Cyril Spiers
Encyclopedia
Cyril Henry Spiers was an English
association football goalkeeper who played for Aston Villa
and Tottenham Hotspur
and later went on to manage at Football League
clubs for twenty years.
where he made 104 League and 8 FA Cup appearances over a seven year career. He was forced to retire after suffering a serious injury and, believing that he could never play again, Aston Villa released him. However he underwent experimental surgery and was able to return to football with Tottenham Hotspur
, making 169 appearances between 1927 and 1932. He eventually left the club and became assistant manager to Frank Buckley
at Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
In 1939 he took over as secretary-manager at Cardiff City
but his rebuilding of the team was cut short following the outbreak of World War II
. He stayed at the club throughout the war and set up a number of nursery teams, including Cardiff Nomads who would go on to bring players such as Alan Harrington
and Colin Baker
to the club, to bring most of the local football talent to the club. He fell out with the club over a dispute over money and left to manage Norwich City
. He was back at Cardiff two years later as manager to replace Billy McCandless
, bringing the Cardiff Nomads back with him having adopted the club for Norwich when he joined. He took them to promotion during the 1951-52 season but eventually left to manage Crystal Palace
in September 1954. He later had a spell scouting for Leicester City
before taking his last managerial post at Exeter City
in 1962.
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...
association football goalkeeper who 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 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and later went on to manage at Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
clubs for twenty years.
Career
Spiers began his professional playing career at Aston VillaAston 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...
where he made 104 League and 8 FA Cup appearances over a seven year career. He was forced to retire after suffering a serious injury and, believing that he could never play again, Aston Villa released him. However he underwent experimental surgery and was able to return to football with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, making 169 appearances between 1927 and 1932. He eventually left the club and became assistant manager to Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
at 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...
.
In 1939 he took over as secretary-manager at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
but his rebuilding of the team was cut short following the outbreak of 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...
. He stayed at the club throughout the war and set up a number of nursery teams, including Cardiff Nomads who would go on to bring players such as Alan Harrington
Alan Harrington
Alan Charles Harrington is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. Harrington played his entire professional career at Cardiff City where he is regarded as one of the club's all-time greats.-Career:...
and Colin Baker
Colin Baker (Welsh footballer)
Colin Walter Baker is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. A wing half, he spent his entire professional career playing for his home town club Cardiff City.-Club career:...
to the club, to bring most of the local football talent to the club. He fell out with the club over a dispute over money and left to manage Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. He was back at Cardiff two years later as manager to replace Billy McCandless
Billy McCandless
William "Billy" McCandless was an Irish international football player and manager. As a player McCandless normally played at left-back, most notably at Rangers where he won 8 league titles with the side...
, bringing the Cardiff Nomads back with him having adopted the club for Norwich when he joined. He took them to promotion during the 1951-52 season but eventually left to manage Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in September 1954. He later had a spell scouting for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
before taking his last managerial post at Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in 1962.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
 |
April 1939 | April 1946 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
 |
June 1946 | December 1947 | 64 | 15 | 12 | 37 | ||
| Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
|
April 1948 | April 1954 | 265 | 107 | 73 | 85 | ||
| Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
|
September 1954 | June 1958 | 183 | 52 | 54 | 77 | ||
| Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
|
May 1962 | February 1963 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | ||
| Total | 550 | 184 | 146 | 220 | |||||