Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2009 6:26:06 GMT
I doubt we’ll hear any personal recollections of the managers before Eric Webber. Nonetheless they’re worth recording and, Jon, I hope I’ve got this list correct from 1921 onwards: Crad Evans, Harry Raymond, Percy Mackrill, Albert Hoskins (debateable as Jon has explained), Frank Womack, Frank Brown, Alf Steward, Billy Butler, Jack Butler, John McNeil, Bob John and Alex Massie.
As we’ve seen in previous threads, there were several ex-internationals amongst that list. But, for most of these names, I’ve no great insights other than what is contained in the Centenary History, my main inspiration for this series (and, if you didn’t already know, Jon was one of the authors of this marvellous publication together with John Lovis). So whilst others may wish to contribute some light-and-shade to various names on this list, I’ll content myself by looking at the four which interest me the most:
Frank Brown (1932-1938), our second-longest serving manager after Eric Webber. I’m not sure if this was a sign of his abilities or a reflection of an era when football clubs changed managers less often the country changed monarchs. Looking at the history of several other clubs, a mere six years was almost a flash in the pan. That’s partly because clubs were often mainly concerned with having a safe pair of hands on the tiller; partly because the role of the manager was rather different in those days. Nonetheless, if the Breedon Book of Football Managers is correct, Frank Brown’s record is astonishing: fifteen years at Torquay in various capacities between 1923 and 1938; fifteen years as manager of Chester between 1938 and 1953.
I never knew until recently that Frank Womack (1929-32) managed Grimsby at the peak of their powers in the 1930s. After winning Division Two with Grimsby, he did the same again with Leicester in 1937. Not only was Frank Womack the first Torquay manager who “made it” but he still holds the appearances record for Birmingham. He was also involved in some dodgy dealings at Leicester which led to his suspension.
John McNeil is notable for giving Torquay fans something to cheer about as the club mounted its first promotion challenge after twenty-two years of league membership. Throw in the 1948/49 FA Cup run and a string of signings from Scotland and you’ve a pretty eventful few years. John McNeil left Plainmoor to manage Bury citing , according to the Centenary History, “the apathetic response of the South Devon public" (on gates of a mere 8,500). From what I gather McNeil's departure came at a crucial time during that key 1949/50 season and he wasn't around for the big game at Notts County watched by 43,000.
And was the appointment of Alex Massie in 1950 a sign that United were upping their ambitions? I’m not sure of the precise sequence of events but this was around the time that George Gillin and Ron Blindell were in the boardroom. Massie – 18 caps for Scotland (at a time when England v Scotland games had such a mystique) and a recent manager of Aston Villa – must have been an incredibly high-profile arrival at Plainmoor drawing parallel with Bruce Rioch thirty years later. There was the audacious signing of Scottish international Hugh Brown before Massie left after falling out with the board. I’d like to know more.
As we’ve seen in previous threads, there were several ex-internationals amongst that list. But, for most of these names, I’ve no great insights other than what is contained in the Centenary History, my main inspiration for this series (and, if you didn’t already know, Jon was one of the authors of this marvellous publication together with John Lovis). So whilst others may wish to contribute some light-and-shade to various names on this list, I’ll content myself by looking at the four which interest me the most:
Frank Brown (1932-1938), our second-longest serving manager after Eric Webber. I’m not sure if this was a sign of his abilities or a reflection of an era when football clubs changed managers less often the country changed monarchs. Looking at the history of several other clubs, a mere six years was almost a flash in the pan. That’s partly because clubs were often mainly concerned with having a safe pair of hands on the tiller; partly because the role of the manager was rather different in those days. Nonetheless, if the Breedon Book of Football Managers is correct, Frank Brown’s record is astonishing: fifteen years at Torquay in various capacities between 1923 and 1938; fifteen years as manager of Chester between 1938 and 1953.
I never knew until recently that Frank Womack (1929-32) managed Grimsby at the peak of their powers in the 1930s. After winning Division Two with Grimsby, he did the same again with Leicester in 1937. Not only was Frank Womack the first Torquay manager who “made it” but he still holds the appearances record for Birmingham. He was also involved in some dodgy dealings at Leicester which led to his suspension.
John McNeil is notable for giving Torquay fans something to cheer about as the club mounted its first promotion challenge after twenty-two years of league membership. Throw in the 1948/49 FA Cup run and a string of signings from Scotland and you’ve a pretty eventful few years. John McNeil left Plainmoor to manage Bury citing , according to the Centenary History, “the apathetic response of the South Devon public" (on gates of a mere 8,500). From what I gather McNeil's departure came at a crucial time during that key 1949/50 season and he wasn't around for the big game at Notts County watched by 43,000.
And was the appointment of Alex Massie in 1950 a sign that United were upping their ambitions? I’m not sure of the precise sequence of events but this was around the time that George Gillin and Ron Blindell were in the boardroom. Massie – 18 caps for Scotland (at a time when England v Scotland games had such a mystique) and a recent manager of Aston Villa – must have been an incredibly high-profile arrival at Plainmoor drawing parallel with Bruce Rioch thirty years later. There was the audacious signing of Scottish international Hugh Brown before Massie left after falling out with the board. I’d like to know more.