FANS who followed Bolton Wanderers legend John McGinlay from the terraces may get the privilege of quaffing a pint pulled by their hero next time they pop into their local.
The former Whites striker is the man at the helm of a McGinlay “dynasty” which has taken over the Original Bay Horse pub in Horwich and reopened it following a £100,000 refurbishment.
Helping to run the 240-year-old pub are McGinlay’s sons, John, aged 28, Michael, aged 26, Jamie aged 21, Craig, aged 20, and daughter Amie Lee, aged 17.
“It’s a team effort,” said the 50-year-old, who made 192 appearances for the Whites between 1992 and 1997, scoring 87 times, including the last goal to be scored at Burnden Park.
“The builders have done a fantastic job, turning it round in more or less three weeks. They have transformed the pub, making it a lot more welcoming, but keeping the historic character of the place.
“We picked the pub because it already had a lot of regular clients, but we thought we could enhance it. It’s a proper pub, and there’s not many of them left.
“In the past I think it was really a men’s pub, but we want to make it appealing to couples.”
And it was the family factor which prompted Super John to embark on the venture after his recent stint working under Owen Coyle at Wigan Athletic with 12 scouts under his command.
“Being able to run it with my family was the main factor,” he said. “My boys have worked in the trade and it helps me because I can’t be here all the time.
“They’ve appointed me as head cleaner!”
The Whites legend, who is currently a radio pundit at Wanderers matches, still harbours ambitions to work in football again.
He added: “I know that if I need to go away for football reasons, the pub is in good hands. As an ex-player you miss the day to day contact with football.
“I enjoy going to games and looking at up and coming players. At Wigan, I had 12 scouts working for me. When you find yourself out of a job, it makes you more hungry to get back in.”
He came back to the region two years ago after returning from nine years’ coaching in Cincinnati in the USA. “When people ask ‘where do you come from’ I always say Bolton,” said the Inverness-born former Scotland international.
“When we decided to return from America and we said we were going home, it was always going to be Bolton.
“All my kids went to Rivington and Blackrod School and there’s no other place we would want to be.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel