Jimmy Sirrel
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Sirrel was a Scottish
football player and manager best known for his management career.
Born in Glasgow
, Sirrel started his career with Celtic
before moving to England, spending most of his playing career with Brighton & Hove Albion
.
Starting his management career in the Fourth Division
with Brentford
, Sirrel moved to Notts County
where he achieved promotion to the Second Division
, and then after a spell at Sheffield United
returned to Notts County to achieve promotion to the First Division
for the first time since 1926. He is regarded as a legend of the club, with the County Road Stand at Notts County's Meadow Lane
named after him.
, Sirrel started his professional career at Celtic
in 1946, but made just 13 appearances in three years before signing for Bradford Park Avenue
in 1949, but again failed to get regular first team football, playing only 12 matches. In 1951 he joined Brighton & Hove Albion
, where he made 55 appearances before signing for Aldershot
in 1954. He retired from playing in 1957.
in 1960 before accepting the job of manager in September 1967.
He spent two full seasons at the helm of Brentford where the club finished in 14th and 11th placed positions in the Fourth Division
. The 1969-70 season started well for Brentford and by November they were mounting a decent challenge for automatic promotion to Division Three
. However, at the beginning of that month it was announced that Sirrel would be leaving Griffin Park to join Notts County
as their new manager.
From previous managers Jack Wheeler and Billy Gray
, Sirrel had inherited a team including Don Masson
, David Needham
, Bob Worthington and Les Bradd
, and his team would become increasingly difficult to beat. His first season in charge of the Magpies ended with a respectable seventh place finish after several seasons of struggle on the pitch and financial woes off it.
The following season the Magpies stormed their way to the Fourth Division Championship.
It would be the end of September before the Magpies would be beaten and the season would be completed without a single defeat at Meadow Lane
. Sirrel built a solid defence, difficult to break down which would concede just 36 goals, while in front of goal, Sirrel built an equally impressive goalscoring side which would score an average of 2.47 goals per game.
The following season Notts excelled again, missing out on a second successive promotion by three points. Sirrel's status as a Notts County legend was fast become confirmed.
1972-73 started off slowly for the Magpies and by the end of the year they were languishing in 16th place. However, Notts would lose just twice more all season and secure second place and promotion into the Second Division
following a final day 4-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers
.
Sirrel had overseen a transformation of Notts which had seen them go from Division Four strugglers to a Division Two side in little under four years. For the next two seasons, the Magpies would finish with respectable midtable positions and looked to be heading that way again during 1975-76. Sirrel however announced that he would leave Notts County for Sheffield United
and was appointed their new manager on 21 October 1975, replacing Ken Furphy
.
season and were bottom having recorded just one win in 13 games up to Sirrel's appointment. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to motivate his players and the Blades would record just five more wins and finish the season relegated in bottom place.
With little money to spend, Sirrel was unable to stop the slide at Bramall Lane
and the following season United finished 11th in the Second Division. The 1977-78 season started in similar fashion and on 27 September 1977, Sirrel left Bramall Lane with United struggling at the foot of the table. He returned to Notts County, who were also going through a hard time.
Sirrel is the designer of the present Sheffield United club badge. Up until Sirrel's tenure in charge at Bramall Lane, the Blades used Sheffield
's coat of arms
. This was until Sheffield City Council copyright
ed it, forcing the Blades to look elsewhere for a badge. Sirrel sat down and designed the badge that is still used today.
The 1980-81 season would go down as perhaps Sirrel's finest achievement as manager of Notts County. Including a new generation of players bought in by Sirrel and the returning Don Masson, the Magpies would finish the season in second place, and a 2-0 win over Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge confirmed that the Magpies would be playing First Division football for the first time since 1926.
Despite being favourites to make an immediate return to the Second Division, some memorable wins ensured that the Magpies would finish comfortably in midtable in their first season back in the top flight.
Sirrel brought in Howard Wilkinson
to be a head coach for Notts County's second season in the Division One. Sirrel continued on as General Manager and the club subsequently managed a comfortable 15th placed finish.
Staying on as General Manager, a new coach came in for the Magpies' third season of top flight football. Larry Lloyd had previously won silverware with Nottingham Forest
. However, the Magpies' were relegated into Division Two at the end of the season. Lloyd was dismissed the following season with the Magpies staring a second consecutive relegation in the face and Sirrel was again appointed manager in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the drop.
1985-86 began in the Third Division and with financial difficulty brewing, Sirrel would oversee two midtable finishes over the next seasons. His retirement as Notts County
manager came at the end of the 1986-87 season, eighteen years after he arrived at the club. He then became chief scout for Derby County
.
In 1993 the newly redeveloped County Road Stand at Notts County's Meadow Lane
was renamed the Jimmy Sirrel Stand in his honour:
Sirrel died aged 86 on 25 September 2008.
Sirrel was laid to rest on 7 October 2008 as fans and great figures from the world of football alike turned out to pay their respects to the Magpies legend.
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...
football player and manager best known for his management career.
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Sirrel started his career with 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...
before moving to England, spending most of his playing career with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
Starting his management career in the 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...
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....
, Sirrel moved to 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...
where he achieved promotion to 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...
, and then after a spell at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
returned to Notts County to achieve promotion to 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....
for the first time since 1926. He is regarded as a legend of the club, with the County Road Stand at Notts County's Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
named after him.
