Born: 5 January 1898

Born in: Belfast

Other clubs: Belfast United, Swansea Town (1920-23), North Belfast United (loan 1922-23), Exeter City (1925-31)

Signed from: Swansea Town

Joined Liverpool: 02.06.1923

Debut: 17 Nov 1923

Final appearance: 18 Oct 1924

Contract until: 22.05.1925

League: Apps / Goals: 4 / 0

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 4 / 0

Player Profile

McDevitt arrived as an inside-forward from Belfast, but was transformed into a centre-half at Liverpool. McDevitt had attracted the attention of English club scouts when he was with Belfast United, and 1921 Swansea Town beat all the clubs to his signature. McDevitt wasn't considered ready for the first team yet, so he was loaned back to Ireland where he featured for North Belfast United. Liverpool moved in to sign him and Swansea didn't raise any objections. Three of McDevitt's appearances at Liverpool came in the 1923/24 season when Walter Wadsworth was unavailable. In his fourth and last game McDevitt was a centre-forward in a 4-1 home win over Sheffield United on 18 October 1924 when all four of Liverpool's goals were scored by Dick Forshaw. When Forshaw headed his fourth he crashed through United's Milton and McDevitt, who both had to be carried off the park semi-conscious. McDevitt sported a nasty cut above his eye. McDevitt joined Exeter City for a club transfer record in 1925, and was appointed the club's manager four years later. He kept on playing for the club until the 1930/31 season and served them as manager until 1935. He was said to be one of the most popular players ever associated with the club and took Exeter to second place in Third Division South in the 1932/33 season, just missing out of promotion, the best achievement in its history. McDevitt headed back to his hometown, Belfast, to take over as manager of Distillery in February 1938.