Rodney Marsh (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Rodney William Marsh is an English
retired footballer. He was named after HMS Rodney
by his father, who served on the battleship. He played for Fulham
, Queens Park Rangers
, Manchester City
, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the England national team
. Lately, he has been a pundit and a commentator on the game. Marsh is a supporter of his former club Queens Park Rangers
.
, Stan Bowles
, Peter Osgood
, Frank Worthington
and Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh was one of a generation of highly talented "maverick" players that emerged in English football
during the 1960s and 1970s and never quite fulfilled his potential. He began his career with Fulham, for whom he made his debut in 1963, but his career there was hampered by injuries – a collision with a goal post and an opposing defender cost him the hearing in his left ear – and a dispute with manager Vic Buckingham
, which ultimately saw him move across West London to join Queens Park Rangers, then in the Third Division
, for £15,000 in March 1966. His first full season with Rangers was his most successful. He scored 44 goals in 53 games as the club became Third Division champions and also won the League Cup
, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the final, with Marsh scoring the equaliser. The following year
, QPR were promoted again to reach the First Division
.
In 1972, he was signed for Manchester City by Malcolm Allison
for a then club record £200,000. Upon signing Marsh (in March of that year), City were four points clear at the top of the table but by the end of the season had slipped to 4th. Marsh himself has since claimed that it was he who cost the club the league title that year, with his style simply not suiting that of the team. He nevertheless became one of City's star players, scoring 19 goals in 1972-73
and often dazzling the crowd with his skills. Marsh led the club to a League Cup final in 1974, though this time he was on the losing side as City were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers
. He left the club shortly into the 1975-76
season after disagreements with new manager Tony Book
.
Marsh revived his career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL
, where he made over 100 appearances. He signed for Cork Hibernians http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0129/Pg003.html#Ar00303:07239E0B53B30B47960EB7AE06F3250E33630E13250FE3630A84C70D14DF07558C09F5A417B3A81A43BF17D55218C56918D5521A856924657A2715911AE5DE1D95F61DE6C120A6D924671327872B0F67961217AE before briefly returning to Fulham during the 1976-77
season, where he linked up with old friends George Best
and Bobby Moore
before returning to Tampa Bay in 1977. He played from 1976 to 1979 in the States, and was a first-team all star selection in 1978.
and Carolina
Lightnin' teams in the ASL
, before returning to the Rowdies to coach their final NASL season in 1984. He was head coach from 1984 to 1986, and was the team's chief executive for 11 years. In 1986, he came out of retirement to play one last season with the Rowdies, this time with the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). Marsh played in twenty games during the 1985-1986 season, scoring 13 goals.
in 1971 and won a total of nine caps
, scoring one goal, which came in a 3-0 victory over Wales
. In his stage show with George Best Marsh later joked that the England manager Alf Ramsey told him ‘I'll be watching you for the first 45 minutes and if you don't work harder I'll pull you off at halftime," to which Marsh said that he replied: “Crikey, Alf, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea.”. This joke has morphed into fact among football fans, but the conversation never ever took place. He lost his place in Ramsey's squad because of a loss of form with Manchester City where his ball-holding style interrupted the flowing City style of football and was claimed to have cost City the championship.
He was involved in a long-running banter with Bradford City
and its supporters in the 1999–2000 season, in which he flippantly dismissed their chances of survival in the Premier League - which were generally regarded as slim by most observers due to their relatively meagre resources, and the fact that the club had last played top flight football in 1922. Confident as he was in his prediction of their relegation he offered to shave all of his hair off if they stayed up, which they subsequently managed. Marsh honoured his bet and had his hair removed in the centre circle of Valley Parade
Bradford City's home stadium and raised a lot of money for charity by doing so, much to the amusement of Jeff Stelling
and co-presenters at Soccer Saturday
, as well as the Bradford City supporters, who forgave him for his derogatory remarks.
Marsh remained with Sky Sports
and presented on Gillette Soccer Saturday for a total of 11 years until he was sacked in January 2005, because during a live broadcast he joked about the Asian Tsunami and was promptly fired by Sky Sports, when he said: "David Beckham has turned down a move to Newcastle United because of trouble with the 'Toon Army in Asia'." Marsh apologised on air and subsequently, however this was not enough to save his job.
Marsh then appeared as a player for Manchester City and a pundit in Sky One's Premier League All Stars
in September 2007.
In January 2008, Marsh threatened to return his nine international caps in protest at the Football Association
's appointment of an Italian, Fabio Capello
as the manager of the England national football team
rather than appoint an English coach.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/04/sfneng104.xml
Marsh has appeared in the 2007 series of ITV
's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
where he was the fifth person to be voted off the show, Celebrity Come Dine with Me on Channel 4, in January 2009 in which he came in joint second place tied with Abi Titmuss
, the Alan Titchmarsh show on ITV in March 2009, and Celebrity Coach Trip on Channel 4, in November 2010 partnered with Cheryl Baker
.
kit of the '70s is featured on the front cover of the 1994 album Definitely Maybe
by Oasis
due to them being big supporters of City. One member of the group at the time however, Bonehead
, was a Manchester United
supporter so there is also a picture of the Old Trafford
legend George Best
on the cover.
