FEBRUARY 2003
JONNY MAGEE played a key role in the success of Bangor Football Club in the early 90s. These days Jonny is a senior lecturer at UWIC in Cardiff, but he still remains heavily involved in football.  Jonny hasn't forgotten his spell at Bangor, his framed 1993 Irish Cup Final shirt still takes pride of place in his office.

In an exclusive interview for Bangorfc.com, we catch up with Jonny to see how life has changed since leaving Bangor.

We asked Jonny some of the questions that were originally featured in a 1993 edition of Now With Wings Fanzine.

Jonny, Where are you now and what are you doing?

Presently I am a Senior Lecturer in Sports Sociology in the School of Sport, PE and Recreation at University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC). I am also a Director of Football to UWIC FC which involves being Head Coach to UWIC Inter Cardiff of Welsh League Division One. This is one of two feeder leagues to the Welsh Premiership and presently we are 3rd, 3 points behind the leaders, with one going up. However to do that we need to finish at least second as one of the teams above us has not applied for promotion so it is a two horse race for promotion. UWIC Inter Cardiff is a merger between UWIC and Inter Cardiff (an original League of Wales club) that the university took over in June 2000. I started here in September 2000 with the team in the League of Wales (courtesy of the merger) but we were not able to sustain it. This year however, an established recruitment link with the PFA has seen us play with students in the team who have been released from professional football. This is a huge benefit to us and hopefully we will take our place in the top flight of Welsh football next year.

How did the academic side of life progress?

Since leaving Bangor I graduated from Loughborough University in 1995 (MSc Sports Science) and University of Brighton (PhD), taking a lecturing post at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk in 1998 until my promotion to Senior Lecturer at UWIC. I got the UEFA 'A' Coaching Licence in 2000 and have been using this to good effect at UWIC.

After leaving Bangor, how did the playing side progress?

In terms of playing, I played 1996-7 for St. Leonards Stamcroft in the Dr. Martens Premier league, then was transferred to Margate in the Dr.Martens Premier in November 1997 for £8000 but, despite a decent time at Margate, retired from football at the end of that season due to an arthritic ankle (a long battle against weak ankles that almost made me miss an Irish Cup Final but eventually caught up on me!). Billy Massey will remember the perilous state of my ankles as he patched them up each week for me to play on !

I have not really missed playing as I did so much in my 10 years of senior football though to end at 26 with no choice was gut-wrenching. However many of the managerial / coaching influences I had encouraged me to go into coaching and I must say that Nigel Best was very encouraging about my coaching career not only at Bangor but beyond there as well. I am now involved with a student team playing in adult football which is a challenge but one that I am getting the better of and hopefully the Welsh Premiership beckons.

What was the best thing about playing for Bangor FC?

(1993 NWW answer: Beating Linfield and Glenavon.  Also the Diadora kit)
Being successful and giving the big teams a game. We had a good record against Linfield and Glentoran under Nigel when I played and winning trophies was a bonus.

Best player you played alongside at Bangor FC?

Not much to choose between Mark Glendinning and Raymond Hill. Both important to the team as if they did not play we missed them.

What was the worst thing about playing at Bangor FC?

(1993 NWW answer:  Not getting the credit we deserve! For example, Jim Gracey and his 'Hoover tickets')
I stand by the Jim Gracey Hoover tickets quip and as he drank in the same local as me in Lurgan. I often got to remind him about his comment ! I never liked playing up the hill at Clandeboye to the air raid shelter mind you.

Most difficult opponent?

(1993 NWW Answer:A bottle of vodka!)
David Jeffrey was the toughest, especially in his prime. Having said that, I never got any change out of Stephen Brown when I played against him for Linfield and was glad to play with him than against him cos he was also tough.

Favourite Film/TVShow?

(1993 NWW Answer: Jurassic Park/Brookside)
Got to be Father Ted. Dougal McGuire reminds me of Davy McCallan !

Most embarrassing moment at Bangor?

(1993 NWW answer: Wearing those Irish Cup Final grey flannels! And being seen on TV and at the Marquee in them!!) 
The Irish Cup Final suits were bad, as was an attempt at a goatee I had (looking back).

What would you like your epitaph to be?

(1993 NWW answer: 'Laid back and relaxed', or, 'Easy like Sunday morning')
One of the famous Magee footballers from Lurgan !

Do you ever see yourself moving into professional football management or coaching at a professional club?

I want to get into the educational side of professional football and maybe work toward the education of players and career management. As a sports sociologist, this is not top of the list for football authorities to use like in the same way as psychologists or physiologists, but career lifestyle and career (mis)management are becoming more important and something I can assist with.

Do you ever see yourself returning to Northern Ireland?

Only for a weekend to catch up.

Do you still keep in touch with the Irish League and in particular Bangor FC?

I email regularly with Davy O'Hare (of Coleraine) and look out all the time for results and coverage of all the teams but mostly Linfield and Bangor are the two I seek first. I think I am a fan of Irish League football in general and have much to thank it for. It is good to see familiar names and faces still contributing and clubs that I played for and enjoyed being at still giving pleasure or torture to those who follow.

Finally, can you get me any Cup Final tickets?

Worst place for Cup Final tickets is Cardiff !

We would like to thank Jonny for taking the time to answer these questions.  Thanks also to NWW for permitting the use of the 1993 questions and answers.