Wilf Mannion
Encyclopedia
Wilfred James Mannion (16 May 1918 - 14 April 2000) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward
, making over 350 senior appearances for Middlesbrough
. He also played international football for England
. With his blond hair, he was nickamed "The Golden Boy".
, an industrial community outside Middlesbrough
proper, the son of Irish immigrants Tommy and Mary Mannion, and one of 10 children. He joined his local team Middlesbrough F.C.
in 1936 and went on to make 341 Football League appearances for them, scoring on 99 occasions.
Mannion fought in France and Italy during World War II
, and on his return he wanted to leave Ayresome Park
, but the club refused to sell him. In 1948 he went on strike to try and force a move, but this made him ineligible to play for England, and he eventually backed down and started playing for Middlesbrough again.
After initially retiring as a player in 1954, Mannion joined Hull City
on 24 December of that year and decided to play on for another season. However, in a series of articles for newspapers he made several highly contentious statements, for which the Football League suspended him, and he left to play non-league football
with Poole Town
.
He was capped on 26 occasions by the England national football team
between 1946 and 1951, scoring 11 times, including six goals in his first four internationals. He was a member of the England squad for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
.
He was eventually awarded a testimonial match
by Middlesbrough in 1983, alongside former Boro and England colleague George Hardwick
.
Mannion died on 14 April 2000 at the age of 81. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame
in 2004 in recognition of his impact on the English league.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
, making over 350 senior appearances for 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...
. He also played international football for 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...
. With his blond hair, he was nickamed "The Golden Boy".
Biography
Mannion was born on 16 May 1918 in South BankSouth Bank, Middlesbrough
South Bank is a small town which forms part of the Middlesbrough urban area that lies 2.3 miles from Middlesbrough centre, in North East England. As the name suggests, it lies on the south bank of the River Tees. Although it is part of the Middlesbrough conurbation, it is a ward of Redcar and...
, an industrial community outside Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
proper, the son of Irish immigrants Tommy and Mary Mannion, and one of 10 children. He joined his local team Middlesbrough F.C.
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...
in 1936 and went on to make 341 Football League appearances for them, scoring on 99 occasions.
Mannion fought in France and Italy during 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...
, and on his return he wanted to leave Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
, but the club refused to sell him. In 1948 he went on strike to try and force a move, but this made him ineligible to play for England, and he eventually backed down and started playing for Middlesbrough again.
After initially retiring as a player in 1954, Mannion joined Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 24 December of that year and decided to play on for another season. However, in a series of articles for newspapers he made several highly contentious statements, for which the Football League suspended him, and he left to play non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Poole Town
Poole Town F.C.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the...
.
He was capped on 26 occasions by 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...
between 1946 and 1951, scoring 11 times, including six goals in his first four internationals. He was a member of the England squad for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
.
He was eventually awarded a 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....
by Middlesbrough in 1983, alongside former Boro and England colleague George Hardwick
George Hardwick
George Hardwick was an English football player and coach. During his time as an active player, he played left defender for Middlesbrough...
.
Mannion died on 14 April 2000 at the age of 81. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame
English Football Hall of Fame
The English Football Hall of Fame is housed at the National Football Museum, currently being relocated to Manchester, England. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of the all-time top English footballing talents, as well as non-English players and managers who have become...
in 2004 in recognition of his impact on the English league.
Further reading
- N. Varley (2002) Golden Boy: A Biography of Wilf Mannion, Aurum Press Ltd, ISBN 1854108794