New Order
created an instrumental called "Best and Marsh" which can be found on the single "Round & Round", or on the 2008 Collector's Edition of their 1989 album Technique
. Best & Marsh was a football programme on Granada TV
, hosted by Tony Wilson
. It used to appear on a Sunday night about 11pm in the late 1980s.
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...
retired footballer. He was named after HMS Rodney
HMS Rodney (1925)
HMS Rodney was one of two s built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1920s. She was named for Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney...
by his father, who served on the battleship. He played for Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, 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...
, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the England national team
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...
. Lately, he has been a pundit and a commentator on the game. Marsh is a supporter of his former club Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Playing career
Like George BestGeorge Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, Stan Bowles
Stan Bowles
Stanley Bowles was a leading English footballer who gained a reputation as one of the game's greatest mavericks. He was a cousin of Paul Bowles.-Career:...
, Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood
Peter Leslie Osgood was an English footballer who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing Chelsea and Southampton at club level, and was also capped four times by England in the early 1970s.-Chelsea:Born in a small road named Kentons Lane in Windsor, Osgood...
, Frank Worthington
Frank Worthington
Frank Stewart Worthington is a former English footballer. Frank was born into a footballing family in Shelf near Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. Both of his parents had played the game and his two older brothers, Dave and Bob, became professional footballers, both began their careers with...
and Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh was one of a generation of highly talented "maverick" players that emerged in English football
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
during the 1960s and 1970s and never quite fulfilled his potential. He began his career with Fulham, for whom he made his debut in 1963, but his career there was hampered by injuries – a collision with a goal post and an opposing defender cost him the hearing in his left ear – and a dispute with manager Vic Buckingham
Vic Buckingham
Victor Frederick Buckingham was an English footballer whose approach as a manager was a precursor of the Total Football philosophy....
, which ultimately saw him move across West London to join Queens Park Rangers, then 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...
, for £15,000 in March 1966. His first full season with Rangers was his most successful. He scored 44 goals in 53 games as the club became Third Division champions and also won the League Cup
Football League Cup
The 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...
, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the final, with Marsh scoring the equaliser. The following year
1967-68 in English football
The 1967–68 season was the 88th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-FA Cup:...
, QPR were promoted again to reach 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....
.
In 1972, he was signed for Manchester City by Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Allison
Malcolm Alexander Allison was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.Allison's managerial potential become...
for a then club record £200,000. Upon signing Marsh (in March of that year), City were four points clear at the top of the table but by the end of the season had slipped to 4th. Marsh himself has since claimed that it was he who cost the club the league title that year, with his style simply not suiting that of the team. He nevertheless became one of City's star players, scoring 19 goals in 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...
and often dazzling the crowd with his skills. Marsh led the club to a League Cup final in 1974, though this time he was on the losing side as City were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He left the club shortly into the 1975-76
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
season after disagreements with new manager Tony Book
Tony Book
Anthony Keith Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division...
.
Marsh revived his career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of 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:...
, where he made over 100 appearances. He signed for Cork Hibernians http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0129/Pg003.html#Ar00303:07239E0B53B30B47960EB7AE06F3250E33630E13250FE3630A84C70D14DF07558C09F5A417B3A81A43BF17D55218C56918D5521A856924657A2715911AE5DE1D95F61DE6C120A6D924671327872B0F67961217AE before briefly returning to Fulham during the 1976-77
1976-77 in English football
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
season, where he linked up with old friends George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
and Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
before returning to Tampa Bay in 1977. He played from 1976 to 1979 in the States, and was a first-team all star selection in 1978.
Coaching
He retired after 1979, and coached the New York UnitedNew York Apollo
The New York Greeks was an American soccer club based in New York City that was a member of the American Soccer League.The team began as the amateur Greek-Americans. The club played lower Premier Division of the German American Soccer League which was based in the New York metropolitan area...
and Carolina
Lightnin' teams in the ASL
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, before returning to the Rowdies to coach their final NASL season in 1984. He was head coach from 1984 to 1986, and was the team's chief executive for 11 years. In 1986, he came out of retirement to play one last season with the Rowdies, this time with the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). Marsh played in twenty games during the 1985-1986 season, scoring 13 goals.
National team
Marsh made his England debut against SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in 1971 and won a total of nine caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, scoring one goal, which came in a 3-0 victory over 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...
