As Arne Slot's Liverpool take to the field at Anfield today as the champions of England for the twentieth time, and Everton finish up their final season hosting games at Goodison Park, a plaque in a small North Monaghan village becomes a little bit more important.
Born in 1855, ‘Honest John’ Mc Kenna was a native of the Donagh Parish who left Monaghan in search of steady employment in the 1870s. Arriving in the city of Liverpool, he became friends with John Houlding, the President of Everton FC – who were playing at Anfield at the time. This led to McKenna becoming a member of the board at The Toffees as they won the First Division title in 1891.
A**dispute led to the Everton club leaving the site**to pitch up at Goodison Park, while Houlding became a founding member of Liverpool Football Club.
McKenna took the reins of secretary/manager, alongside Dubliner WE Barclay (who was also previously heavily involved with Everton), and applied for the club's admission to the Football League where they were eventually accepted into the Second Division.
Liverpool FC, the name proposed by Barclay, originally wore blue and white shirts for their first few campaigns before McKenna introduced their iconic red shirts which he matched with black shorts.
After the club won the Second Division twice in three seasons with Barclay and McKenna heavily involved, the Monaghan man stepped away from the first team and**took a more administrative role at the club from 1896.**
His position behind the scenes allowed him to recruit Tom Watson as manager – the ex Sunderland boss was in charge for the first two of Liverpool’s top tier titles, proudly celebrated by supporters this weekend as standing at 20.
Many of those home fans singing loudest in the legendary Kop End today may be wholly unaware that the development of first Kop in 1906 was spearheaded by McKenna, in the aftermath of Liverpool's second league title having been originally the Walton Breck Road End. A little over 20 years later, he was present- in his role of Football League President at the time- at the Kop's official opening as a roofed stand in August 1928.
A few years before, in 1925, he was also instrumental in the construction of the South Stand at Fratton Park (Portsmouth) – so much so that a plaque was erected on the site noting his involvement.
His death in 1936 saw his coffin flanked by three players from Everton and three from Liverpool FC, such was the esteem he was held in at both clubs, while huge crowds filled the streets on the way from the church to the graveyard.
In 2011, his hometown of Glaslough, Co Monaghan held a commemorative ceremony to mark his life and erected a plaque in his memory, while there is also recognition of his achievements on a plaque at Anfield itself.
Having served as both Secretary/Manager of the club, and two terms as Chairperson ahead of heading to the English FA, McKenna was described, at the Glaslough plaque unveiling, as the third most important person in the history of the Merseyside club – behind Bill Shankly and John Houlding.
So today, as Liverpool close out their season as top flight champions for the 20th time, and Everton depart Goodison Park after being based there since 1892, it's worth a moment to stop and think about the influence a Monaghan man had on both clubs over a hundred years ago.
About Tom O'Connor
Dundalk based reporter following the league since Monaghan United’s goalless draw against Athlone Town in 1996. Special interest in education and underage football. Shortlisted for the 2018 FAI Communications Award for series on Life beyond … View Full Profile