Football Club

Although John McKenna did not hold the official title of manager, he took over the running of the club from John Houlding (who was the owner of Anfield), and working alongside William Barclay, carried out many of the duties and tasks that we now associate with the manager.  Over time, McKenna was to become one of the driving forces behind the early formation and development of Liverpool Football Club.

When Liverpool Association, as the club was called at the time, was denied entry into the Football League in 1892, McKenna saw it as his personal goal to prove the FA wrong and set about creating a team capable of winning promotion through the local Lancashire Leagues.

To field a team, McKenna used his contacts to recruit players from the Irish community in Glasgow.  The team, known as the "team of the Macs", because eight of the players had the prefix 'Mc' in their name duly won their opening match 7-1 against Rotherham Town.  It was the perfect start for McKenna.

Liverpool finished their first season as Lancashire Champions, prompting McKenna to once again appeal to the FA to allow Liverpool entry into the Football League.  This time the club was accepted and Liverpool began their second season in the Second Division.

After a successful first season in the Football League Second Division, Liverpool found themselves playing a test match against Newton Heath (soon to become Manchester United), to see which team gained promotion to the First Division.  Liverpool duly won the game 2-0, confirming the club's promotion to the First Division.  For McKenna, it was the first step in turning Liverpool into the country's top football team.

In 1895 Liverpool was relegated back to the Second Division, At the time Barclay famously remarked that Liverpool would soon bounce back from relegation, and would only be relegated for one year.  This display of fighting spirit and resolve would become synonymous with Liverpool Football Club for years to come.

Liverpool establish themselves as a leading force in English football

As McKenna flourished, so did the club.  Attendances increased, resulting in McKenna building a new stand for the supporters.  However, in 1913 the Arsenal Chairman accused McKenna of match fixing.  Shocked and appalled McKenna immediately called for an investigation, during which he was completely exonerated.  The Arsenal Chairman later apologised.

Unfortunately for McKenna 4 of his players were later charged with match-fixing, and all received lifetime bans, although 3 had their bans lifted after serving in WWI.

By 1915 McKenna was ready to step down from the day-to-day running of the club and handed the Chairmanship over to W R Williams, although he remained an integral part of the club's administrative staff.

John McKenna died in March 1936, having devoted over 40 years of his life to the club. It is difficult to assess where Liverpool Football Club would be now had McKenna not played his part, but it is almost certain that it would not have enjoyed the early successes, or taken such great strides so early after its formation without John McKenna driving it forward.

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• Takes over the running of LFC alongside William Barclay in 1892
• Creates the 'Team of the Macs', helping Liverpool win the Lancashire League in its first season
• Assumes overall control from the start of the 1895/96 season
• Leads Liverpool to their first 'Second Division' title in 1895/96
• Instrumental in building new, larger stands at Anfield as the club grows in the early 20th century
• Devoted over 40 years of his life to LFC in various capacities

There are no quotes attributable to John McKenna at this time.

"I feel I have lost a lifelong friend. We travelled together on football business many times, and I am not looking forward to taking those journeys alone. Mr. McKenna was a staunch friend, who beneath his brusque exterior, had a heart of gold. From the Football League and Football Association point of view I think the greatest man in football has gone. He will live long in the memory of all who had anything to do with the governing of football. Fearless, outspoken, and absolutely honest, he was well named ‘Honest John.’ The football world in general is under a very deep sorrow."

Everton Chairman, William Charles Cuff, after McKenna's death in 1936