Stan Seymour
Encyclopedia
Stan Seymour was a footballer
who played, managed, chairmanned, and directed Newcastle United
. Born in Kelloe
, Seymour is one of the all-time Newcastle United
greats, and was known as 'Mr. Newcastle United' after the various years and roles he delivered for the club. As a player, despite his small physique, he was famous for tearing defences from down the left wing.
as a teenager; the local pit worker was told to 'come back when you grow up', he played some non-league football for Shildon Athletic and Coxhoe before joining Bradford City
in 1911 where he had a short spell at the Yorkshire-based side; making only one competitive appearance. After his short stint at Bradford, he then joined Scottish side Greenock Morton. He developed as a player at Morton, becoming popular with the locals who called him 'The little Englishman'. Unlike England, a fairly normal league season was played through-out the First World War in Scotland, and in all of Seymour's time in Greenock
, Morton never finished outside the top four of what was a highly competitive league (the moment he had gone they slipped dramatically down the table). His performances were noticed back in England
and he was eventually offered a transfer to the club who originally rejected him, Newcastle United
in 1920 for a fee of £2,500.
Final with goals against Portsmouth
, Derby County
, Liverpool
, and Manchester City
before eventually going on to win the FA Cup
in 1924
in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa
, in which he scored a thunderous 20-yard half volley to secure the win. He was also part of the Newcastle team that were crowned Division One champions in 1926–27
. Such displays also earned him a call-up to the England squad in a tour to Australia
. However in 1929, he was to leave the club after a disagreement with the officials over wages and a testimonial match. This was to be the end of his playing days as he decided to turn down the chance to join North-east rivals Middlesbrough
and set up a sports shop in Newcastle upon Tyne
, as he vowed 'never to kick a ball again'. He also later became involved in journalism. However his good service for Newcastle United were not forgotten and he was appointed the club's new Director in 1938.
As director he had control of first-team affairs, but like Frank Watt
could not pick the team under the Director's Committee. However he had more influence on who could play than Watt had during his time at the club. He was manager of the club with the Directors Committee from 1938 to 1954. In 1943, Seymour gave a trial to a 19-year old 'Wor Jackie' Milburn
, who later became a club legend himself. The club won the FA Cup in 1951
and retained it in 1952 whilst Seymour was at the helm. Seymour became the first person in English football history to win the FA Cup
with the same club as a player and manager. In December 1954 Seymour resigned as manager and became chairman of the club. A position he held until 1956. He was appointed president of the club in April 1976. A post he held until his death in 1978. In a 2009 article written in The Times Online, Seymour was named Newcastle United's 5th Greatest player of all time. He scored 73 goals in 242 games for the club.
His son Stan Seymour, Jr.
later became chairman of Newcastle United.
was once quoted saying "There is a great debt owed by Newcastle United to Stan Seymour for all of his services to the club".
Former United player and manager Kevin Keegan
promised during his first spell incharge to re-name the club's Youth Academy after Seymour, however this was not carried out due to Keegan's resignation.
The North Eastern League Cup (in which teams from the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division compete in) was re-named the Stan Seymour League Cup in his honour.
third placed: 1915–1916², 1918–1919²
Newcastle United:
² Known as Division I at that time
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played, managed, chairmanned, and directed Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Born in Kelloe
Kelloe
Kelloe is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated to the south-east of Durham.The village of Kelloe with a name that derives from Caluh Law had eight small coal mines in its vicinity during the last century but its history goes back well before the days of mining...
, Seymour is one of the all-time Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
greats, and was known as 'Mr. Newcastle United' after the various years and roles he delivered for the club. As a player, despite his small physique, he was famous for tearing defences from down the left wing.
Early career
After originally being rejected by Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
as a teenager; the local pit worker was told to 'come back when you grow up', he played some non-league football for Shildon Athletic and Coxhoe before joining 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....
in 1911 where he had a short spell at the Yorkshire-based side; making only one competitive appearance. After his short stint at Bradford, he then joined Scottish side Greenock Morton. He developed as a player at Morton, becoming popular with the locals who called him 'The little Englishman'. Unlike England, a fairly normal league season was played through-out the First World War in Scotland, and in all of Seymour's time in Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Morton never finished outside the top four of what was a highly competitive league (the moment he had gone they slipped dramatically down the table). His performances were noticed back in England
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...
and he was eventually offered a transfer to the club who originally rejected him, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in 1920 for a fee of £2,500.
