Following the announcement of Dave McNabb as Bury Football Club’s 44th permanent manager, we look at the record behind the appointment and Dave’s footballing journey to this point.
Dave was a coach within the younger age groups at Manchester United in his early career before a youth managerial post at St Helen’s Town and reserve team manager position at Rainhill Town lead to taking his first managerial appointment at Billinge in the Cheshire League in 2018, winning the Warrington Guardian Cup during his short time at the club.
McNabb (centre) pictured with coach Frazer Ablett & joint player-manager Stuart Wellstead following early success at Rylands.
This early success took McNabb to Warrington the following season, as joint-manager of newly-promoted Rylands (now Warrington Rylands 1906) who took their place in the North West Counties (NWCFL) for the first time. The NWCFL First Division South title was secured at the first attempt in 2018-19, amassing 111 league goals in the process, alongside the Champion Cup Winners secured when they overcame First Division North winners, Longridge Town.
With the 2019-20 season abandoned and results expunged as the Covid pandemic took hold across the world, Rylands were sat handily in second place with fewer than 10 games of the season to go. Beginning the equally disrupted 2020-21 season well, again sat in second when the league was curtailed, Rylands were selected for promotion, with the Football Association league allocations deeming their performances across the previous two seasons worthy of elevation to a higher division. They took their place in the Northern Premier League for the first time in the 2021-22 season.
Sealing the NPL West 2021-22 title at Warrington Rylands, McNabb holds aloft the silverware to cap off a stunning four years at Gorsey Lane. Assistant manager Tim Lees pictured on the far right.
One competition that did continue to a conclusion during that period was the FA Vase, with Rylands coming out on top following a 3-2 final win against Binfield at Wembley in May 2021. Highlights of that game are available here.
McNabb had taken sole charge by this point, joined by his assistant Tim Lees and they proceeded to take Step 4 by storm at the first attempt, securing the title by one point, courtesy of a run of victories as the season came to a close and title rivals Workington only managing a draw against Market Drayton on the final day of the season. They finished with a significant goal-difference, scoring 95 league goals in the process.
He left Warrington Rylands in September 2022 after four and a half years at the club, with a record of three promotions, four trophies and an almost 70% win rate.
McNabb was unveiled as Macclesfield manager in 2022
In October of last year, he joined Macclesfield as manager replacing Danny Whittaker, a role he left later in the year.
He came back to football in March 2023, taking over as Bootle manager after veteran EFL defender Steve McNulty left the club. He steered the club to safety at the end of last season, after their early-season form threatened relegation.
His last game in charge of the Liverpool-based side was Saturday’s 2-0 FA Trophy win away at Stockton Town, with the Merseyside club sitting in ninth in the Northern Premier League West.
McNabb will be in dugout tomorrow evening for his first game as manager. If you want to be #PartofIt, get your tickets HERE.
