Tony MACKEN

 Derby County paid Irish side Waterford £30,000 for Tony Macken in August 1974. The Rams manager Dave Mackay viewed the twenty-four year old as a cover signing for his first choice midfield and, as a consequence, Macken spent his first season at the Baseball Ground in the reserve team. As defending First Division champions, Derby opened their 1975/76 campaign strongly and by the end of October 1975 were in fourth place in the table. With Archie Gemmill, Henry Newton and Bruce Rioch all in fine form, Macken again found himself on the sidelines. Accordingly Mackay allowed him to go to Portsmouth on loan. He made a brief return and replaced Rioch in the line up for the game against Aston Villa on December 27th 1975, but again went on loan to Portsmouth in February 1976.

His only other appearance for the Rams in the season was in a 1-0 defeat, coincidentally again against Villa, towards the end of the campaign. Tony finally got a chance of regular first team action the following season. Mackay gave him a midfield berth and, after his departure in November 1976, the new manager Colin Murphy kept him in the side as a replacement for the Everton bound Rioch. Macken scored the Rams only goal in their 3-1 defeat at Manchester United, but when Murphy decided to bring in Gerry Daly he again lost his place. Tony opted to try his hand in America and, after spells with Washington and Dallas, he returned to the British game with the Mackay managed Walsall side in October 1977. In all competitions he made thirty-seven appearances for the Rams, including eight as a substitute. He won his single Republic of Ireland cap - a 1-0 defeat at home to Spain in February 1977 - whilst at the Baseball Ground. (Mike Cockayne)