Early life and playing career
Born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Sirrel started his professional career at 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...
in 1946, but made just 13 appearances in three years before signing for Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1949, but again failed to get regular first team football, playing only 12 matches. In 1951 he joined Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, where he made 55 appearances before signing for Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
in 1954. He retired from playing in 1957.
Brentford
Sirrel moved to BrentfordBrentford 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....
in 1960 before accepting the job of manager in September 1967.
He spent two full seasons at the helm of Brentford where the club finished in 14th and 11th placed positions in the 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...
. The 1969-70 season started well for Brentford and by November they were mounting a decent challenge for automatic promotion to Division Three
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...
. However, at the beginning of that month it was announced that Sirrel would be leaving Griffin Park to join 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...
as their new manager.
Notts County
Upon taking his new position Sirrel said "Ask any kid what he knows about Notts County and he'll tell you they're the oldest football team in the world. By the time I've finished he'll know a lot more," immediately endearing himself amongst the Notts County faithful.From previous managers Jack Wheeler and Billy Gray
Billy Gray
William Patrick "Billy" Gray was an English professional association footballer and manager who played initially as a winger....
, Sirrel had inherited a team including Don Masson
Don Masson
Donald "Don" Sandison Masson is a Scottish former footballer.-Club career:Masson began his career with Middlesbrough in 1964 before going on to Notts County in 1968...
, David Needham
David Needham
David Needham is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Notts County, Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest, and in the North American Soccer League for the Toronto Blizzard, in the 1970s and 1980s.Needham started his career at Notts County in 1966...
, Bob Worthington and Les Bradd
Les Bradd
Les Bradd is a former professional football player. He is notable for being the all time leading goalscorer for Notts County.-Rotherham United:...
, and his team would become increasingly difficult to beat. His first season in charge of the Magpies ended with a respectable seventh place finish after several seasons of struggle on the pitch and financial woes off it.
The following season the Magpies stormed their way to the Fourth Division Championship.
It would be the end of September before the Magpies would be beaten and the season would be completed without a single defeat at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
. Sirrel built a solid defence, difficult to break down which would concede just 36 goals, while in front of goal, Sirrel built an equally impressive goalscoring side which would score an average of 2.47 goals per game.
The following season Notts excelled again, missing out on a second successive promotion by three points. Sirrel's status as a Notts County legend was fast become confirmed.
1972-73 started off slowly for the Magpies and by the end of the year they were languishing in 16th place. However, Notts would lose just twice more all season and secure second place and promotion into 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...
following a final day 4-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
Sirrel had overseen a transformation of Notts which had seen them go from Division Four strugglers to a Division Two side in little under four years. For the next two seasons, the Magpies would finish with respectable midtable positions and looked to be heading that way again during 1975-76. Sirrel however announced that he would leave Notts County for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and was appointed their new manager on 21 October 1975, replacing Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
.
Sheffield United
The Blades had suffered an awful start to their First DivisionFootball 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....
season and were bottom having recorded just one win in 13 games up to Sirrel's appointment. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to motivate his players and the Blades would record just five more wins and finish the season relegated in bottom place.
With little money to spend, Sirrel was unable to stop the slide at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
and the following season United finished 11th in the Second Division. The 1977-78 season started in similar fashion and on 27 September 1977, Sirrel left Bramall Lane with United struggling at the foot of the table. He returned to Notts County, who were also going through a hard time.
Sirrel is the designer of the present Sheffield United club badge. Up until Sirrel's tenure in charge at Bramall Lane, the Blades used Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
's coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. This was until Sheffield City Council copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ed it, forcing the Blades to look elsewhere for a badge. Sirrel sat down and designed the badge that is still used today.
Return to Notts County
Sirrel returned on 5 October 1977 and found a Magpies side struggling to avoid relegation back into Division Three. Sirrel was able to save Notts from the drop with the club eventually finishing in a respectable 15th place. The following season saw Notts record a 6th placed finish but the season after that the Magpies struggled again, finishing in 17th place.The 1980-81 season would go down as perhaps Sirrel's finest achievement as manager of Notts County. Including a new generation of players bought in by Sirrel and the returning Don Masson, the Magpies would finish the season in second place, and a 2-0 win over 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...
at Stamford Bridge confirmed that the Magpies would be playing First Division football for the first time since 1926.
Despite being favourites to make an immediate return to the Second Division, some memorable wins ensured that the Magpies would finish comfortably in midtable in their first season back in the top flight.
Sirrel brought in Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
to be a head coach for Notts County's second season in the Division One. Sirrel continued on as General Manager and the club subsequently managed a comfortable 15th placed finish.
Staying on as General Manager, a new coach came in for the Magpies' third season of top flight football. Larry Lloyd had previously won silverware with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. However, the Magpies' were relegated into Division Two at the end of the season. Lloyd was dismissed the following season with the Magpies staring a second consecutive relegation in the face and Sirrel was again appointed manager in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the drop.
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...
manager came at the end of the 1986-87 season, eighteen years after he arrived at the club. He then became chief scout for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
In 1993 the newly redeveloped County Road Stand at Notts County's Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
was renamed the Jimmy Sirrel Stand in his honour:
Sirrel died aged 86 on 25 September 2008.
Sirrel was laid to rest on 7 October 2008 as fans and great figures from the world of football alike turned out to pay their respects to the Magpies legend.
External links
- Jimmy Sirrel interview leftlion.co.uk
- Jimmy Sirrel tribute leftlion.co.uk
- Obituary