Colin McBride

3063 days ago Colin McBride became the sixth Purfleet manager; the game against Dagenham & Redbridge was his 500th game in charge. 

A little while ago when I was writing an article on Jimmy McFarlane playing his 600th game, I noticed that Colin McBride was only weeks away from being in charge for 500 games - In the Football League / Premier League only 5 managers have done more than this.

I only saw Colin play a couple of friendlies for us, but who ever you talk to Colin was the guvnor.

If you asked the question ”What was Colin the player like?” the answer would invariably be “He stood in the middle of the park passing the ball around shouting at people, a player’s captain”

For the uninitiated “Brussel” as he was affectionately known at the time played in the first ever Purfleet match, captaining the side to a 3-0 victory over Canvey Island Reserves. He played over 220 games helping the club rise from the Essex Senior League to the First Division of the Isthmian League before Gary Calder took over and brought in his own players, letting Colin go in the process.

Colin then moved in to management with Aveley before moving on to Concord Rangers where he started laying the foundations for a very good side.

At the end of the 1996-97 season Gary Calder left leaving just three players for the start of next season. Colin McBride answered the call and with him came 7 players and a Chairman. After a good

0-0 draw away at Yeading, Sutton came to Ship Lane and six goals later walked away with 3 points. After this defeat we regrouped and went on an 8 game unbeaten run. The end of the season saw us lose narrowly to Dagenham in our first ever Essex Senior Cup Final and reach a respectable 10th in League

Colin’s McBride full record as the Purfleet/Thurrock manger is below (up to the Dagenham game). 

Season

Pos

ESC

LC

FMC

FAC

FAT

P

W

D

L

For

Agst

Win%

97/98

10th

Final

Third

First

Second QR

First

57

23

14

20

80

76

40.40%

98/99

4th

 Quarter

Expelled

Semi

Third QR

First

58

32

8

18

107

69

55.20%

99/00

4th

Final

Third

Final

Third QR

Third

66

35

17

14

128

78

53.00%

00/01

11th

Semi

Forth

Final

Third QR

Second

62

27

14

21

94

81

43.50%

01/02

5th

Quarter

First

-

Third QR

Third

53

25

17

11

91

58

47.20%

02/03

8th

Second

First

-

Third QR

Third

52

21

15

16

77

58

40.40%

03/04

3rd

Winners

Winners

-

Round 1

Third

66

38

14

14

129

65

57.60%

04/05

3rd

Winners

Second

-

Round 1

Forth

60

35

6

19

107

71

58.30%

05/06

?

?

-

-

Forth QR

First

26

14

4

8

49

35

53.85%

Totals

 

 

 

 

 

 

500

250

109

141

862

591

50.00%

Over the years we have had some notable victories, beating Dagenham & Redbridge and Enfield both 4-0 in 1997-98 plus the cup finals. But without doubt the highlight was the two games with Luton Town in the FA Cup.

In the days when loyalty means very little to have a manager that has been in charge for 500 games is an excellent achievement, but if you add in the 227 games he played for us then you soon realise what an excellent club man he really is.