HattersHeritage

top 10: super MACS


Meaning 'son of' in Gaelic, there have been 44 players with a 'Mc' or 'Mac' surname who have played for the Hatters. We look at the top 10 by competitive appearances.


10.
cameron mcgeehan
(106 APPEARANCES, 31 goals 2014-2017)


Cameron started his career in the Chelsea and Fulham youth set-ups before a move to Norwich where he was a member of the 2012-2013 FA Youth Cup winning side. Initially joining the Hatters on loan during the Conference promotion season, and then again on loan the following season, he finally joined permanently in July 2015. A midfielder with an eye for goal and always regularly amongst the Town's best performers at the time, it was no surprise when a move to Championship side Barnsley came about two years later.

9. Steve mcnulty
(125 appearances, 2 goals 2013-2015)


A captain of Liverpool's U-19 side, Steve had mainly plied his trade at a succession of Northern non-league clubs before signing for Luton in January 2013. He became an almost instant cult hero at Kenilworth Road, helping to lift the Hatters out of a seemingly inexorable decline with a string of dominant, and skilful, displays from centre-back.

8. Darron McDonough
(127 appearances, 7 goals 1986-1991)


Darron's first visit to Kenilworth Road was not a happy one - he was sent off while playing for Oldham in February 1982! He joined Luton for £87,000 four years later and while probably best playing in defence, was also able to play further up the pitch too. Unfortunately injuries blighted his time at Kenilworth Road, including missing the 1988 League Cup final, and he would eventually move to Kevin Keegan's Newcastle, where a snapped achilles would end his career. 

7. tommy McKechnie
(146 appearances, 34 goals 1961-1966)


Signing from the brilliantly named Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in January 1961, injuries meant Tommy was thrust into the first team at the start of the 61/62 before even making a reserve team appearance. He proved up to the task, frightening defences with his all action style and netting 10 goals in 33 appearances during that first season. He would return to his native Scotland in later life, where he passed away in 2009.

6. tom mcinnes
(153 appearances, 43 goals 1896-1900)


Glasgow-born, Tom was 26 when he joined Luton and had already won a Scottish cap and an FA Cup runners-up medal with Notts County. A slightly built inside-forward with ginger hair, he formed a great playing partnership with Hugh Galbraith and it was a sad day when he left the club in 1900. In later life Tom worked in Luton, passing away in 1939.

5. brendan mcnally
(163 appearances, 3 goals 1956-1963)


Though it took Brendan a while to gain a regular place in the side, the Dubliner eventually took over from his countryman Seamus Dunne both at club and international level. A powerful full-back, he was involved in the incident that left Roy Dwight with a broken leg during the 59 FA Cup Final, which also left Brendan limping with a torn cartilage. He managed Dunstable in later life where he was instrumental in the signing of Kerry Dixon.

4. jimmy 'punch' mcewen
(175 appearances, 2 goals 1894-1905)


It was seen as a strong statement of intent when Luton signed Jimmy 'Punch' McEwen in the summer of 1894. Small, strong and fast, he formed a great full-back partnership with John McCartney and was an almost ever present for four seasons before financial constraints led to his departure in 1898. However, Jimmy wasn't done with Town yet, and it's said his home-sick Lutonian wife Lizzie (pictured) was instrumental in his 1903 return, after which he played for two more seasons before finally leaving for Norwich, and then a long coaching career at Arsenal.

3. hugh mcginnigle
(177 appearances, 3 goals 1930-1937)


Hugh was combining working as a needle operator and playing for Falkirk when he came to Luton on trial in June 1930. Starting as a wing-half, it was after his conversion to centre-half that he thrived, with his ability to switch between tough tacking and delicate passing helping to make him a crowd favourite during his first four seasons at the club, when he was a virtual ever present.

2. paul mclaren
(201 appearances, 6 goals 1994-2001)


Born in High Wycombe, Paul made his debut on the final day of the 93/94 season but injuries blighted the strong midfielder's early career and it wasn't until later in the decade that he'd become a mainstay of the side. A rare bright spot in an otherwise poor Town team that was sliding toward the bottom division, Paul made a 'Bosman' move to Sheffield Wednesday in 2001, before winding up his career at a number of lower league sides.

1. bill mccurdy
(251 appearances, 1 goal 1899-1910)


A fast, clever full-back, Bill had attracted the attention of a number of big sides whilst turning out for Vale of Clyde, though it was the appeal of joining up with former teammate John Brock that led him to Luton in 1899, where he was a virtual ever-present in a poor side. With Luton cash-strapped (not for the first or last time!) he was transferred to Nottingham Forest at the end of the year, but eventually made his way back to Bedfordshire in 1905 where, over the next five seasons, he became a mainstay in the Town defence. In later life Bill ran a grocery store in Nottingham with his wife.