ARTICLE: Spen Whittaker – 1903 to April 1910

[ClaretTony]

The latest in the Burnley managers

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/spen-whitt ... april-1910

[Aclaret]

A tragic end for our manager, a football manager falling from a train ? You wouldnt think it possible would you.
Notice even back then signings were made for players throughout the country, it must have taken an age to move around with the transport system as it was, shall we say a little slower. Then you also had local signings from such as Oswaldtwistle & Cliviger, different times indeed.

[ClaretTony]

A tragic end for our manager, a football manager falling from a train ? You wouldnt think it possible would you.
Notice even back then signings were made for players throughout the country, it must have taken an age to move around with the transport system as it was, shall we say a little slower. Then you also had local signings from such as Oswaldtwistle & Cliviger, different times indeed.

Although the signing was from Accrington you had to go and register the signing in London. Even in my days of watching football, forms to register new players had to be lodged in person at the Football League which was then in Lytham. Then they started allowing new fancy technology - you could fax it to them.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Another excellent article regarding our Early Managers
Spen Whittaker did not have much success but he did find the young Goalkeeper Jerry Dawson who holds the record number of appearances for the Club.
His tenure coming to an abrupt end when he fell off a train to his death

[Aclaret]

Keep them coming Tony, good to read about our ex managers, all who have played a part in our great history.

[Suratclaret]

Nearly missed this one due to the " forbidden" message!
I had actually heard of this manager but only because of the nature of his untimely death. Will Jerry Dawsons's record ever be surpassed? It must be doubtful. I wonder what the reaction of some on here would be if a player was signed from Oswaldtwistle these days. Of course some would a have seen him play sufficient times to make comments like" not good enough".
The headquarters in Lytham St Anne's was in, I think, Alan Hardaker's time and like CT I can certainly remember players having to be registered there in the days before the fax. Hardaker certainly was around at the time of big changes in professional football with the abolition of the maximum wage and changes to players contracts.