The Irish Football Association is saddened to hear of the passing of former international goalkeeper Willie (Iam) McFaul.
McFaul, who was born in Coleraine on 1 October 1943 and passed away yesterday, won six full caps for his country and he was also Northern Ireland’s goalkeeping coach between 1994 and 1997.
He made his international debut in October 1966 at Windsor Park in a European qualifier against England when he came on as a substitute for Pat Jennings. He won the last of his caps in September 1973 against Bulgaria in a home World Cup qualifier.
McFaul began his playing career with hometown club Coleraine, whom he joined as a 12-year-old.
He played a handful of games for the Bannsiders in the early1960s before signing for Linfield in the 1963-64 season. He played international football at youth and amateur level (two caps in 1962 v Scotland and England).
After four successful seasons with Linfield he was signed by Newcastle United for £8,000 in November 1966. And he would go on to play 387 games for the Magpies before retiring in 1975.
McFaul won the Texaco Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup with Newcastle United and an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1974 after they lost 3-0 to Liverpool in the final.
He was also a key part of the Newcatle side that lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.
He joined the coaching staff at Newcastle upon his retirement from playing and was later appointed Newcastle manager (September 1985 to October 1988).
He was manager at Newcastle United when he signed Michael O'Neill from Coleraine.
The Northern Ireland manager said: “I will always remember Willie with affection. He took me to Newcastle from Coleraine as a teenager and really helped with my subsequent development, particularly as a youngster moving away from home. He was a big part of my career and he will be sorely missed.”
McFaul also signed Northern Ireland U21s boss and former international goalkeeper Tommy Wright for Newcastle.
Wright said: “The measure of Willie was always evident on and off the pitch. When he signed me for Newcastle United from Linfield he actually helped my wife Anne and I move into the accommodation we were renting at the time and he remained a friend ever since.
“We ended up working together for Northern Ireland coaching the keepers and he scouted players for me when I was manager at Ballymena and Distillery. This was someone who played and managed at the very pinnacle of the game, which just showed his enduring enthusiasm for the game.”
McFaul’s other managerial and coaching appointments included: Coleraine manager, July 1990 until April 1992; Cullybackey Blues manager; Guam manager 2000-2003; Omagh Town coach, November 2004 until June 2005; Irish FA Londonderry County Performance Coach July 2006; Norwich City Scout 2008.
The Association sends its sincere condolences to Willie’s family circle at this sad time.
