Bob Brocklebank
Encyclopedia
Bob Brocklebank was an English
footballer and manager
.
He played for Aston Villa
and Burnley
, where he was top goalscorer in 1937-38
before becoming a manager, at Chesterfield
, Birmingham City
, Hull City
and Bradford City
.
, England
as one of eight brothers. He started his football career as an amateur with his hometown team Finchley
, in the London League. In May 1929 he signed for Aston Villa
. His chances were limited at Villa Park, and he signed for Burnley
during the 1935–36
season where he developed into an inside right earning the nickname The Toff because of his gentlemanly approach to life and football.
Brocklebank made 121 appearances for Burnley, scoring 33 goals. During the 1937–38
he was the club's top goalscorer with 14 goals. He continued to play at Burnley throughout the Second World War
.
manager in September 1945. He established the club in Division Two
before he joined Birmingham City
in February 1949. The club was relegated in 1949–50
into Division Two. Brocklebank began to rebuild the side but resigned in 1954 just six months before they were promoted back to the top flight.
He worked as a scout for West Bromwich Albion
from October 1954 to March 1955 until he was appointed manager at Hull City
. He again suffered relegation in his first full season as Hull finished bottom of Division Two in 1955–56
. He took Hull back up three years later from the newly formed Division Three
. Hull were relegated the following season. Brocklebank resigned in May 1961 because he was frustrated at being unable to guide them straight back up.
Instead he joined Bradford City
to take over from Peter Jackson
as manager. His reign at Valley Parade
was topsy-turvy. He guided the club to fifth place finishes in 1961–62
and 1963–64
but City had had to apply for re-election in the season between the promotion pushes. The club's directors extended Brocklebank's contract in July 1964 for another two years, but three months later, disillusioned by a poor start, Brocklebank resigned.
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 and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
He played for 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...
and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, where he was top goalscorer in 1937-38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
before becoming a manager, at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, 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...
and 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....
.
Playing career
Brocklebank was born in FinchleyFinchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
, 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...
as one of eight brothers. He started his football career as an amateur with his hometown team Finchley
Wingate and Finchley F.C.
Wingate & Finchley F.C. is an English football club based in Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Isthmian League and play at The Harry Abrahams Stadium.-History:...
, in the London League. In May 1929 he signed for 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...
. His chances were limited at Villa Park, and he signed for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
during the 1935–36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
season where he developed into an inside right earning the nickname The Toff because of his gentlemanly approach to life and football.
Brocklebank made 121 appearances for Burnley, scoring 33 goals. During the 1937–38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
he was the club's top goalscorer with 14 goals. He continued to play at Burnley throughout the Second World War
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...
.
Managerial career
Brocklebank became ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
manager in September 1945. He established the club in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
before he joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in February 1949. The club was relegated in 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....
into Division Two. Brocklebank began to rebuild the side but resigned in 1954 just six months before they were promoted back to the top flight.
He worked as a scout for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
from October 1954 to March 1955 until he was appointed manager at 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...
. He again suffered relegation in his first full season as Hull finished bottom of Division Two in 1955–56
1955-56 in English football
The 1955–56 season was the 76th season of competitive football in England. The First Division was won by Manchester United, the fourth time they had won that particular accolade.-Awards:Football Writers' Association...
. He took Hull back up three years later from the newly formed Division Three
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...
. Hull were relegated the following season. Brocklebank resigned in May 1961 because he was frustrated at being unable to guide them straight back up.
Instead he joined 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....
to take over from Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (footballer born 1905)
Peter Jackson was a football player and manager. His twin sons Peter and David were also professional footballers. Both played under their father at Wrexham and Bradford City.-Playing career:...
as manager. His reign at 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...
was topsy-turvy. He guided the club to fifth place finishes in 1961–62
1961-62 in English football
The 1961–62 season was the 82nd season of competitive Football in England.-Overview:The season was notable for the remarkable achievement of Ipswich Town winning the League Championship. Under the managership of Alf Ramsey, the club progressed from the old Third Division South to the First Division...
and 1963–64
1963-64 in English football
The 1963–1964 season was the 84th season of competitive football in England, from August 1963 to May 1964:-Overview:* Liverpool won the League Championship.* West Ham United won the FA Cup.* Leicester City won the League Cup.-Diary of the season:...
but City had had to apply for re-election in the season between the promotion pushes. The club's directors extended Brocklebank's contract in July 1964 for another two years, but three months later, disillusioned by a poor start, Brocklebank resigned.