Alan Durban
Encyclopedia
William Alan Durban is a Welsh
former international footballer and manager between the 1970s and 1990s.
, Port Talbot
. He began his career at Cardiff City
, making his debut in a 2-1 win over Derby County
in 1959. After initially making an impact on the team he fell out of favour and was transferred to Derby County for £10,000 in July 1963 at the age of 22 having played over 50 times for Cardiff. He made his Derby debut on 24 August 1963 in a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United
and helped the side to thirteenth place in his first season and his partnership with the newly arrived Eddie Thomas saw the side begin to move up the table, finishing in 9th and 8th position in the following two years.
After finishing in seventeenth place during the 1966–67 season Tim Ward
was replaced as the Derby manager by Brian Clough
. Under Clough, Durban was moved from Inside-forward to an attacking midfield role and was handed the captaincy for the first time in a 5-1 win over his former club Cardiff City. He won a Football League First Division
championship medal with Derby in 1971-72, although he then left the club in 1973 to join Shrewsbury Town
where he later took charge as player-manager
on 18 May 1966 in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil
at the age of 24. He went on to make 27 appearances for Wales, his final appearance coming on 27 May 1972 in a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland
.
in February 1974; managing them until 1978 when he joined Stoke City
, having won promotion from Division Four
and the Welsh Cup
in 1977. In three years at Stoke, Durban won 53 out of 143 games, and in 1981 he became manager of Sunderland
, managing them until 1984 but failing to win anything. After leaving Sunderland he managed Willington
in the Northern League. Six months after leaving Sunderland he joined Cardiff City
but his two year spell in charge at Ninian Park
turned into a disaster as they suffered consecutive relegations, falling from Division Two
to Division Four and Durban was replaced by Frank Burrows
.
Several years later, Durban returned to Sunderland to become Chief Scout under Peter Reid
. He then briefly returned to Stoke as caretaker for five games in 1998.
In Summer 2010, he commenced part time work as a regional scout for Championship side Norwich City.
In July 2011 Durban re-joined Stoke City on a part-time basis as a mentor for young Academy players needing guidance off the pitch.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former international footballer and manager between the 1970s and 1990s.
Club career
Durban was brought up in Bracken Road, MargamMargam
Margam is a suburb of Port Talbot in the Welsh county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, close to junction 39 of the M4 motorway.- History :...
, Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
. He began his career at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, making his debut in a 2-1 win over Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 1959. After initially making an impact on the team he fell out of favour and was transferred to Derby County for £10,000 in July 1963 at the age of 22 having played over 50 times for Cardiff. He made his Derby debut on 24 August 1963 in a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and helped the side to thirteenth place in his first season and his partnership with the newly arrived Eddie Thomas saw the side begin to move up the table, finishing in 9th and 8th position in the following two years.
After finishing in seventeenth place during the 1966–67 season Tim Ward
Tim Ward (footballer)
Tim Ward was an English footballer and subsequently football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County.-Biography:...
was replaced as the Derby manager by Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
. Under Clough, Durban was moved from Inside-forward to an attacking midfield role and was handed the captaincy for the first time in a 5-1 win over his former club Cardiff City. He won a Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship medal with Derby in 1971-72, although he then left the club in 1973 to join Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
where he later took charge as player-manager
International career
Durban was handed his debut for WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 18 May 1966 in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
at the age of 24. He went on to make 27 appearances for Wales, his final appearance coming on 27 May 1972 in a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Managerial career
He began his managerial career at Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in February 1974; managing them until 1978 when he joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, having won promotion from Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
and the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
in 1977. In three years at Stoke, Durban won 53 out of 143 games, and in 1981 he became manager of Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, managing them until 1984 but failing to win anything. After leaving Sunderland he managed Willington
Willington F.C.
Willington A.F.C. is an English football club based in Willington, County Durham. The club are currently members of the Wearside League and play at Hall Lane.-History:...
in the Northern League. Six months after leaving Sunderland he joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
but his two year spell in charge at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
turned into a disaster as they suffered consecutive relegations, falling from Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
to Division Four and Durban was replaced by Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
.
Several years later, Durban returned to Sunderland to become Chief Scout under Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
. He then briefly returned to Stoke as caretaker for five games in 1998.
In Summer 2010, he commenced part time work as a regional scout for Championship side Norwich City.
In July 2011 Durban re-joined Stoke City on a part-time basis as a mentor for young Academy players needing guidance off the pitch.
Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
 |
1 February 1974 | 13 February 1978 | 187 | 78 | 48 | 61 | |
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
|
13 February 1978 | 1 June 1981 | 143 | 53 | 48 | 42 | |
| Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
|
1 June 1981 | 2 March 1984 | 115 | 31 | 35 | 49 | |
| Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
 |
23 September 1984 | 28 April 1986 | 87 | 22 | 17 | 48 | |
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
|
8 April 1998 | 13 May 1998 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total | 537 | 186 | 148 | 203 | ||||