Reg Flewin
Encyclopedia
Reginald "Reg" Flewin was an English
footballer who played as a central defender for his hometown club Portsmouth
.
Flewin signed a professional contract with Pompey on his 17th birthday in 1937, and made his senior debut for the club against Grimsby Town
in April 1939. Following the outbreak of World War II
, Flewing's football career came to a halt. He served in the Royal Marines
during hostilities, and occasionally turned out for Portsmouth in wartime football, winning an England
wartime cap against Wales
on 16 September 1944.
When football resumed at the end of the war, Flewin became a regular in Portsmouth's defence, and was also named the team's captain. He was a member of the Pompey sides that won consecutive league titles in 1948-49
and 1949-50
. Flewin retired in 1953, having played 163 first-team matches for Portsmouth. In 1949 his Portsmouth side was tipped to become the first team to win the double but lost to Leicester City at Highbury. If Portsmouth won the Double he would have been the first skipper since John Devey
to win it.
Following his playing career, Flewin moved into coaching, first taking charge of Pompey's youth team, and later became assistant to manager Eddie Lever
. He remained assistant manager at Portsmouth until October 1960, when he accepted the job as manager of Stockport County
. In September 1963, he moved back south to become manager at Bournemouth
, where he spent two years before resigning in 1965.
After leaving football, Flewin settled on the Isle of Wight
, where he managed the Fort Warden holiday camp in Totland Bay. He died in May 2008, aged 87.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as a central defender for his hometown club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
.
Flewin signed a professional contract with Pompey on his 17th birthday in 1937, and made his senior debut for the club against 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 April 1939. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Flewing's football career came to a halt. He served in the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
during hostilities, and occasionally turned out for Portsmouth in wartime football, winning an 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...
wartime cap against 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...
on 16 September 1944.
When football resumed at the end of the war, Flewin became a regular in Portsmouth's defence, and was also named the team's captain. He was a member of the Pompey sides that won consecutive league titles in 1948-49
1948-49 in English football
The 1948–49 season was the 69th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth won the First Division title for the first time with a team of no recognised stars and very few international players. They won the league by five points from Manchester United and Derby...
and 1949-50
1949-50 in English football
The 1949–50 season was the 70th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth retained the First Division title by one of the narrowest margins in history ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C....
. Flewin retired in 1953, having played 163 first-team matches for Portsmouth. In 1949 his Portsmouth side was tipped to become the first team to win the double but lost to Leicester City at Highbury. If Portsmouth won the Double he would have been the first skipper since John Devey
John Devey
John Henry George "Jack" Devey was a football player.-Football career:Devey was born in Birmingham and signed for Aston Villa in March 1891; he would go on to become one of Aston Villa's greatest captains...
to win it.
Following his playing career, Flewin moved into coaching, first taking charge of Pompey's youth team, and later became assistant to manager Eddie Lever
Eddie Lever
Eddie Lever was the manager of the English football club Portsmouth F.C. from 1952-1958. Lever took over at Pompey in 1952 after championship-winning manager Bob Jackson joined Hull City. He is credited with discovering a 16-year old Jimmy Dickinson in the early 1940s....
. He remained assistant manager at Portsmouth until October 1960, when he accepted the job as manager of 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 September 1963, he moved back south to become manager at 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....
, where he spent two years before resigning in 1965.
After leaving football, Flewin settled on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, where he managed the Fort Warden holiday camp in Totland Bay. He died in May 2008, aged 87.