Harold "Harry" McShane

Harold "Harry" McShane (8 April 1920 – 7 November 2012) was a Scottish football player, who played as a direct and speedy winger. He was the father of actor Ian McShane.

From Farewell to Harry McShane, the voice of Old Trafford Manchester Evening News, 12 Nov 2012

Former United winger Harry McShane, who was the voice of Old Trafford, the brainchild of the United Old Boys Association and dad of actor Ian, has died aged 92.
Harry played 57 times for the Reds, scoring eight goals, but remained a loyal figure at the club. He also talent-spotted for United and is credited with discovering Wes Brown.
After his service with the RAF in the war, Harry joined Huddersfield and then Bolton before Matt Busby signed him at Old Trafford in 1946. McShane was bought to replace Colombia-bound Charlie Mitten as a left winger but switched to the right, earning a title medal from 12 matches played in a cartilage injury-shortened season in 1952. Harry was sold to Oldham Athletic for £750 before dropping down into non-League football, including a spell at Droylsden and was coach at Stalybridge Celtic.
McShane was PA announcer at Old Trafford in the late ’60s and ’70s, and in 1985 helped launch the successful United Old Boys Association. He was a regular visitor to the reunion dinners. He is survived by wife Rene and only son Ian, who played antiques dealer Lovejoy in the TV Series.
United players sported black armbands on Saturday at Villa Park in tribute to Harry.

From Ian McShane - Rogue Trader

One constant was his relationship with his parents, at least until last November, when his father died after suffering for seven years from Alzheimer's disease. McShane looks shaken when he talks about this. Mostly, though, he glows with pride when he talks about Harry McShane. "Ah, he was great. We never had a row. Which is why, when he died, even though it wasn't unexpected, well, it's still your Dad. It doesn't matter how old you are. You've lost your Dad."
There's one memory of his father in particular, from just before he had to go into a nursing home, that makes his face light up. He sits forward to tell me, so we are as close as commuters on a crowded train. "He still recognised my mother when he was ill. It was amazing. Because it was a love story, you know? They were together more than 70 years. And he half-recognised me. I walked in and he said, 'Who are you playing for nowadays?' I said, 'Dad, now look: you're the footballer, I'm the actor.' He said, 'Oh.' And then he said something that put me right in my place. His timing was incredible. He looked right at me and said, 'Would I have seen you in anything?'"

Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McShane_(footballer)_