Jimmy Meadows
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Meadows was an England
international who started his playing career in 1949 at Third-Division
Southport
, with whom, later in life, he had his most successful period in management. He took them to the 1972-73
Fourth Division
championship with 62 points, a feat which Bill Shankly
described at the time as tougher and more meritorious than his own championship with Liverpool
that same year.
Meadows was also caretaker manager
of a number of other clubs, notably Blackpool
, Bolton Wanderers
and GIF Sundsvall
(1976). His longest appointment was a two-and-a-half year spell at Stockport County
in the late 1960s, and he returned there for a season in 1974. In between, he had a bizarre 81-day spell in charge of Bolton in 1971 as team manager to Nat Lofthouse
's general managership. This spell saw the club virtually condemned to their first-ever period in the Third Division
.
Jimmy Meadows played for Manchester City
in their 1955 FA Cup Final defeat to Newcastle
. He was injured in the 17th minute in an attempted tackle down by his own corner flag. As substitutes weren't allowed in the English game until 1965-66
, City had to play the rest of the game with ten players resulting in Newcastle winning 3-1. Meadows frequently went on tour with England during his international career.
While in his first spell as Blackpool's caretaker manager, in 1970, Meadows appeared alongside Jimmy Armfield
and Glyn James
as the "Blackpool" team versus "Crystal Palace" in the popular television show Quiz Ball.
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...
international who started his playing career in 1949 at 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...
Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, with whom, later in life, he had his most successful period in management. He took them to the 1972-73
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
championship with 62 points, a feat which Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
described at the time as tougher and more meritorious than his own championship with 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...
that same year.
Meadows was also caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
of a number of other clubs, notably 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...
, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :...
(1976). His longest appointment was a two-and-a-half year spell at Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in the late 1960s, and he returned there for a season in 1974. In between, he had a bizarre 81-day spell in charge of Bolton in 1971 as team manager to Nat Lofthouse
Nat Lofthouse
Nathaniel "Nat" Lofthouse, OBE was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career...
's general managership. This spell saw the club virtually condemned to their first-ever period in 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...
.
Jimmy Meadows played for 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 their 1955 FA Cup Final defeat to Newcastle
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...
. He was injured in the 17th minute in an attempted tackle down by his own corner flag. As substitutes weren't allowed in the English game until 1965-66
1965-66 in English football
The 1965–66 season was the 86th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:7 October 1965: An experiment to broadcast a live game to another ground takes place...
, City had to play the rest of the game with ten players resulting in Newcastle winning 3-1. Meadows frequently went on tour with England during his international career.
While in his first spell as Blackpool's caretaker manager, in 1970, Meadows appeared alongside Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
and Glyn James
Glyn James
Edward Glyn James is a Welsh former professional footballer. He played as a defender. He spent his entire professional career with Blackpool.James also represented Wales on nine occasions.-Early life:...
as the "Blackpool" team versus "Crystal Palace" in the popular television show Quiz Ball.