Jimmy McIntyre
Encyclopedia
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre (1881, Darlaston
, Staffordshire
– 1954) was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton
, Coventry City
and Fulham
.
, Darlaston Town
and Wednesbury Old Athletic
. In 1901, he joined Walsall
(his home-town club), before spending the 1902-03 season in the First Division at Notts County
. He then had a spell at Reading
before joining Coventry City
as a player in 1905, where he scored hat-tricks in his second and third games for the club.
After his playing days were over he worked at the Humber car factory in Coventry
and spent one season refereeing in the Coventry & North Warwickshire League, also turning out for Dudley & Bournbrook, before returning to Coventry City
as an assistant trainer in 1907. Within one season he was promoted to chief trainer and his initial association with Coventry lasted seven years, during which time he produced a number of young players for their Southern League
team.
, where George Swift
had resigned and they secured his services in April 1912.
Engaged as trainer, under secretary Ernest Arnfield
who acted as “manager”, McIntyre faced the difficult task of restoring the Saints to their former success in the Southern League
. Due to the lack of funds following Swift's spending spree in the previous season, McIntyre was only able to sign three new players; the only successful recruit was Len Andrews
, whose signing from Reading
was "one of the best moves of McIntyre's managerial career" as Andrews went on to become the "Saints" most consistent forward in the three seasons leading up to the First World War, as well as being an expert penalty taker. Saints gradually began to improve their League position but with the outbreak of war in 1914 and the abandonment of League football in April 1915, all progress came to a halt.
McIntyre returned to Coventry for the duration of the war, working in a munitions factory. With the resumption of League football in 1919 he returned to The Dell
, this time as team manager and, with practically a new squad, he set about building a team for the future.
Saints were admitted into Division 3 of the Football League in 1920, and just missed out on promotion in their first season, but in 1922
McIntyre successfully guided Southampton into Division Two. Saints finished equal on points with Plymouth Argyle
and took the title on goal average, helped in no small manner by 5-0 victories over Southend United
and Newport County, a 6-0 defeat of Charlton Athletic
and an 8-0 hammering of Northampton Town
on 24 December 1921 (which is still Saints' biggest win in the Football League). In each of these matches Arthur Dominy
scored twice, whilst Bill Rawlings
scored three against Charlton and put four past Northampton, on his way to becoming top scorer for the season, contributing 30 of the team’s 68 league goals. Saints total of only 21 goals conceded in a 42 match season was a Football League record which stood until 1979 and remains a record for Southampton. Goalkeeper Tommy Allen
did not concede a goal in any of the final seven games of the season (five wins and two draws) and by the time the defence was finally breached by Leeds United on 28 August 1922 he had gone 845 minutes without conceding a goal.
In March 1922, just as Saints fans were confident of gaining promotion, McIntyre shocked them by announcing a four player transfer with wingers Fred Foxall
and Joe Barratt
moving to Birmingham
in exchange for Jack Elkes
(a forward
) and George Getgood
(a half-back). The move was a success, however, as Southampton were able to claim the title by overtaking Plymouth Argyle
on the final day of the season.
In their first season
in Division 2, Saints started badly, with two draws and four defeats in the first six games (failing to score in the first five games), but Saints rallied and finished mid-table in Division 2, with the unusual record of: Played 42, won 14, drew 14, lost 14, goals for 40, goals against 40, points 42. They also had a run in the FA Cup
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division Newcastle United
, Chelsea
and Second division Bury
), before going out to West Ham United
after a second replay.
In the 1923-24 season
, Saints were starting to find their feet in Division 2 and only missed out on promotion by three points, with Rawlings again top scorer with 19 league goals.
The following season was frustrating for the Saints who seemed to have lost the ability to score goals and, in December 1924 McIntyre suddenly resigned as manager and moved to Edinburgh
to run an hotel. His departure took the directors by surprise – they announced that the board would take over the manager’s job for the rest of the season, with help from secretary George Goss
.
in its best ever league position, finishing sixth in Third Division (South).
But after a long-running dispute with the board over the sale of several star players, McIntyre was sacked in February 1931.
and he took them out of the Third Division (South) in 1932
. From the outset, the Cottagers led the Third Division table and by April were worthy champions. It was a record-breaking season for Fulham and McIntyre became the first manager to win promotion from Division Three with two different clubs.
McIntyre acquired several players from his former club, Southampton
, with Bill Fraser
, Arthur Haddleton
and Bert Jepson
moving to Craven Cottage
in June 1932, followed by Mike Keeping and John Arnold
in February 1933, for a combined fee of £5,000. McIntyre boasted that this was "the best deal I ever brought off".
