Karl Marginson


Karl Kevin Marginson is an English football manager and former player, who played in the Football League for Rotherham United He became FC United of Manchester's first manager on 22 June 2005, guiding them to four promotions to reach the National League North before leaving by mutual agreement on 24 October 2017.

Playing career

As a player, Marginson played for the Football League clubs Blackpool, Rotherham United and Macclesfield Town. He also has extensive experience of non-league football in the north-west of England having played for Salford City, Hyde United, Stalybridge Celtic, Barrow, Chorley, Droylsden and Curzon Ashton. He spent the 2004–05 season playing in the North West Counties Football League with First Division Bacup Borough.
In terms of silverware, his most successful period was from 1996–98. In 1995–96 he won the FA Trophy at Wembley with Macclesfield Town. The following year, again with Macclesfield, he went on to win the Conference title and promotion to the football league. In 1997–98 he won the Northern Premier with Barrow AFC, scoring the title clinching goal against nearest rivals Boston Utd.

Management career

On 22 June 2005, he was appointed as the first ever manager of FC United of Manchester after one of their players, Joz Mitten, recommended him to the board and led the team to immediate success by achieving promotion in each of their first three seasons. The club currently play in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, after gaining promotion in the 2014–15 season by winning the Northern Premier League Premier Division title. In the 2010–11 season, Marginson led them into the FA Cup proper for the first time, where they upset Rochdale to reach the second round. Marginson is regularly celebrated by fans of the club at matches, home and away, due to these achievements. For the first five seasons, he led the club on a semi-professional basis but later gave up his fruit and vegetable delivery business to work full-time for FC United, a role which included involvement in the club's community work such as coaching youngsters and other groups. On 24 October 2017, Marginson left his post as manager at F.C. United by mutual agreement.
In November 2018 he was appointed Head of Football Operations at Radcliffe F.C..

Managerial statistics