George Poyser
Encyclopedia
George Henry Poyser was an English
football player and manager
. He enjoyed a lengthy playing career, most notably with Brentford
, the tail end of which was interrupted by World War II
. He was also a manager, taking charge of both Notts County
and Manchester City
.
in the 1930s, he was a strong left-back. Playing for Teversal Colliery, he had an unsuccessful trial at Mansfield Town
before moving on to Stanton Hill Victoria. He enjoyed spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Stourbridge
, before signing with Mansfield Town. He was part of the Mansfield team when they were elected to the Football League
in 1931.
In May 1931, he joined Port Vale
of the Second Division
. His Vale debut came on 2 January 1932, in a 2–0 win over Plymouth Argyle
at The Old Recreation Ground
. A regular in 1932–33
and 1933–34
, he played a total of 72 league games, making just the one appearance in the FA Cup
. In June 1934 he transferred to Brentford
for a fee of £1,550.
In his first season at Brentford, the club won the Second Division championship. He played for Brentford for a decade, making more than 150 appearances, though like many players of his era, the Second World War
shortened his career, though he represented Brentford in the non-competitive wartime competitions.
When competitive football resumed the 36 year old Poyser made three appearances for Plymouth Argyle
.
. He then returned to his old professional clubs in a coaching capacity, becoming the assistant trainer at Brentford and a coach at Wolves.
His management career gained more recognition at Notts County
, whom he managed between 1953 and 1957, reaching the FA Cup
quarter-finals in 1955. Former Notts County winger Gordon Wills regards Poyser as the best manager he played for.
In 1957 Poyser joined Manchester City
as assistant to Les McDowall
, with a reputation for being a talented scout
. Manchester City were relegated
to the Second Division in 1963, and McDowall left the club. On 12 July 1963, Poyser was appointed as his replacement. In his first season, the club reached the League Cup
semi-finals, but were well short of promotion in the league, finishing sixth. His second season proved disappointing, and in January 1965 the club reached a low point with their lowest ever League attendance of 8,015 against Swindon Town
. At Easter
Poyser was sacked, and the club finished the season in their then lowest ever position of 11th in the Second Division.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football player 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:...
. He enjoyed a lengthy playing career, most notably with Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, the tail end of which was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was also a manager, taking charge of both Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Playing career
Poyser played as a defenderDefender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
in the 1930s, he was a strong left-back. Playing for Teversal Colliery, he had an unsuccessful trial at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
before moving on to Stanton Hill Victoria. He enjoyed spells at 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...
and Stourbridge
Stourbridge F.C.
Stourbridge Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Stourbridge, West Midlands. The club currently plays in the Southern League Premier Division.-Early years:The club was founded in 1876 and was originally known as Stourbridge Standard...
, before signing with Mansfield Town. He was part of the Mansfield team when they were elected to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1931.
In May 1931, he joined Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
of the Second Division
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...
. His Vale debut came on 2 January 1932, in a 2–0 win over Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
at The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
. A regular in 1932–33
1932–33 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1932–33 season was Port Vale's twenty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Second Division. The season is notable as the last season of football for legendary striker Wilf Kirkham – who finished as top scorer for the sixth time in his Vale...
and 1933–34
1933–34 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1933–34 season was Port Vale's twenty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Second Division. Finishing eighth in the second tier with 45 points, they would not reach such a peak again until 1996–97...
, he played a total of 72 league games, making just the one appearance in 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 June 1934 he transferred to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
for a fee of £1,550.
In his first season at Brentford, the club won the Second Division championship. He played for Brentford for a decade, making more than 150 appearances, though like many players of his era, the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
shortened his career, though he represented Brentford in the non-competitive wartime competitions.
When competitive football resumed the 36 year old Poyser made three appearances for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
.
Management career
Poyser first turned to management with DoverDover F.C.
Dover F.C. was a football club based in Dover, Kent, England. The club joined the Kent League in 1894, but folded in 1901. Dover F.C. was revived a year later, this time as a purely amateur club, and rejoined the Kent League, but folded again in 1909...
. He then returned to his old professional clubs in a coaching capacity, becoming the assistant trainer at Brentford and a coach at Wolves.
His management career gained more recognition at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, whom he managed between 1953 and 1957, reaching 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...
quarter-finals in 1955. Former Notts County winger Gordon Wills regards Poyser as the best manager he played for.
In 1957 Poyser joined Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
as assistant to Les McDowall
Les McDowall
Les McDowall was a Scottish football player and manager. He managed Manchester City between 1950 and 1963, and then Oldham Athletic until 1965. McDowall was the longest serving manager in Manchester City's history, his tenure spanning 13 years.Though born in India, McDowall was raised as a Scot...
, with a reputation for being a talented scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
. Manchester City were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Second Division in 1963, and McDowall left the club. On 12 July 1963, Poyser was appointed as his replacement. In his first season, the club reached the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
semi-finals, but were well short of promotion in the league, finishing sixth. His second season proved disappointing, and in January 1965 the club reached a low point with their lowest ever League attendance of 8,015 against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. At Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
Poyser was sacked, and the club finished the season in their then lowest ever position of 11th in the Second Division.
as a Player
with Brentford- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
champion: 1934–35