The former Aston Villa, Doncaster and Burton midfielder was appointed this week after eight years at Mickleover and has been tasked with leading the National League North side into a bold new era.
By his own admission, full-time management is a step into the unknown, but McGrath is getting guidance from some of the best in the business.
Nigel Clough, who has just won promotion to League One with Mansfield, signed McGrath for Burton in 2007 and has remained a close personal friend ever since.
Another former Brewers boss – ex-Premier League full-back Gary Rowett – has managed almost 400 games in the Championship with Birmingham, Derby, Stoke and Millwall.
“I saw Nigel about a month ago,” says the 44-year-old, who played 247 games for Burton and won promotion to the EFL in 2009.
“He invited me down to the Mansfield training ground, which was very kind. We had a good couple of hours, a cup of tea and a chat. We’re still pretty close.
“We were a very hard-working team at Burton. No superstars, just seven or eight out of ten every week. We were a decent footballing side, but, first and foremost, Nigel set us up to win games. To be fit and to outwork the opposition.
“He’s a great manager with massive pedigree and the history that family have in football – I feel very privileged to be privy to that.
“I also spoke to Gary Rowett the other day, just to pick his brains on some of the full-time aspects of management.
Denne historien er fra May 12, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 12, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