The revival continued in 1932–33 when another spirited promotion attempt only failed in the closing weeks, with Fulham finishing in third position in Division 2. Fulham’s high hopes for the 1933–34 season were never fulfilled; supporters blamed this on the shock transfer of top scorer Frank Newton to Reading
in September and his replacement with the £2,500 signing of Arsenal
's veteran striker Jack Lambert
, who failed to make any impact. A run of bad results over the New Year led to McIntyre's surprise dismissal in February 1934.
and worked for the Folland Aircraft Company and died, aged 72, in Surrey in 1954.
James McIntyre attempted to sign his nephew Richard Cyril McIntyre on Fulham's books but Cyril declined as he did not wish to leave his family home in Darlaston, West Midlands. McIntyre is survived today by his great great great nephew "Mark McIntyre" who maintains the football tradition and is on the Management committee of the Baker Joiner Midland Football Alliance, following several seasons as Registrations Secretary of both the Shropshire County Premier Football League and the West Midlands Regional League. In 2009, he was Football Secretary at Bridgnorth Town FC.
Fulham
Darlaston
Darlaston is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands of England.-History:Archaeological evidence of the history of Darlaston has been destroyed by The de Darlaston family owned Darlaston and lived in the manor between the 12th century and 15th century. When the de...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
– 1954) was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
.
Playing career
He was a journeyman player of some repute, playing as an inside-forward, and had spells with West Midlands teams Witton AlbionWitton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
, Darlaston Town
Darlaston Town F.C.
Darlaston Town F.C. are a football club based in Darlaston, West Midlands, England. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the West Midlands League Premier Division.-History:...
and Wednesbury Old Athletic
Wednesbury Old Athletic F.C.
Wednesbury Old Athletic was an English association football club based in Wednesbury, West Midlands . There were actually three clubs to bear this name.-History:...
. In 1901, he joined Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
(his home-town club), before spending the 1902-03 season in the First Division 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...
. He then had a spell at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
before joining Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as a player in 1905, where he scored hat-tricks in his second and third games for the club.
After his playing days were over he worked at the Humber car factory in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and spent one season refereeing in the Coventry & North Warwickshire League, also turning out for Dudley & Bournbrook, before returning to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as an assistant trainer in 1907. Within one season he was promoted to chief trainer and his initial association with Coventry lasted seven years, during which time he produced a number of young players for their Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
team.
Southampton
His success at Coventry impressed the directors at SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, where George Swift
George Harold Swift
George Harold Swift was an English footballer who won the FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was later the first secretary-manager of Southampton.-Playing career:...
had resigned and they secured his services in April 1912.
Engaged as trainer, under secretary Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield
Ernest Arnfield was the secretary/manager of Southampton F.C. from 1897 to 1911, and again from 1912 to 1919.-Honours:Southampton*Southern League champions: 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03 and 1903–04*FA Cup finalists: 1900 and 1902-References:...
who acted as “manager”, McIntyre faced the difficult task of restoring the Saints to their former success in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. Due to the lack of funds following Swift's spending spree in the previous season, McIntyre was only able to sign three new players; the only successful recruit was Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
, whose signing from Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
was "one of the best moves of McIntyre's managerial career" as Andrews went on to become the "Saints" most consistent forward in the three seasons leading up to the First World War, as well as being an expert penalty taker. Saints gradually began to improve their League position but with the outbreak of war in 1914 and the abandonment of League football in April 1915, all progress came to a halt.
McIntyre returned to Coventry for the duration of the war, working in a munitions factory. With the resumption of League football in 1919 he returned to The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
, this time as team manager and, with practically a new squad, he set about building a team for the future.
Saints were admitted into Division 3 of the Football League in 1920, and just missed out on promotion in their first season, but in 1922
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
McIntyre successfully guided Southampton into Division Two. Saints finished equal on points with 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...
and took the title on goal average, helped in no small manner by 5-0 victories over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Newport County, a 6-0 defeat of Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and an 8-0 hammering of Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on 24 December 1921 (which is still Saints' biggest win in the Football League). In each of these matches Arthur Dominy
Arthur Dominy
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton....
scored twice, whilst Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
scored three against Charlton and put four past Northampton, on his way to becoming top scorer for the season, contributing 30 of the team’s 68 league goals. Saints total of only 21 goals conceded in a 42 match season was a Football League record which stood until 1979 and remains a record for Southampton. Goalkeeper Tommy Allen
Tommy Allen (footballer)
Thomas "Tommy" Allen was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Southampton in the 1920s and later for Coventry City.-Early career:...
did not concede a goal in any of the final seven games of the season (five wins and two draws) and by the time the defence was finally breached by Leeds United on 28 August 1922 he had gone 845 minutes without conceding a goal.
In March 1922, just as Saints fans were confident of gaining promotion, McIntyre shocked them by announcing a four player transfer with wingers Fred Foxall
Fred Foxall
Frederick Howard Foxall was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
and Joe Barratt
Joe Barratt
Josiah Barratt was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
moving to Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in exchange for Jack Elkes
Jack Elkes
Albert John "Jack" Elkes was an English professional footballer who played as an inside left for various clubs between the two world wars.-Playing career:...
