Harry Catterick
Encyclopedia
Harry Catterick was an English
football player and manager. As a player Catterick played for Everton
and Crewe Alexandra
, in a career that was interrupted by World War II
, but he is most notable as a manager. After spells with Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday
, with whom he won the Football League Second Division
title, he took over at Everton and won the Football League twice and the FA Cup
with the Merseyside
club and is regarded as one of Everton's most successful managers. He finished his managerial career at Preston North End
.
where his father, Henry, was a coach and for Cheadle Heath Nomads before signing for Everton
in 1937 as an 18-year-old. Prior to turning professional, he was an apprentice marine engineer.
However, his professional career coincided with the Second World War so that his opportunities to play were limited. His wartime scoring record with Everton was an impressive 55 goals in 71 games. During the war, he also played for Manchester United
and Stockport County
.
He finally made his league debut in August 1946, aged 27.
in 1958, Catterick achieved much success in his three years with Wednesday. He led to team to the Division 2
title in 1959 and reached the FA Cup semi-final the following season, losing to Blackburn Rovers
. The following season Wednesday were league runners up to the Double
winning Tottenham Hotspur
. Catterick left just before the end of the season following an approach from Everton.
in 1961. He soon began to motivate the team and made some astute signings. Under his authoritarian guidance, Everton won the (Old) First Division
Championship in the 1962–63 season and the 1966 FA Cup Final
. Although he narrowly lost the 1968 FA Cup Final
, the same young team eventually dominated the 1969–70 season, winning the Championship again by one point short of a record points total. Catterick upheld Everton's tradition of cultured, attacking football.
Many tipped Everton to dominate the 1970s under Catterick. However, the sale of Alan Ball to Arsenal
and a dip in the team's morale saw Everton struggle in the league the following season. The struggle by a previously great team seriously affected Catterick's health, and he suffered a heart attack
on 5 January 1972 due to the immense stress.
He was persuaded to accept the role of a non-executive director of the club in April 1973 and held that role until becoming manager of Preston North End
from 27 August 1975 to May 1977.
, Bill Shankly
, was an extrovert, Catterick was the opposite; an introvert. He disliked that the press gave information about his team out to the public, even simple details such as the formation. He ensured that the players on the team-sheet were only listed in alphabetical order so that rival managers would not know the line-up.
He also disliked televised games as he wanted to keep Everton's playing style out of the public eye. His rival Shankly was the opposite, welcoming televised matches as he felt it frightened opposing teams.
Catterick once gave an "exclusive" story to a journalist that Everton had missed out on the signing of Preston North End
's Howard Kendall
and that Kendall had in fact opted to sign for Liverpool. The journalist published the story in the newspaper but hours later Kendall had in fact signed for Everton. It is claimed that Catterick had manipulated the media to score points off the field against Shankly.
shortly after watching Everton draw 2–2 with Ipswich Town
in an FA Cup
Quarter Final at Goodison Park
on 9 March 1985. He was 65 years old. His death came almost exactly five years after former Everton striker Dixie Dean
had died while watching a game at the ground, also of a heart attack. Everton won the replay 1–0 and the players wore a black armband in honour of Catterick.
Everton
in the 1997 TV film The Fix
, which featured the events of the 1964 betting scandal.
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...
football player and manager. As a player Catterick played for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, in a career that was interrupted by 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...
, but he is most notable as a manager. After spells with Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, with whom he won the Football League Second Division
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...
title, he took over at Everton and won the Football League twice and the 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...
with the Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
club and is regarded as one of Everton's most successful managers. He finished his managerial career at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.
Playing career
Catterick played at amateur level for Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
where his father, Henry, was a coach and for Cheadle Heath Nomads before signing for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1937 as an 18-year-old. Prior to turning professional, he was an apprentice marine engineer.
However, his professional career coincided with the Second World War so that his opportunities to play were limited. His wartime scoring record with Everton was an impressive 55 goals in 71 games. During the war, he also played for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
.
He finally made his league debut in August 1946, aged 27.
