Career
Early years
He later spent two years at the Stretford Technical College, opposite Lancashire County Cricket Club"s ground and about half a mile from Old Trafford. He took part in locally organised coaches – one week to Manchester United and the next to Manchester City. McGhee favoured the latter, and when he went to Maine Road he"d watch Albert Emptage and Frank Swift.
Early career
Towards the end of the war, McGhee started playing senior amateur football.
He joined the Fleet Air Arm for a seven-year term in November 1946, but due to training, did not play for the first six months. Just one year later that all changed.
He was stationed in Scotland and Service Football started to shape his future. Portsmouth
In 1952, McGhee signed amateur forms with Portsmouth and at the same time joined Wealdstone Football Club, in North London.
McGhee signed for Portsmouth in May 1954.
McGhee had previously been on the club"s books as an amateur but this had been allowed to lapse. Portsmouth"s manager Eddie Lever was impressed with the full back when he turned out for a senior service side against a FA eleven on 31 December 1953. He kept a keen eye on the player for several months.
In May 1954, Lever, knowing that McGhee was being sought after by tops clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, was tipped off that the 25-year-old Petty Officer was on Portsmouth Harbour about to leave for his home in Manchester.
The Pompey manager jumped into a taxi and arrived just before the train pulled out and signed him on professional forms for the club Tommy McGhee only missed two games throughout the next term.
McGhee remained at Fratton Park for three more seasons, leaving for Reading F.C. in 1959 after Pompey had been relegated to Division 2. Reading
In July 1959, McGhee had a short spell at Reading F.C. where, after making his home debut against Portuguese Vale, a series of injuries restricted him to nine Division 3 appearances.
Poole Town and Fareham Town
In the 1960s, McGhee played non-league football for Poole Town and Fareham Town.
In the 1955-1956 season, McGhee"s performances led to him being picked to play in an England "B" international. Tommy McGhee now enjoys his retirement in the Portsmouth area.
