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Bill Norman (football manager)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Norman was an English
football
manager.
Between 1918 and 1923, he was in charge of Blackpool
, who became one of a growing number of clubs to appoint a full-time manager. Before that point, the team selection had been the responsibility of a committee comprising directors, the captain, and vice-captain. In his four seasons in charge at Bloomfield Road
he led the Seasiders to challenge seriously for promotion on three occasions.
Previously, Norman had been a trainer of the Barnsley
side that won the FA Cup
in 1912, and he held a similar post at Huddersfield Town
before moving to Lancashire
in 1918. His waxed moustache
and impeccable appearance meant he was an imposing figure. He expected his players to dress in a similar fashion.
Upon taking up his position at the seaside, Norman immediately implemented spartan training routines, assisted by his son-in-law, Allan Ure, who was also the club's trainer. This disciplined regime led to his nickname of "Sergeant-major".
After World War One, the job of rebuilding the team was always going to be a difficult one. He could rely on a number of established players, but he was also prepared to move into the transfer market as necessary, which he did frequently. His most successful signing was one Harry Bedford
in March 1921.
In 1918-19, Norman's second season at the Blackpool helm, the club missed out on promotion by a narrow margin, finishing fourth, but the sale of Joe Lane
(who had scored 26 goals in 30 appearances in the league) in early March (after a 6-0 drubbing at South Shields, no less) did not exactly endear him to the Tangerine faithful. The following season saw Blackpool finish fourth again.
After spending heavily prior to the 1921-22 season, the club struggled against relegation; indeed, only a double victory over West Ham United
at the end of the season saved Blackpool from relegation into Division Three North.
Despite attracting several critics, Norman led Blackpool to the top of the table for the majority of the 1922-23 season, but once again the team collapsed in the latter stages and promotion passed them by again.
In the summer of 1923, Norman and Ure left Blackpool to join Leeds United
. At Elland Road
, the former became assistant to Arthur Fairclough, with whom he had worked at Barnsley.
Norman helped take Leeds into Division One
. However, when the Yorkshire
club was relegated in 1927, both he and Fairclough resigned.
Norman joined Hartlepools United
as manager, and although he didn't have much success at the Victoria Ground, he did discover W.G. Richardson, who later became a star with West Bromwich Albion
. Norman was Hartlepools manager until his death on 16 September 1931.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager.
Between 1918 and 1923, he was in charge of Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, who became one of a growing number of clubs to appoint a full-time manager. Before that point, the team selection had been the responsibility of a committee comprising directors, the captain, and vice-captain. In his four seasons in charge at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
he led the Seasiders to challenge seriously for promotion on three occasions.
Previously, Norman had been a trainer of the Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
side that won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1912, and he held a similar post at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
before moving to Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1918. His waxed moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
and impeccable appearance meant he was an imposing figure. He expected his players to dress in a similar fashion.
Upon taking up his position at the seaside, Norman immediately implemented spartan training routines, assisted by his son-in-law, Allan Ure, who was also the club's trainer. This disciplined regime led to his nickname of "Sergeant-major".
After World War One, the job of rebuilding the team was always going to be a difficult one. He could rely on a number of established players, but he was also prepared to move into the transfer market as necessary, which he did frequently. His most successful signing was one Harry Bedford
Harry Bedford
Henry "Harry" Bedford was an English professional football player. He scored 326 league goals in 485 games.-Club career:...
in March 1921.
In 1918-19, Norman's second season at the Blackpool helm, the club missed out on promotion by a narrow margin, finishing fourth, but the sale of Joe Lane
Joe Lane (footballer)
James Charles "Joe" Lane was an English professional footballer. He played as a forward.After spells with Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC and English side Sunderland, Lane signed for another English club, Blackpool, in 1913 for ₤400. He made his debut for the club on November 22, 1913, in a 2–2...
(who had scored 26 goals in 30 appearances in the league) in early March (after a 6-0 drubbing at South Shields, no less) did not exactly endear him to the Tangerine faithful. The following season saw Blackpool finish fourth again.
After spending heavily prior to the 1921-22 season, the club struggled against relegation; indeed, only a double victory over West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
at the end of the season saved Blackpool from relegation into Division Three North.
Despite attracting several critics, Norman led Blackpool to the top of the table for the majority of the 1922-23 season, but once again the team collapsed in the latter stages and promotion passed them by again.
In the summer of 1923, Norman and Ure left Blackpool to join Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. At Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, the former became assistant to Arthur Fairclough, with whom he had worked at Barnsley.
Norman helped take Leeds into Division One
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....
. However, when the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club was relegated in 1927, both he and Fairclough resigned.
Norman joined Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
as manager, and although he didn't have much success at the Victoria Ground, he did discover W.G. Richardson, who later became a star with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. Norman was Hartlepools manager until his death on 16 September 1931.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
 |
1 August 1918 | 31 May 1923 | 176 | 76 | 62 | 38 | 43.18 |
| Hartlepools United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
|
29 July 1927 | 16 September 1931 | 169 | 54 | 85 | 30 | 31.29 |
| Total | 345 | 130 | 147 | 68 | ||||