. In his stage show with George Best Marsh later joked that the England manager Alf Ramsey told him ‘I'll be watching you for the first 45 minutes and if you don't work harder I'll pull you off at halftime," to which Marsh said that he replied: “Crikey, Alf, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea.”. This joke has morphed into fact among football fans, but the conversation never ever took place. He lost his place in Ramsey's squad because of a loss of form with Manchester City where his ball-holding style interrupted the flowing City style of football and was claimed to have cost City the championship.
Retirement
Upon retiring Marsh became a pundit, earning a reputation for his outspoken views on the game.He was involved in a long-running banter with Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and its supporters in the 1999–2000 season, in which he flippantly dismissed their chances of survival in the Premier League - which were generally regarded as slim by most observers due to their relatively meagre resources, and the fact that the club had last played top flight football in 1922. Confident as he was in his prediction of their relegation he offered to shave all of his hair off if they stayed up, which they subsequently managed. Marsh honoured his bet and had his hair removed in the centre circle of Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
Bradford City's home stadium and raised a lot of money for charity by doing so, much to the amusement of Jeff Stelling
Jeff Stelling
Robert Jeffrey "Jeff" Stelling is an English sports journalist and sport television presenter, of Gillette Soccer Saturday for Sky Sports and other programming for the satellite broadcaster. In January 2009 he took over as host of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown...
and co-presenters at Soccer Saturday
Soccer Saturday
Gillette Soccer Saturday is a weekly television programme broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland during the football season. The programme updates viewers on the progress of association football games in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Saturday afternoons. The current host is...
, as well as the Bradford City supporters, who forgave him for his derogatory remarks.
Marsh remained with Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
and presented on Gillette Soccer Saturday for a total of 11 years until he was sacked in January 2005, because during a live broadcast he joked about the Asian Tsunami and was promptly fired by Sky Sports, when he said: "David Beckham has turned down a move to Newcastle United because of trouble with the 'Toon Army in Asia'." Marsh apologised on air and subsequently, however this was not enough to save his job.
Marsh then appeared as a player for Manchester City and a pundit in Sky One's Premier League All Stars
Premier League All Stars
Premier League All Stars was a televised charity football tournament, which was broadcast live on Sky1 on consecutive nights between 23 September and 30 September 2007. The innovative format features football teams representing all 20 Premier League clubs, each playing to win a share of the...
in September 2007.
In January 2008, Marsh threatened to return his nine international caps in protest at the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
's appointment of an Italian, Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
as the manager of the England national football team
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...
rather than appoint an English coach.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/04/sfneng104.xml
Marsh has appeared in the 2007 series of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here is a reality television game show series in which 8 to 15 celebrities live together in a jungle environment for a few weeks. They have no luxuries, and compete to win a cash prize...
where he was the fifth person to be voted off the show, Celebrity Come Dine with Me on Channel 4, in January 2009 in which he came in joint second place tied with Abi Titmuss
Abi Titmuss
Abi Titmuss, , is a former English nurse turned glamour model, television personality and actress.-Early life:...
, the Alan Titchmarsh show on ITV in March 2009, and Celebrity Coach Trip on Channel 4, in November 2010 partnered with Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
.
Music
A picture of Marsh standing up in the sky blue 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...
kit of the '70s is featured on the front cover of the 1994 album Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
by Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
due to them being big supporters of City. One member of the group at the time however, Bonehead
Paul Arthurs
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is an English musician and one of the founding members of the English rock band Oasis, best known as their rhythm guitar player from 1991-1999.-Early life:...
, was a 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...
supporter so there is also a picture of the Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
legend George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
on the cover.
New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
created an instrumental called "Best and Marsh" which can be found on the single "Round & Round", or on the 2008 Collector's Edition of their 1989 album Technique
Technique (album)
Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in 1989 via Factory Records. Partly recorded on the island of Ibiza, it incorporates Balearic beat and acid house influences into the group's electro/rock sound...
. Best & Marsh was a football programme on Granada TV
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, hosted by Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
. It used to appear on a Sunday night about 11pm in the late 1980s.
Quotes
- "You mumphead!"
- "That's a nonsense!"
- "I wasn't the white PeléPeléHowever, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, he was the black Rodney Marsh" - "This gong was given to me by Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
." - "If I wanted it licking,I would've asked Biggins!!"
- "Christopher Biggins could take us to the World Cup." When asked whether Fabio Capello could lead England to the World Cup
- "I like it salty.........but this is too salty!"
- "To all those who voted me to do this.......bollocks" (During a bushtucker trial on I'm a Celebrity...)
- "He'll struggle to score six goals..." On Kevin Phillips preceding the 1999-2000 season, in which Phillips scored 30 goals and gained the European golden boot
Honours
Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
- 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...
: 1966–671966–67 Football League CupThe 1966–67 Football League Cup was the seventh season of the Football League Cup, a knockout competition for England's top 92 football clubs. The competition ended with the final on 4 March 1967....
External links
- Rodney Marsh Interview
- Rodney Marsh Career Profile at www.football-England.com
- Rodney Marsh's official website