Charlie Spencer
Encyclopedia
Charles William "Charlie" Spencer (4 December 1899 – 9 February 1953) was an English
footballer and manager
.
from non-league football in October 1921. He played for the club until 1928, making a total of 175 appearances and scored 1 goal.
In January 1928, Spencer signed for Manchester United
. However, he was only at United for 18 months, leaving the club for Tunbridge Wells Rangers in 1929. He then moved to Wigan Athletic
, where he eventually became club manager.
Spencer played twice for England
. His first game was in a game against Scotland
on 12 April 1924 and his second, and last, cap came against Wales
on 28 February 1925.
first ever manager in August 1932. During his first four seasons at the club, he won the Cheshire County League Championship three times.
He left Wigan in March 1937 to become manager of Grimsby Town
. Grimsby were then playing in the First Division
and narrowly avoided relegation at the end of the 1937–38 season.
The following season, Spencer had assembled a fine squad, including former Liverpool
centre forward Fred Howe
, Jimmy Boyd
(who had won the FA Cup with Newcastle United
in 1932
) and Tommy Jones
from Blackpool
. Grimsby performed far better in the league, finishing in tenth place in the table, whilst in the FA Cup
, they reached the semi-final
against Wolverhampton Wanderers
, having defeated fellow First Division team Chelsea
in the previous round. The semi-final was played at Old Trafford
on 25 March 1939 in front of a crowd of 76,962 spectators; this remains the record attendance at Old Trafford. In the semi-final, Grimsby were no match for Wolves and were "simply swept aside", going down 5–0.
He was appointed as manager of York City
in November 1952. However, he died less than three months into his reign at the club on 9 February 1953 at his home in Blackpool
.
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...
footballer and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Playing
Spencer joined Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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...
from non-league football in October 1921. He played for the club until 1928, making a total of 175 appearances and scored 1 goal.
In January 1928, Spencer signed for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. However, he was only at United for 18 months, leaving the club for Tunbridge Wells Rangers in 1929. He then moved to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, where he eventually became club manager.
Spencer played twice for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. His first game was in a game against 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...
on 12 April 1924 and his second, and last, cap came against Wales
Wales 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 28 February 1925.
Managerial
Spencer became Wigan Athletic'sWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
first ever manager in August 1932. During his first four seasons at the club, he won the Cheshire County League Championship three times.
He left Wigan in March 1937 to become manager of Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. Grimsby were then playing in the 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....
and narrowly avoided relegation at the end of the 1937–38 season.
The following season, Spencer had assembled a fine squad, including former Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
centre forward Fred Howe
Fred Howe
Fred Howe was an English professional soccer player who played as a striker. His professional career took a while to get started, playing non-league football until he was 22, only puncuated with a brief spell at Stockport County...
, Jimmy Boyd
Jimmy Boyd (footballer)
James "Jimmy" Murray Boyd was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside right.Born in Glasgow, Boyd began his career with junior side Petershill before turning senior with Edinburgh side St Bernards. He joined Newcastle United in 1925 and stayed there for ten years, making 214...
(who had won the FA Cup with 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...
in 1932
1932 FA Cup Final
The 1932 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in what became known as the "Over The Line" final. Newcastle won 2–1, both of their goals scored by Jack Allen....
) and Tommy Jones
Tommy Jones (English footballer)
Thomas William "Tommy" Jones was an English professional footballer. He spent five years at Blackpool in the 1930s, making over 150 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a forward.-Blackpool:...
from 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...
. Grimsby performed far better in the league, finishing in tenth place in the table, whilst in the FA Cup
FA Cup 1938–39
The 1938–39 FA Cup was the 64th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Portsmouth won the competition for the first time, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 in the final at Wembley...
, they reached the semi-final
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, having defeated fellow First Division team Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the previous round. The semi-final was played at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
on 25 March 1939 in front of a crowd of 76,962 spectators; this remains the record attendance at Old Trafford. In the semi-final, Grimsby were no match for Wolves and were "simply swept aside", going down 5–0.
He was appointed as manager of York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in November 1952. However, he died less than three months into his reign at the club on 9 February 1953 at his home in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
 |
1 August 1932 | 30 April 1937 | ?? | ?? | ?? | ?? | ?? |
| Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
|
1 May 1937 | 1 May 1951 | 326 | 102 | 148 | 76 | 31.28 |
| York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
|
1 November 1952 | 1 February 1953 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 38.46 |