Coleraine Legends - Vincent Magee

Originally from the Co. Antrim village of Kells Magee, who was also a GAA player, began his career in senior football with Coleraine, making his debut in a 1-0 victory against Cliftonville at the end of the 1972/73 season. But he found his path to regular first team football blocked by Eddie Crossan, who held the number one shirt throughout the next season, which saw Coleraine lift the Irish League title for the first time.

His real breakthrough came in the next season, where he played 29 games and helped the club to the 1975 Irish Cup Final, where Coleraine lifted the trophy after a 1-0 win over Linfield in the second replay. That year also saw victories in the Gold and Ulster Cup finals. He also was in goal for one of the club’s greatest victories, the 1977 Irish Cup Final when Ivan Murray’s Bannsiders hammered Linfield 4-1.

He was known for his long booted clearances which frequently reached the other end of the pitch and on one occasion this helped him join that elite group of goalkeepers who have managed to score past their opposite number. It happened during the 1977/78 season in a match against Larne whose ‘keeper Tom Coburn, distracted by the presence of Des Dickson, misjudged one of Magee’s trademark kicks and saw it bounce past him into the net.

Magee continued to play for the club into the 1980’s and was in goal again when Des Dickson’s team took on Linfield in the 1982 Irish Cup Final, although he failed to make it a personal hat trick of victories over the Blues as he was beaten twice in the last 10 minutes and Coleraine lost 2-1. He would go on to play in both legs of the famous Cup Winners Cup tie against Spurs later that year, two of a total eight European ties he participated in during his time at The Showgrounds.

A 4-1 win over Distillery in April 1984 turned out to be his last appearance for the Bannsiders, as that summer Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Jim Platt moved to Coleraine from Ballymena as Manager. Although not initially registered as a player, Platt took over as number one when his clearance arrived and Magee left the club. He joined Larne and during his time at Inver Park helped them to two Irish Cup Finals and their first ever senior trophy, the 1987 Ulster Cup, when ironically they defeated Coleraine in the final.

Coleraine Record: 358 appearances – 1 goal