Sheffield Wednesday
Replacing Eric TaylorEric Taylor (football manager)
Eric Taylor was an English football manager most notable for his spell in charge of Sheffield Wednesday from 1942 to 1958....
in 1958, Catterick achieved much success in his three years with Wednesday. He led to team to the Division 2
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...
title in 1959 and reached the FA Cup semi-final the following season, losing to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. The following season Wednesday were league runners up to the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
winning 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....
. Catterick left just before the end of the season following an approach from Everton.
Everton
Catterick took over from Johnny CareyJohnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...
in 1961. He soon began to motivate the team and made some astute signings. Under his authoritarian guidance, Everton won the (Old) First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Championship in the 1962–63 season and the 1966 FA Cup Final
1966 FA Cup Final
The 1966 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 14 May 1966. It was contested by an Everton team that was the first team to reach an FA Cup Final without conceding in the preceding rounds and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley....
. Although he narrowly lost the 1968 FA Cup Final
1968 FA Cup Final
The 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Everton at Wembley. West Brom won by a single goal, scored by Jeff Astle three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition....
, the same young team eventually dominated the 1969–70 season, winning the Championship again by one point short of a record points total. Catterick upheld Everton's tradition of cultured, attacking football.
Many tipped Everton to dominate the 1970s under Catterick. However, the sale of Alan Ball to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and a dip in the team's morale saw Everton struggle in the league the following season. The struggle by a previously great team seriously affected Catterick's health, and he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 5 January 1972 due to the immense stress.
He was persuaded to accept the role of a non-executive director of the club in April 1973 and held that role until becoming manager of Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
from 27 August 1975 to May 1977.
The Shankly rivalry
While the manager of rivals LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
, was an extrovert, Catterick was the opposite; an introvert. He disliked that the press gave information about his team out to the public, even simple details such as the formation. He ensured that the players on the team-sheet were only listed in alphabetical order so that rival managers would not know the line-up.
He also disliked televised games as he wanted to keep Everton's playing style out of the public eye. His rival Shankly was the opposite, welcoming televised matches as he felt it frightened opposing teams.
Catterick once gave an "exclusive" story to a journalist that Everton had missed out on the signing of Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
's Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. He is most famous for his connection to Everton, a club that he both played for and managed. His uncle Harry Taylor played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s....
and that Kendall had in fact opted to sign for Liverpool. The journalist published the story in the newspaper but hours later Kendall had in fact signed for Everton. It is claimed that Catterick had manipulated the media to score points off the field against Shankly.
Death
Catterick died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
shortly after watching Everton draw 2–2 with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in an 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...
Quarter Final at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
on 9 March 1985. He was 65 years old. His death came almost exactly five years after former Everton striker Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
had died while watching a game at the ground, also of a heart attack. Everton won the replay 1–0 and the players wore a black armband in honour of Catterick.
Manager
Sheffield Wednesday- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
: 1958–59
Everton
- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 1962–63, 1969–70 - FA CupFA CupThe 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...
: 1965–661966 FA Cup FinalThe 1966 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 14 May 1966. It was contested by an Everton team that was the first team to reach an FA Cup Final without conceding in the preceding rounds and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.... - Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: 19631963 FA Charity ShieldThe 1963 FA Charity Shield was the 41st FA Charity Shield, an annual football match held between the winners of the previous season's Football League and FA Cup competitions. The match was contested by Everton who had won the 1962–63 Football League, and Manchester United, who had won the 1962–63...
, 19701970 FA Charity ShieldThe 1970 FA Charity Shield was the 49th FA Charity Shield, the annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Football League and FA Cup competitions. It was contested between Everton, the reigning First Division champions, and Chelsea, holders of the FA Cup...
Portrayal
Catterick was portrayed by Colin WellandColin Welland
Colin Welland is a British actor and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his script for Chariots of Fire ,,,....
in the 1997 TV film The Fix
The Fix (TV film)
The Fix is a 1997 television film first shown on BBC One and directed by Paul Greengrass.It tells the story of the British betting scandal of 1964, following which a number of British professional footballers were jailed and banned from football for life for conspiring to fix the results of...
, which featured the events of the 1964 betting scandal.