Hugh Shaw (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Shaw was a Scottish
association football player and manager
, most notably with Hibernian
. He played for Hibs during the interwar period
, making his debut during the 1918–19 season. Shaw played as a half-back
in the Hibs side that reached the Scottish Cup
Finals of 1923 and 1924, losing to Celtic
and Airdrie
respectively.
Shaw was hired as Hibs' trainer
by Willie McCartney
after he was appointed manager
in 1936. Hibs had fallen on hard times in the early 1930s, having suffered relegation for the first time in 1931
and then struggling to regain and retain Division One status. Through the late 1930s and the Second World War, McCartney built the great Hibs side that would largely dominate Scottish football in the late 1940s and early 1950s. With Hibs on top of the league midway through the 1947–48 season
, however, McCartney collapsed during a Scottish Cup
match and died later that night. Although Matt Busby
was linked with the job, Shaw was appointed as manager within the week, as Hibs faced a match against their main challengers, Rangers
. Hibs won that match 1–0 with a goal in the last minute and went on to win the league title
.
Shaw completed the Famous Five
forward line by introducing Bobby Johnstone
to the team in 1948, with all five playing together for the first time on 21 April 1949. He guided the team to further league titles in 1951
and 1952
, while narrowly missing out in 1950
and 1953
. The team also entered the first European Cup competition, reaching the semi-final.
The forward line was broken by the sale of Bobby Johnstone to Manchester City
in 1955, and the remaining players were starting to age. Hibs continued to do well in reserve team
football, but many of those players failed to impress in the first team, with the brilliant exception of Joe Baker
. Therefore Shaw had to take some of the blame for the failure to replace the great side. After the team struggled at the start of the 1961–62 season, Shaw resigned in November 1961. He then had a brief spell as Raith Rovers
manager.
In 2003, the Sunday Herald
newspaper listed Shaw as 31st in their list of the 50 greatest Scottish football managers, noting his "sense and man-management skills".
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...
, most notably with Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He played for Hibs during the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, making his debut during the 1918–19 season. Shaw played as a half-back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
in the Hibs side that reached the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Finals of 1923 and 1924, losing to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and 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....
respectively.
Shaw was hired as Hibs' trainer
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:...
by Willie McCartney
Willie McCartney
Willie McCartney was a Scottish association football referee and manager. He managed both of the Edinburgh derby rivals, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian....
after he was appointed 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...
in 1936. Hibs had fallen on hard times in the early 1930s, having suffered relegation for the first time in 1931
1930-31 in Scottish football
The 1930–31 season was the 41st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Hibernian, East Fife-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Third Lanark, Dundee United...
and then struggling to regain and retain Division One status. Through the late 1930s and the Second World War, McCartney built the great Hibs side that would largely dominate Scottish football in the late 1940s and early 1950s. With Hibs on top of the league midway through the 1947–48 season
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
, however, McCartney collapsed during a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
match and died later that night. Although Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
was linked with the job, Shaw was appointed as manager within the week, as Hibs faced a match against their main challengers, Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. Hibs won that match 1–0 with a goal in the last minute and went on to win the league title
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
.
Shaw completed the Famous Five
The Famous Five (football)
The Famous Five is the collective term for Hibernian's forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. The north stand at Easter Road was named in their honour when it was rebuilt in 1995...
forward line by introducing Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
to the team in 1948, with all five playing together for the first time on 21 April 1949. He guided the team to further league titles in 1951
1950-51 in Scottish football
The 1950–51 season was the 54th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Clyde, Falkirk-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Queen of the South, Stirling Albion...
and 1952
1951-52 in Scottish football
The 1951–52 season was the 55th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Clyde, Falkirk...
, while narrowly missing out in 1950
1949-50 in Scottish football
The 1949–50 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the league with a 2–2 draw in their last match, away to Third Lanark, a game in which Rangers took a 2–0 lead...
and 1953
1952-53 in Scottish football
The 1952–53 season was the 56th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the title with a 1–1 draw in their last match, away to Queen of the South...
. The team also entered the first European Cup competition, reaching the semi-final.
The forward line was broken by the sale of Bobby Johnstone to 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...
in 1955, and the remaining players were starting to age. Hibs continued to do well in reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
football, but many of those players failed to impress in the first team, with the brilliant exception of Joe Baker
Joe Baker
Joseph Henry "Joe" Baker was an England international footballer. Born in Liverpool, England, he spent virtually his entire childhood growing up in Motherwell, Scotland...
. Therefore Shaw had to take some of the blame for the failure to replace the great side. After the team struggled at the start of the 1961–62 season, Shaw resigned in November 1961. He then had a brief spell as Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
manager.
In 2003, the Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
newspaper listed Shaw as 31st in their list of the 50 greatest Scottish football managers, noting his "sense and man-management skills".
External links
- Hugh Shaw, www.ihibs.co.uk