Eric Houghton
Encyclopedia
William Eric Houghton was an English
footballer and manager
.
Eric Houghton was born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire and educated at Donington Grammar School. He signed for Aston Villa
as a seventeen-year-old and played in the Villa side for two decades, scoring 170 goals in 392 games. (The total including war-time matches was over 200 goals.) He also won 7 caps for England
. His formidable and powerful shot was regarded as the hardest shot of his era. Houghton converted 58 spot kicks and also scored direct from about 30 free-kicks.
He finished his playing career at Notts County
.
He went on to become Aston Villa manager, guiding Villa to a record seventh FA Cup
triumph
in 1957 , and after a spell managing Notts County, he returned to Villa as a director, the only person to do this at the club. He had 4 children. Often referred to as Mr Aston Villa in recognition of his long standing service and contribution to the club.
He also played seven first-class matches as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler for Warwickshire County Cricket Club
(1946–1947) and also minor counties cricket for Lincolnshire County Cricket Club
. He also played club cricket for Sleaford, Aston Unity and Olton Cricket Clubs.
His son Neil is the current Chairman of Warwickshire County Cricket Club
and his great-nephew Chris Woods
was a successful international footballer.
He died in Sutton Coldfield
on 1 May 1996, aged 85.
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
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...
.
Eric Houghton was born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire and educated at Donington Grammar School. 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...
as a seventeen-year-old and played in the Villa side for two decades, scoring 170 goals in 392 games. (The total including war-time matches was over 200 goals.) He also won 7 caps 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...
. His formidable and powerful shot was regarded as the hardest shot of his era. Houghton converted 58 spot kicks and also scored direct from about 30 free-kicks.
He finished his playing career at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
He went on to become Aston Villa manager, guiding Villa to a record seventh 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...
triumph
1957 FA Cup Final
The 1957 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 4 May 1957 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Aston Villa and Manchester United. Villa won 2-1, with both of their goals scored by Peter McParland...
in 1957 , and after a spell managing Notts County, he returned to Villa as a director, the only person to do this at the club. He had 4 children. Often referred to as Mr Aston Villa in recognition of his long standing service and contribution to the club.
He also played seven first-class matches as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler for Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
(1946–1947) and also minor counties cricket for Lincolnshire County Cricket Club
Lincolnshire County Cricket Club
Lincolnshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs, which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Lincolnshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
. He also played club cricket for Sleaford, Aston Unity and Olton Cricket Clubs.
His son Neil is the current Chairman of Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
and his great-nephew Chris Woods
Chris Woods
Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major...
was a successful international footballer.
He died in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
on 1 May 1996, aged 85.
External links
- Eric Houghton at Cricket Archive
- Eric Houghton at Cricinfo
- http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/HistoryTimeline