Graham Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Graham Norman Hawkins is an English
former football player and manager.
A defender
, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End
three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain. He signed with Blackburn Rovers
in 1974, playing over 100 games in a four year spell, helping the club to the Third Division
title in 1974–75. He was sold to Port Vale
in January 1978, where he first entered into coaching, before his departure in late 1979. He made a total of 450 appearances in the Football League
.
Serving as Shrewsbury Town
's assistant manager, he was given the top job at Wolves in 1982. He led the club to promotion out of the Second Division
in 1982–83, before he lost his position in 1984. Following this he coached in Saudi Arabia
and then was made Head of Player Development at the Football League.
, making his debut in the Black Country derby
against West Bromwich Albion
on 10 October 1964. However, he failed to establish himself and moved to Preston North End
in December 1967.
After a slow start to his Deepdale
career, primarily due to injury, he became a regular and was appointed captain at the young age of 22. He played over 250 games before moving to Blackburn Rovers
in June 1974.
He later finished his playing career at Port Vale
, signing as a player-youth coach for £6,000 from Blackburn in January 1978. He became a first team regular and was appointed as the first team coach in May 1978 before being promoted to assistant manager in September 1978. When manager Dennis Butler
stepped down in August 1978 Hawkins was expecting to be appointed as caretaker manager. However the board appointed Alan Bloor
in this role and he took up the position on a full time basis the following month. Feeling slighted by this Hawkins resigned his position and took out an unfair dismissal claim, but dropped the claim in April 1980 when the club offered compensation.
before returning to Wolves as manager, appointed after the Derek Dougan
-led takeover saved the club from extinction in August 1982. He guided Wolves to promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, finishing runners-up to QPR
.
However, life in the First Division
was much tougher and the side were relegated
after a disastrous campaign. Hawkins was dismissed in April 1984, after a run of just one win in fourteen games.
He later coached in Saudi Arabia
.
He is currently the Football League
's head of player development.
with Blackburn Rovers
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...
former football player and manager.
A defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, he began his career 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...
in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain. He signed with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in 1974, playing over 100 games in a four year spell, helping the club to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title in 1974–75. He was sold to 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...
in January 1978, where he first entered into coaching, before his departure in late 1979. He made a total of 450 appearances in 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...
.
Serving as 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...
's assistant manager, he was given the top job at Wolves in 1982. He led the club to promotion out 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...
in 1982–83, before he lost his position in 1984. Following this he coached in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and then was made Head of Player Development at the Football League.
Playing career
Hawkins began his career with Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton 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...
, making his debut in the Black Country derby
Black Country derby
The Black Country derby is most commonly the local derby between the English football teams West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The term 'Black Country derby' can also be given to a match between either of these teams and Walsall F.C., though such matches are less common as a result...
against 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...
on 10 October 1964. However, he failed to establish himself and moved to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in December 1967.
After a slow start to his Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
career, primarily due to injury, he became a regular and was appointed captain at the young age of 22. He played over 250 games before moving to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in June 1974.
He later finished his playing career at 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...
, signing as a player-youth coach for £6,000 from Blackburn in January 1978. He became a first team regular and was appointed as the first team coach in May 1978 before being promoted to assistant manager in September 1978. When manager Dennis Butler
Dennis Butler
Dennis Anthony Butler is an English former footballer and football manager. He played as a winger for Bolton Wanderers between 1959 and 1968, before ending his playing career following a five year spell at Rochdale...
stepped down in August 1978 Hawkins was expecting to be appointed as caretaker manager. However the board appointed Alan Bloor
Alan Bloor
Alan Bloor is an English professional footballer and manager, now retired. He made close to 400 appearances in the Football League for both Potteries teams...
in this role and he took up the position on a full time basis the following month. Feeling slighted by this Hawkins resigned his position and took out an unfair dismissal claim, but dropped the claim in April 1980 when the club offered compensation.
Coaching and Management career
Upon leaving Vale, he took up the assistant manager post 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...
before returning to Wolves as manager, appointed after the Derek Dougan
Derek Dougan
Alexander Derek Dougan was a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers....
-led takeover saved the club from extinction in August 1982. He guided Wolves to promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, finishing runners-up to QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
However, life 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....
was much tougher and the side 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...
after a disastrous campaign. Hawkins was dismissed in April 1984, after a run of just one win in fourteen games.
He later coached in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
.
He is currently 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...
's head of player development.
as a Player
Individual- PFA Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 1974–75
with Blackburn Rovers
- Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
champion: 1974–75
as a Manager
with Wolverhampton Wanderers- 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...
runners-up: 1982–83