Bobby Flavell (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bobby Flavell was a Scottish
association football player and manager
. His senior playing career, which was delayed by the Second World War, had its high point at Dundee
, where he won two Scottish League Cup
winners' medals in consecutive years. Flavell won two caps for the Scotland national football team
, both in 1947. He later became a manager of Ayr United
, St. Mirren
and Albion Rovers.
, North Lanarkshire
in 1921. He joined the senior game by signing for Airdrie
, but had to wait until the 1946–47 season
to make a league appearance, due to the Second World War. During the war, Flavell had made guest appearances for both Arsenal
and Tottenham
. When the Scottish Football League
resumed in 1946, Flavell scored over a goal per game for Airdrie and won his two caps for Scotland
, which convinced Hearts
to pay £10,000 to acquire his services.
He again scored frequently at Hearts, but he became a football outcast in 1950 by signing for Millonarios, of the breakaway Colombian league. Flavell played alongside the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano
for Millonarios, but he returned to Scotland the following year to sign for Dundee
.
Flavell scored goals in both the 1951
and 1952
Scottish League Cup
Finals, which helped Dundee win the cup in both years. He also played in the 1952 Scottish Cup Final, which ended in a 4–0 defeat by Motherwell
. He also played for Kilmarnock
and St. Mirren
before retiring as a player.
in 1961. He quickly moved to St. Mirren
, whom he guided to the 1962 Scottish Cup Final. He briefly returned to Ayr, before having two spells at Albion Rovers. Flavell later became a director of Albion Rovers.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
association football player and manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. His senior playing career, which was delayed by the Second World War, had its high point at Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, where he won two Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winners' medals in consecutive years. Flavell won two caps for the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, both in 1947. He later became a manager of Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
, St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
and Albion Rovers.
Playing career
Flavell was born in AnnathillAnnathill
Annathill is a small village located near Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It had a population of 237 in 1991. The name is thought to be derived from a patron saint's church.-External links:* * , Geography at Edinburgh.* *...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
in 1921. He joined the senior game by signing for Airdrie
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
, but had to wait until the 1946–47 season
1946-47 in Scottish football
The 1946–47 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland, and the first since the 1938–39 season.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Rangers-Scottish League Division B:-Scottish League Division C:...
to make a league appearance, due to the Second World War. During the war, Flavell had made guest appearances for both Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. When the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
resumed in 1946, Flavell scored over a goal per game for Airdrie and won his two caps for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, which convinced Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
to pay £10,000 to acquire his services.
He again scored frequently at Hearts, but he became a football outcast in 1950 by signing for Millonarios, of the breakaway Colombian league. Flavell played alongside the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
for Millonarios, but he returned to Scotland the following year to sign for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
.
Flavell scored goals in both the 1951
1951 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1951 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 27 October 1951, at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the sixth Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Dundee and Rangers. Dundee won the match 3–2, thanks to goals by Alf Boyd, Bobby Flavell and Johnny...
and 1952
1952 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1952 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 25 October 1952, at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 7th Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Dundee and Kilmarnock. Dundee won the match 2–0, thanks to two goals by Bobby Flavell...
Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Finals, which helped Dundee win the cup in both years. He also played in the 1952 Scottish Cup Final, which ended in a 4–0 defeat by Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
. He also played for Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
and St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
before retiring as a player.
Coaching career
Flavell had five stints as a manager at three different clubs, starting with Ayr UnitedAyr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
in 1961. He quickly moved to St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
, whom he guided to the 1962 Scottish Cup Final. He briefly returned to Ayr, before having two spells at Albion Rovers. Flavell later became a director of Albion Rovers.