Tommy Eggleston
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Eggleston (21 February 1920 – 14 January 2004) was an English
footballer
and manager
.
His first club was Derby County, whom he joined in 1936, and 10 years later he played a part in helping the Rams to their first, and so far only, FA Cup success.
Although wing-half Tommy was involved in the earlier rounds, he did not play in the final itself, a 4-1 extra-time victory over Charlton Athletic. That same year he moved on to Leicester and in February 1948 was transferred to Watford, for whom he went on to make 177 appearances and score six goals in the Football League. After leaving the club, he became a trainer at Brentford
.
When his playing career ended Tommy turned to coaching and was with Sheffield Wednesday before joining ex-Hillsborough boss Harry Catterick
at Everton, as well as a brief spell under the management of Neil McBain
at Watford.
Tommy was appointed manager of Mansfield Town in July 1967
After three years with the Stags he was tempted by a £10,000-a-week offer to take charge of Greek club Ethnikos Asteras F.C.
.
Upon his return to England he rejoined Everton.
In December 1973 he was appointed manager of Home Farm F.C.
. This was a sort of homecoming for the Eggleston as his wife Frances was from Rathmines
. However after only three months he left the League of Ireland
and then turned to physiotherapy. He was with Plymouth Argyle for two and a half years before replacing Brian Simpson at Ipswich Town.
In his first season he was back at Wembley as Town triumphed in the FA Cup final, Tommy's big moment coming when he tended to goal hero Roger Osborne
as he was overcome with emotion and exhaustion after firing past Pat Jennings
.
Town's route to Wembley required them to visit Bristol Rovers in the fifth round and on the morning of the game Tommy was enjoying a stroll, something he did every match day.
He came across a man who had collapsed in the street, having apparently suffered a heart attack, and Tommy quickly administered the kiss of life.
He formed a close working relationship with Catterick and the pair's combined efforts helped Everton to the League Championship in 1963 and the FA Cup three years later.
Ironically, Catterick collapsed and died after the FA Cup quarter-final at between Everton and Ipswich at Goodison Park in March 1985, when Tommy was present.
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
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...
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:...
.
Career
Tommy became a coach and manager, as well as physio, after a playing career interrupted by the Second World War and then ended prematurely by injury. He was also a qualified chiropodist.His first club was Derby County, whom he joined in 1936, and 10 years later he played a part in helping the Rams to their first, and so far only, FA Cup success.
Although wing-half Tommy was involved in the earlier rounds, he did not play in the final itself, a 4-1 extra-time victory over Charlton Athletic. That same year he moved on to Leicester and in February 1948 was transferred to Watford, for whom he went on to make 177 appearances and score six goals in the Football League. After leaving the club, he became a trainer at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.
When his playing career ended Tommy turned to coaching and was with Sheffield Wednesday before joining ex-Hillsborough boss Harry Catterick
Harry Catterick
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...
at Everton, as well as a brief spell under the management of Neil McBain
Neil McBain
Neil McBain was a Scottish professional footballer and football manager. He remains the oldest player to appear in an English Football League match.-Playing career:...
at Watford.
Tommy was appointed manager of Mansfield Town in July 1967
After three years with the Stags he was tempted by a £10,000-a-week offer to take charge of Greek club Ethnikos Asteras F.C.
Ethnikos Asteras F.C.
Ethnikos Asteras F.C. , the National Star, is a professional football club based in Kaisariani, Athens, Greece, currently competing in Beta Ethniki, the Greek second division....
.
Upon his return to England he rejoined Everton.
In December 1973 he was appointed manager of Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
. This was a sort of homecoming for the Eggleston as his wife Frances was from Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
. However after only three months he left the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
and then turned to physiotherapy. He was with Plymouth Argyle for two and a half years before replacing Brian Simpson at Ipswich Town.
In his first season he was back at Wembley as Town triumphed in the FA Cup final, Tommy's big moment coming when he tended to goal hero Roger Osborne
Roger Osborne
Roger Charles Osborne is a former professional footballer who is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 1978 FA Cup Final.-Biography:...
as he was overcome with emotion and exhaustion after firing past Pat Jennings
Pat Jennings
Patrick Anthony "Pat" Jennings OBE is a Northern Ireland former football player. He played 119 games for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper, a figure which at the time was a world record and is still a Northern Ireland record, in an international career which lasted for over 22 years...
.
Town's route to Wembley required them to visit Bristol Rovers in the fifth round and on the morning of the game Tommy was enjoying a stroll, something he did every match day.
He came across a man who had collapsed in the street, having apparently suffered a heart attack, and Tommy quickly administered the kiss of life.
He formed a close working relationship with Catterick and the pair's combined efforts helped Everton to the League Championship in 1963 and the FA Cup three years later.
Ironically, Catterick collapsed and died after the FA Cup quarter-final at between Everton and Ipswich at Goodison Park in March 1985, when Tommy was present.
Managerial stats
- As of 22 September 2007.
Team Nat From To Record G W L D Win % Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C.Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
1 July 1967 1 July 1970 138 49 54 45 35.50 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... 12 April 1973 28 May 1973 5 1 2 2 35.50