Newcastle United
It did not take long for Seymour to become a crowd favourite at St. James' Park, his performances helped Newcastle reach the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Final with goals against 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
before eventually going on to win the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1924
1924 FA Cup Final
The 1924 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Aston Villa at Wembley. Newcastle won 2–0, the goals scored by Neil Harris and Stan Seymour.The match has become commonly known as the "Rainy Day " final due to the weather that day,a consequence of which has led to there being very...
in a 2–0 win over 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...
, in which he scored a thunderous 20-yard half volley to secure the win. He was also part of the Newcastle team that were crowned Division One champions in 1926–27
1926-27 in English football
The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
. Such displays also earned him a call-up to the England squad in a tour to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. However in 1929, he was to leave the club after a disagreement with the officials over wages and a testimonial match. This was to be the end of his playing days as he decided to turn down the chance to join North-east rivals Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and set up a sports shop in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, as he vowed 'never to kick a ball again'. He also later became involved in journalism. However his good service for Newcastle United were not forgotten and he was appointed the club's new Director in 1938.
As director he had control of first-team affairs, but like Frank Watt
Frank Watt
----Frank Watt was the unofficial manager of Newcastle United from 1895 to 1935. He did not have control over team selection so technically he was not manager but rather the club secretary, as a member of the committee that at the time owned the club....
could not pick the team under the Director's Committee. However he had more influence on who could play than Watt had during his time at the club. He was manager of the club with the Directors Committee from 1938 to 1954. In 1943, Seymour gave a trial to a 19-year old 'Wor Jackie' Milburn
Jackie Milburn
John Edward Thompson 'Jackie' Milburn, , also known to fans as Wor Jackie and 'the first World Wor' in reference to his global fame, was a football player for Newcastle United and England...
, who later became a club legend himself. The club won the FA Cup in 1951
1951 FA Cup Final
The 1951 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Blackpool at Wembley on 28 April 1951. Newcastle won 2–0, with both goals scored by Jackie Milburn....
and retained it in 1952 whilst Seymour was at the helm. Seymour became the first person in English football history to win the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
with the same club as a player and manager. In December 1954 Seymour resigned as manager and became chairman of the club. A position he held until 1956. He was appointed president of the club in April 1976. A post he held until his death in 1978. In a 2009 article written in The Times Online, Seymour was named Newcastle United's 5th Greatest player of all time. He scored 73 goals in 242 games for the club.
His son Stan Seymour, Jr.
Stan Seymour, Jr.
Stan Seymour, Jr. was a former chairman of Newcastle United and the son of Stan Seymour, Sr.Seymour, Jr.'s father played for Newcastle United and then joined the board of directors after the Second World War...
later became chairman of Newcastle United.
Legacy
'Wor Jackie' MilburnJackie Milburn
John Edward Thompson 'Jackie' Milburn, , also known to fans as Wor Jackie and 'the first World Wor' in reference to his global fame, was a football player for Newcastle United and England...
was once quoted saying "There is a great debt owed by Newcastle United to Stan Seymour for all of his services to the club".
Former United player and manager Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
promised during his first spell incharge to re-name the club's Youth Academy after Seymour, however this was not carried out due to Keegan's resignation.
The North Eastern League Cup (in which teams from the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division compete in) was re-named the Stan Seymour League Cup in his honour.
Club
Greenock Morton:- Scottish Premier Division runner-up: 1916–1917
third placed: 1915–1916², 1918–1919²
- Great War Shield winner 1914
Newcastle United:
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
winner: 1926–1927 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 1924, 1951, 1952 - FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
runner-up: 1951, 1952
² Known as Division I at that time
External links
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/NEWCseymour.htm at Spartacus Schoolnet
- http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersDetail/0,,10278~1241770,00.html at NUFC.co.uk (Official Newcastle United website)
- http://www.123football.com/clubs/england/newcastle-united/index.htm at 123football.com