Old Everton Pictures

For @BigMick & co -

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Cliff Briton - Everton Manager : 1948 - 1956

Cliff Britton signed for Everton in June 1930 from Bristol Rovers but the right-half was forced to wait until 1932/33 before establishing himself as a first-team regular.

Once given the chance, he became a regular fixture in the side and went on to make 242 appearances in a royal blue jersey, scoring three goals in the process.

He was known as a leader on the pitch who was always wanting the ball and always looking to drive the team forward with his exceptional passing ability.

Britton picked up an FA Cup winners medal in 1933 after being part of the side that beat Manchester City 3-0 in the final.

However, he only managed to make one appearance in 1938/39 when the Blues’ lifted the league title. The former Bristol Rovers player picked up nine England caps while with Everton, making his debut against Wales in September 1934.

After the war, Britton was made manager of Burnley in October 1945. He quickly steered Burnley to promotion from the Second Division in the 1946–47 season and to the 1947 FA Cup Final.

He was appointed manager of Everton in 1948 and was regarded as a big improvement over the previous manager Theo Kelly.

Unlike his predecessor Britton was an ex-player and was said to have easy-going approachability so confidence improved. Britton was also a disciplinarian and it was said that his ideal team would be eleven 'teetotallers'. However the Everton squad was of low quality and suffered eleven consecutive defeats in September to November of the 1950–51 season.

In a desperate foray into the transfer market, Britton spent £28,000 on an uninspiring inside forward, Harry Potts from Burnley when a new centre forward was desperately needed. (He could have brought Tommy Lawton back for less money). In 1950–51 Everton were two points clear of the relegation zone but contrived to suffer a 6–0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, while Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers 4–0 and so Everton were relegated on goal average.

With remarkable patience the Everton board gave Britton a vote of confidence. However, in the summer of 1951, the board refused any more money for transfer fees and so Britton had to rely heavily on a policy of youth rather than on big money buys. Consequently, Everton spent three seasons in the Second Division finishing 7th and a worrying 16th before being promoted as runners-up in 1953–54.

The board continued to refuse transfer funds and Britton had disagreements with them.

While Britton was abroad with the team the board wanted to appoint an acting manager. The board had also interfered with other decisions, but Britton had also made several mistakes such as dropping and then selling the talismanic Dave Hickson. Eventually Britton resigned from Everton in 1956 saying that "I want all managers to have the freedom to do the job for which they were appointed."

A sub-committee of the board unsuccessfully ran the Everton team for the remainder of the season until Ian Buchan was appointed.



Cliff Britton signed for Everton in June 1930 from Bristol Rovers but the right-half was forced to wait until 1932/33 before establishing himself as a first-team regular.



Once given the chance, he became a regular fixture in the side and went on to make 242 appearances in a royal blue jersey, scoring three goals in the process.



He was known as a leader on the pitch who was always wanting the ball and always looking to drive the team forward with his exceptional passing ability.



Britton picked up an FA Cup winners medal in 1933 after being part of the side that beat Manchester City 3-0 in the final.



However, he only managed to make one appearance in 1938/39 when the Blues’ lifted the league title. The former Bristol Rovers player picked up nine England caps while with Everton, making his debut against Wales in September 1934.



After the war, Britton was made manager of Burnley in October 1945. He quickly steered Burnley to promotion from the Second Division in the 1946–47 season and to the 1947 FA Cup Final.



He was appointed manager of Everton in 1948 and was regarded as a big improvement over the previous manager Theo Kelly.



Unlike his predecessor Britton was an ex-player and was said to have easy-going approachability so confidence improved. Britton was also a disciplinarian and it was said that his ideal team would be eleven 'teetotallers'. However the Everton squad was of low quality and suffered eleven consecutive defeats in September to November of the 1950–51 season.



In a desperate foray into the transfer market, Britton spent £28,000 on an uninspiring inside forward, Harry Potts from Burnley when a new centre forward was desperately needed. (He could have brought Tommy Lawton back for less money). In 1950–51 Everton were two points clear of the relegation zone but contrived to suffer a 6–0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, while Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers 4–0 and so Everton were relegated on goal average.



With remarkable patience the Everton board gave Britton a vote of confidence. However, in the summer of 1951, the board refused any more money for transfer fees and so Britton had to rely heavily on a policy of youth rather than on big money buys. Consequently, Everton spent three seasons in the Second Division finishing 7th and a worrying 16th before being promoted as runners-up in 1953–54.



The board continued to refuse transfer funds and Britton had disagreements with them.



While Britton was abroad with the team the board wanted to appoint an acting manager. The board had also interfered with other decisions, but Britton had also made several mistakes such as dropping and then selling the talismanic Dave Hickson. Eventually Britton resigned from Everton in 1956 saying that "I want all managers to have the freedom to do the job for which they were appointed."



A sub-committee of the board unsuccessfully ran the Everton team for the remainder of the season until Ian Buchan was appointed.



Source : Everton FC / Wiki
 
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Theo Kelly - Everton Manager : 1939 - 1948​


Biography
Theo Kelly was born Louis Alford Theodore Kelly in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, on 17 January 1896. His father, Louis Theophilus Kelly, was Manx. His mother, Lilian Mabel May, was Cornish. Theo Kelly married Emily Gladys Wilson at Walton Methodist Chapel, County Road, Liverpool in 1925. He joined Everton F.C. as a coach in 1929. He is best known for being the first manager of Everton F.C.

Pre-war
Everton were one of the last league teams to appoint a manager. Before this, the team selection was made by coaches and boardroom members. Theo Kelly had been club secretary before his appointment as manager in May 1939 and had been closely involved in team matters, so there is some dispute when he actually took over.

Kelly was ambitious and a self-publicist, manoeuvring himself into the position after the untimely death of his successful predecessor, Thomas H. McIntosh. While he was club secretary Theo Kelly devised the club badge and motto.

The Football League First Division of 1938-39 had already been won by Everton by the time that Kelly was appointed as full-time manager. The League was then suspended for seven seasons during the war though some matches were played with Kelly in charge.

Post-war
After the war Kelly disagreed with Joe Mercer. Kelly accused Mercer of not trying in an international against Scotland, but in reality Mercer had sustained a severe cartilage injury. Even after consulting an orthopaedic specialist, Kelly refused to believe him and Mercer had to pay for the surgery himself (after 14 years with the club).

Understandably upset, Mercer moved in 1946 for £9,000 to Arsenal, although he commuted from Liverpool. Theo Kelly brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.

Kelly was also unable to persuade Tommy Lawton to stay and he attempted to sell T. G. Jones to A.S. Roma to raise £15,000, but exchange control prevented the transfer. Many players saw Kelly as a remote, autocratic and petty figure. Dixie Dean said that the main reason for leaving Everton in 1937 was Theo Kelly. Kelly distrusted players bought on the transfer market and so the playing resources were quickly depleted.

After two poor seasons (finishing 10th and 14th) and a poor start to the 1948-49 season in which Everton finished 18th, Kelly resigned as manager in September 1948 and reverted to being club secretary. Cliff Britton replaced him as manager, though relegation in 1950/51 can be partly traced back to Kelly's period as manager. Kelly was better known for his administrative skills and to his credit he left the club in a better financial state. Although he split a top side up he was soon removed -
 

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