Len Graham
Encyclopedia
William George Leonard 'Len' Graham (17 October 1925 – 30 September 2007) was a Northern Ireland
international footballer and football manager
.
He played at full-back and won 14 caps for Northern Ireland
and also represented the Irish Football Association
.
. In October 1949 he becamse one of Peter Doherty's
first signings for Doncaster Rovers
, although had to wait until 18 March 1950 for his debut, a 2–0 home win against Wrexham. Doncaster were promoted to Division Two at the end of that season and Graham soon became a regular in Doherty's side during the most consistently successful period in Doncaster's league history.
On 7 March 1951, Graham made his debut for Northern Ireland in a 2–1 defeat at home to Wales
and was a regular in the Northern Irish side until the end of 1955 when Willie Cunningham
replaced him. Graham was a member of the 22-man 1958 Northern Ireland World Cup
squad, but was one of 5 unlucky squad members who didn't travel to Sweden for the tournament (of 16 nations taking part, Northern Ireland was one of only 3 which did not take the full permitted complement of 22 players). He did however make one further appearance for Northern Ireland, on 4 October 1958 in a 3–3 draw at home to England
, their first game after the World Cup Finals. Graham remains the most capped international player in Doncaster Rovers' history.
Doncaster had been relegated to Division Three in 1958 and in November that year Graham left to join Fourth Division Torquay United
. He left at the end of the season to be player-manager of Northern Irish side Ards
, but left Ards in 1960.
, and from 1965 Port Vale
under manager Stanley Matthews, before taking up the same position at Blackpool
in 1967, under manager Stan Mortensen, before his retirement from football in 1975, after which he worked at British Aerospace.
He died on 30 September 2007.
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international footballer and football manager
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:...
.
He played at full-back and won 14 caps for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
and also represented the Irish Football Association
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
.
Biography
Graham began his career playing as an inside-forward with Linfield Swifts, but began playing as a fullback after joining BrantwoodBrantwood F.C.
Brantwood is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League. The club, founded in 1901, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Skegoneill Avenue. Club colours are royal blue...
. In October 1949 he becamse one of Peter Doherty's
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...
first signings for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, although had to wait until 18 March 1950 for his debut, a 2–0 home win against Wrexham. Doncaster were promoted to Division Two at the end of that season and Graham soon became a regular in Doherty's side during the most consistently successful period in Doncaster's league history.
On 7 March 1951, Graham made his debut for Northern Ireland in a 2–1 defeat at home to Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
and was a regular in the Northern Irish side until the end of 1955 when Willie Cunningham
Willie Cunningham (Northern Irish footballer)
William "Willie" E. Cunningham was a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.Born in Antrim, he signed for St. Mirren in 1950 and played there until 1954 when he left for Leicester City. He joined Dunfermline Athletic in 1960 and was a member of the Scottish Cup-winning team...
replaced him. Graham was a member of the 22-man 1958 Northern Ireland World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
squad, but was one of 5 unlucky squad members who didn't travel to Sweden for the tournament (of 16 nations taking part, Northern Ireland was one of only 3 which did not take the full permitted complement of 22 players). He did however make one further appearance for Northern Ireland, on 4 October 1958 in a 3–3 draw at home to England
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...
, their first game after the World Cup Finals. Graham remains the most capped international player in Doncaster Rovers' history.
Doncaster had been relegated to Division Three in 1958 and in November that year Graham left to join Fourth Division Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
. He left at the end of the season to be player-manager of Northern Irish side Ards
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
, but left Ards in 1960.
Retirement
Graham later worked as first-team coach at Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, and from 1965 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...
under manager Stanley Matthews, before taking up the same position at 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...
in 1967, under manager Stan Mortensen, before his retirement from football in 1975, after which he worked at British Aerospace.
He died on 30 September 2007.