Sam Ellis
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English
football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.
final against , in which his team lost 3–2.http://footballfocus.xsmnet.com/facup/lineups/teams1966.htm. He then moved on to play for , , and . It was at Vicarage Road
that he became coach and assistant manager to future England
boss Graham Taylor. With Ellis' help, Watford climbed the divisions before turning down a new contract in favour of trying his hand at management. When the job was advertised, Ellis applied and was given the job on 1 June 1982.
Ellis was manager at the seaside for seven years, from 1982 to 1989, with no prior managerial experience under his belt, but the new board at Bloomfield Road
were confident in his ability. Despite finishing in the bottom four of the Fourth Division
in his first season, thus forcing the club to apply for re-election to the Football League, Ellis managed to turn the side around and gain promotion two years later with only limited funds handed to him. Although he kept the Tangerines in the Third Division
, they were unable to make further progress and Ellis' contract was terminated on 28 March 1989, with relegation looking a possibility.
Ellis then had a brief spell as manager of before moving to as Peter Reid
's assistant manager. In 1994 he was appointed manager of before returning to Gigg Lane
as Stan Ternent
's assistant the following year. When Ternent moved to in 1998, Ellis followed him. After six years at Turf Moor
, Ellis became assistant manager to Kevin Blackwell
at . Ellis later worked with Blackwell at (after a spell at ) and, .http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7238885.stm
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 coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.
Career
In his younger days, Ellis played as a centre-half for in the 1960s. As a teenager he made his debut in the 1966 FA CupFA 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...
final against , in which his team lost 3–2.http://footballfocus.xsmnet.com/facup/lineups/teams1966.htm. He then moved on to play for , , and . It was at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
that he became coach and assistant manager to future 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...
boss Graham Taylor. With Ellis' help, Watford climbed the divisions before turning down a new contract in favour of trying his hand at management. When the job was advertised, Ellis applied and was given the job on 1 June 1982.
Ellis was manager at the seaside for seven years, from 1982 to 1989, with no prior managerial experience under his belt, but the new board at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
were confident in his ability. Despite finishing in the bottom four of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
in his first season, thus forcing the club to apply for re-election to the Football League, Ellis managed to turn the side around and gain promotion two years later with only limited funds handed to him. Although he kept the Tangerines in the Third Division
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...
, they were unable to make further progress and Ellis' contract was terminated on 28 March 1989, with relegation looking a possibility.
Ellis then had a brief spell as manager of before moving to as Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
's assistant manager. In 1994 he was appointed manager of before returning to Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
as Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
's assistant the following year. When Ternent moved to in 1998, Ellis followed him. After six years at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
, Ellis became assistant manager to Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
at . Ellis later worked with Blackwell at (after a spell at ) and, .http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7238885.stm
Personal life
On October 31, 2001, Ellis' 28-year-old son, Timothy, was killed in a car accident.http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2001/10/31/650880.html Ellis' other son, Steven, is a professional rugby player.http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2001/11/3/650310.htmlAs a manager
Blackpool- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
promotion: 1984–851984-85 in English footballThe 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...