Mel Machin
Encyclopedia
Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English
former footballer and manager.
A midfielder
, he started his career at Port Vale
in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham
four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth
for a three year spell. In 1974 he signed with Norwich City
, also playing on loan at American club Seattle Sounders, before he retired in 1978 – he was later voted into Norwich City's Hall of Fame in 2002.
Appointed manager of Manchester City
in 1987, he won them promotion out of the Second Division
in 1988–89, before he left to take up the reigns at Barnsley
. In 1993 he was appointed manager at Bournemouth, where he would remain for the next seven years, managing them to a Football League Trophy
final in 1998
. He later served Bournemouth as Director of football
between 2000 and 2002, before briefly managing Huddersfield Town
in 2003.
fan, Machin started his playing career at nearby
Port Vale
, signing professional forms in July 1962. He made the odd appearance from October 1962 and October 1964, after which point he started to appear rather more frequently. He was not a favourite with Stanley Matthews
or trainer Lol Hamlett
as he had a habit of talking back to the pair, and so he put in a transfer request in 1966. In all competitions he made 32 appearances, scoring 6 goals, being utilized mostly as an inside-forward.
In July 1966 he joined Gillingham
, where he attained regular first team football. After 156 league matches and 11 goals, Machin was signed in 1970 by Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
, at the time managed by John Bond
.
His spell at Bournemouth was finished after 110 matches in December 1973, when he followed Bond to Norwich City
, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur
and Crystal Palace
. Converted to a full-back role, Machin played 117 appearances and scored four times for the club. He conceded a penalty
in the 1975 League Cup Final
defeat to Aston Villa
at Wembley Stadium. After problems with injuries he finished his career in 1978, following a brief spell in the NASL
with Seattle Sounders.
.
After two seasons in charge, he got the club promoted to Division One
with a young and promising squad. In the first season in the top-flight, his team beat local rivals
Manchester United
by 5–1 on 23 September 1989, in what Alex Ferguson
described as the lowest point of his career. Despite the victory, two months later, on 27 November, Machin was sacked by chairman Peter Swales as the club was bottom of the division. He became Barnsley
manager on 29 December but resigned on 5 May 1993, as he was disillusioned with the club policy of selling their best players in order to make ends meet.
Machin then worked as a scout for West Ham United
, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool
before he was appointed manager of Bournemouth in August 1994. In his first season at the helm he managed to keep the club in the Second Division
despite a start with seven consecutive defeats and a serious financial crisis, this feat later became known as "The Great Escape". In 1998, Bournemouth lost to Grimsby Town
in the Auto Windscreens Shield
final in their first ever Wembley appearance. In August 2000, he became director of football role and later retired on 29 August 2002, having had his testimonial match
the previous month. It was in his testimonial – a 3–2 victory for Manchester United, that United's £29.3 million signing Rio Ferdinand
made his debut. In October 2002 he was linked to the vacant management position at Swindon Town
.
On 28 January 2003, Machin came out of retirement to assist Mick Wadsworth
at the helm of Huddersfield Town
. Two months later he was promoted to the manager role as Wadsworth was sacked. Machin and Huddersfield parted ways at the end of the season as he failed to avoid relegation to the Third Division
.
with Norwich City
with Bournemouth
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer and manager.
A midfielder
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...
, he started his career at 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...
in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
for a three year spell. In 1974 he signed with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, also playing on loan at American club Seattle Sounders, before he retired in 1978 – he was later voted into Norwich City's Hall of Fame in 2002.
Appointed manager of 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 1987, he won them promotion out of 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...
in 1988–89, before he left to take up the reigns at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. In 1993 he was appointed manager at Bournemouth, where he would remain for the next seven years, managing them to a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final in 1998
1997–98 Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy 1997–98, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1997–98 for sponsorship reasons, was the 15th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
. He later served Bournemouth as Director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
between 2000 and 2002, before briefly managing Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in 2003.
Playing career
Despite being a 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...
fan, Machin started his playing career at nearby
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
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...
