Dundalk Football Club are saddened to learn of the death of our former manager Eddie May.
Eddie died in his sleep at the weekend, aged 68. The club wish to express its sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Eddie.
Essex-born May took charge of Dundalk towards the end of the 1996/97 season and famously signed Jeff McNamara from Linfield on amateur terms for the playoff against Waterford United in May 1997.
McNamara proved the hero, netting twice in the first leg at Oriel Park, with another goal from Ray Campbell giving Dundalk a 3-0 lead that Waterford could not recover from in the return leg four days later.
May looked set to stay at the helm for the following season, signing ex-Cardiff City players Steve Williams and Nathan Wigg. Williams is still fondly remembered at the club, having made 83 appearances over two seasons.
However, May departed before the season started, as he took over Brentford.
As a defender in his playing days, in the 1960s and 70s, May played for Dagenham, Southend United, Wrexham – where he made more than 300 appearances over eight seasons – and Swansea City, as well as having a loan spell at Chicago Sting.
Having had a spell in charge of Newport County in the late 80s, he went on to manage, among others, Cardiff City – where he won the Division Three title and Welsh Cup double in 1993 – Torquay United, Brentford, Dundalk and Drogheda United.
He was also in charge of the Cardiff team that recorded a historic 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester City thanks to a Nathan Blake wonder goal in 1994.
The club will hold a minute’s applause in memory of Eddie ahead of our next home game, against Bohemians on Friday week, 27 April.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