(a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
) and George Getgood
George Getgood
George Getgood was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
(a half-back). The move was a success, however, as Southampton were able to claim the title by overtaking 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...
on the final day of the season.
In their first season
1922-23 in English football
The 1922–23 season was the 48th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Liverpool retained the First Division title, but halfway through the season their manager David Ashworth left the club to take over at Oldham Athletic, who ended the season relegated.-Honours:Notes = Number in...
in Division 2, Saints started badly, with two draws and four defeats in the first six games (failing to score in the first five games), but Saints rallied and finished mid-table in Division 2, with the unusual record of: Played 42, won 14, drew 14, lost 14, goals for 40, goals against 40, points 42. They also had a run 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...
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division 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...
, 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...
and Second division Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
), before going out to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
after a second replay.
In the 1923-24 season
1923-24 in English football
The 1923–24 season was the 49th season of competitive football in England.-Events:*On 11 November 1923, Aston Villa centre-half Tommy Ball was shot dead by his neighbour, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.-Honours:...
, Saints were starting to find their feet in Division 2 and only missed out on promotion by three points, with Rawlings again top scorer with 19 league goals.
The following season was frustrating for the Saints who seemed to have lost the ability to score goals and, in December 1924 McIntyre suddenly resigned as manager and moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to run an hotel. His departure took the directors by surprise – they announced that the board would take over the manager’s job for the rest of the season, with help from secretary George Goss
George Goss
George Goss is a former naval officer and football manager, who was manager of Southampton F.C. for the 1936-37 season.Goss served in the Royal Navy during World War I, and played football for the naval side. On leaving the navy, he joined the staff of Southampton F.C...
.
Coventry City
He soon returned to football, taking over as manager at his former club Coventry City in June 1928. His presence was quickly felt as the club ended the 1929-30 season1929-30 in English football
The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
in its best ever league position, finishing sixth in Third Division (South).
But after a long-running dispute with the board over the sale of several star players, McIntyre was sacked in February 1931.
Fulham
He was quickly snapped up by FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and he took them out of the Third Division (South) in 1932
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
. From the outset, the Cottagers led the Third Division table and by April were worthy champions. It was a record-breaking season for Fulham and McIntyre became the first manager to win promotion from Division Three with two different clubs.
McIntyre acquired several players from his former club, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, with Bill Fraser
Bill Fraser (footballer)
William Cuthbert Fraser was an English professional footballer who played at inside forward for Northampton Town and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Early career:...
, Arthur Haddleton
Arthur Haddleton
Arthur Haddleton was an English footballer who played as a centre forward for various clubs in the 1930s. Despite showing promise in the early part of his career, he eventually achieved very little, although he did score in eight consecutive matches in 1931.-Early days:Haddleton was born in...
and Bert Jepson
Bert Jepson
Albert Edward Jepson was an English footballer who played as an outside right for Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1920s and 1930s.-Huddersfield Town:...
moving to Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
in June 1932, followed by Mike Keeping and John Arnold
John Arnold (cricketer)
John Arnold was an English cricketer who played in one Test in 1931.-Cricket career:...
in February 1933, for a combined fee of £5,000. McIntyre boasted that this was "the best deal I ever brought off".
The revival continued in 1932–33 when another spirited promotion attempt only failed in the closing weeks, with Fulham finishing in third position in Division 2. Fulham’s high hopes for the 1933–34 season were never fulfilled; supporters blamed this on the shock transfer of top scorer Frank Newton to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in September and his replacement with the £2,500 signing of 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...
's veteran striker Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert (association footballer)
John "Jack" Lambert was an English footballer.A large and robust centre forward from Greasbrough near Rotherham, Yorkshire, Lambert was turned down by Sheffield Wednesday after a trial, so started his career playing for Rotherham County in 1922. He soon made a move to Leeds United, but spent three...
, who failed to make any impact. A run of bad results over the New Year led to McIntyre's surprise dismissal in February 1934.
After football
McIntyre never got another job in football. He returned to SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and worked for the Folland Aircraft Company and died, aged 72, in Surrey in 1954.
James McIntyre attempted to sign his nephew Richard Cyril McIntyre on Fulham's books but Cyril declined as he did not wish to leave his family home in Darlaston, West Midlands. McIntyre is survived today by his great great great nephew "Mark McIntyre" who maintains the football tradition and is on the Management committee of the Baker Joiner Midland Football Alliance, following several seasons as Registrations Secretary of both the Shropshire County Premier Football League and the West Midlands Regional League. In 2009, he was Football Secretary at Bridgnorth Town FC.
As Manager
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Champions: 1921-221921-22 in English footballThe 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Champions: 1931-321931-32 in English footballThe 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...