Jim Gannon

James Paul Gannon (born 7 September 1968) is a professional football manager and former player who most recently was manager of Hyde United.

He started and finished his career as a player in Ireland, but made most of his professional appearances in the English Football League at Stockport County, where supporters elected him as a member of the Hall of Fame.

In 1987, he received his start in higher-level football with Irish club Turlough O'Connor's Dundalk.

Whilst with the club he played in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, in a highly successful period in the club's history.

During his spell at the club they did the Irish double, winning both the FAI Cup and topping the League of Ireland Premier Division in 1987–88.

Gannon began his playing career at Dundalk, but moved to English club Sheffield United in 1989.

The next year he transferred to Stockport County, following a short loan spell with Halifax Town.

He spent the next ten years at Stockport, becoming one of the club's most loyal servants, and helped the club to second-place finishes in both the Second Division and Fourth Division, as well as two Football League Trophy finals.

His performances for Dundalk earned him a £70,000 move to Sheffield United in April 1989.

However, he was unable to break into the first team at Bramall Lane.

He spent a brief time in 1989–90 on loan at struggling Halifax Town, making two appearances for the "Shaymen".

In 1990, he moved to Stockport County, who paid United between £40,000 and £75,000 for his services.

He remained at the club for ten years, during which the club would win promotion on two occasions, and make four Wembley appearances.

In 1990–91, County achieved promotion from the Fourth Division as runners-up.

In 1992 he made his first trip to Wembley Stadium, as Stockport lost 1–0 to Stoke City in the Football League Trophy final.

During the same season, Stockport also reached the Third Division play-off final, but were defeated at Wembley.

The following year, County again reached the Football League Trophy final, but lost 2–1 to Port Vale.

On 10 March 1993, Gannon verbally abused Stoke City player Mark Stein, who reacted by assaulting Gannon.

Gannon made a formal complaint to the police and as a result Stein was later required to appear in court for the attack.

The two players' confrontation continued the following month after Gannon's then-girlfriend spat at Stein in a post-match interview.

Stein was given a conditional discharge after the court accepted he was under "extreme provocation" from what he claimed was racial abuse.

During his early days at the club Gannon was criticised by supporters for his performances, but he soon won them over after moving from centre-half to become a goalscoring midfielder.

Stockport fans named him 'The Ghost', due to his knack of 'ghosting' in at the back of the box to score from crosses.

He was also nicknamed 'Big Jimbo'.

In January 1994 Gannon joined Notts County on a brief loan spell to help him overcome some personal problems.

After leaving the club in 2000, he spent a season with Crewe Alexandra, before returning to Ireland with Shelbourne, winning two League of Ireland Premier Division titles in his three years there.

Starting a career in management, he took charge of his first club Dundalk in 2004.

After a season in Ireland he returned to Stockport County as manager.

There he led the club to promotion from League Two via the play-offs in 2008.

Leading County to safety in League One despite a ten-point deduction for entering administration, he lost his job as part of a cost-cutting measure.

Heading to Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, he managed the club in the Europa League, but left after just 25 games in charge.

He took charge of Championship side Peterborough United in 2010, but stayed at the struggling club for only two months, turning down a four-year contract.

In January 2011 he was appointed manager of Port Vale, but lasted just ten weeks in the job.

He returned to Stockport in November 2011, as the club's director of football and manager, before being sacked in January 2013.

He took charge at Northwich Victoria in December 2013.

He spent just over two years with Northwich before returning to manage Stockport County for the third time in January 2016.

He led the club to promotion as National League North champions at the end of the 2018–19 season.

He left Stockport in January 2021 and took charge at Hyde United for a short spell eight months later.

Gannon was born in Southwark, South London and moved with his family to Ireland at a young age.

He considers himself to be 'a working class Irish Catholic'.