, signing professional forms in July 1962. He made the odd appearance from October 1962 and October 1964, after which point he started to appear rather more frequently. He was not a favourite with Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
or trainer Lol Hamlett
Lol Hamlett
Thomas Lawrence "Lol" Hamlett was an English footballer.-Playing career:Hamlett played for Congleton Town and Bolton Wanderers, also guesting for Stoke City and Manchester United before he joined Port Vale in May 1949...
as he had a habit of talking back to the pair, and so he put in a transfer request in 1966. In all competitions he made 32 appearances, scoring 6 goals, being utilized mostly as an inside-forward.
In July 1966 he joined Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, where he attained regular first team football. After 156 league matches and 11 goals, Machin was signed in 1970 by Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, at the time managed by John Bond
John Bond (footballer)
John Frederick Bond is an English former professional football player and manager. His son Kevin Bond is also a former footballer.-Playing career:...
.
His spell at Bournemouth was finished after 110 matches in December 1973, when he followed Bond to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Converted to a full-back role, Machin played 117 appearances and scored four times for the club. He conceded a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the 1975 League Cup Final
1975 Football League Cup Final
The 1975 Football League Cup Final took place on 1 March 1975 at the old Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Aston Villa and Norwich City. To date it is the only time a major domestic Cup Final that has been played at Wembley Stadium between two clubs where neither were then currently in...
defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at Wembley Stadium. After problems with injuries he finished his career in 1978, following a brief spell in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
with Seattle Sounders.
Coaching and management career
After retiring as a player, Norwich then invited him to join their coaching set-up. He worked as youth team and reserve team coach, and then was promoted to chief coach before being appointed as assistant to manager Ken Brown. The partnership finished in May 1987, when he accepted an offer to manage Manchester CityManchester 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...
.
After two seasons in charge, he got the club promoted to Division One
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....
with a young and promising squad. In the first season in the top-flight, his team beat local rivals
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
by 5–1 on 23 September 1989, in what Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
described as the lowest point of his career. Despite the victory, two months later, on 27 November, Machin was sacked by chairman Peter Swales as the club was bottom of the division. He became Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
manager on 29 December but resigned on 5 May 1993, as he was disillusioned with the club policy of selling their best players in order to make ends meet.
Machin then worked as a scout for 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...
, Tottenham Hotspur and 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...
before he was appointed manager of Bournemouth in August 1994. In his first season at the helm he managed to keep the club in 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...
despite a start with seven consecutive defeats and a serious financial crisis, this feat later became known as "The Great Escape". In 1998, Bournemouth lost to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in the Auto Windscreens Shield
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final in their first ever Wembley appearance. In August 2000, he became director of football role and later retired on 29 August 2002, having had his testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
the previous month. It was in his testimonial – a 3–2 victory for Manchester United, that United's £29.3 million signing Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
made his debut. In October 2002 he was linked to the vacant management position at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
.
On 28 January 2003, Machin came out of retirement to assist Mick Wadsworth
Mick Wadsworth
Michael "Mick" Wadsworth is an English football coach and former player, who is currently the Manager at Football League One club Hartlepool United.-Playing career:...
at the helm of Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. Two months later he was promoted to the manager role as Wadsworth was sacked. Machin and Huddersfield parted ways at the end of the season as he failed to avoid relegation to 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...
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| 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... |
1 May 1987 | 30 November 1989 |
|||||
| Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
1 December 1989 | 5 May 1993 |
|||||
| Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
1 September 1994 | 19 August 2000 |
|||||
| Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
26 March 2003 | 6 May 2003 |
|||||
| Total |
|||||||
Playing career
Individual- PFA Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe 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...
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 1973–74
with Norwich City
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
runner-up: 19751975 Football League Cup FinalThe 1975 Football League Cup Final took place on 1 March 1975 at the old Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Aston Villa and Norwich City. To date it is the only time a major domestic Cup Final that has been played at Wembley Stadium between two clubs where neither were then currently in...
Managerial career
with Manchester City- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
runner-up: 1988–89
with Bournemouth
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
runner-up: 19981997–98 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1997–98, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1997–98 for sponsorship reasons, was the 15th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...