ARTICLE: We did it the Harry Potts way

[ClaretTony]

When I wrote about Colin McDonald back in October on the occasion of his 90th birthday, I said it was the launch of a feature called Ex-Clarets that would be added to periodially.

Today was always going to be the second of them. It is 25 years ago today that Harry Potts passed away and I thought this was the appropriate time to publish it.

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/we-did-it- ... -potts-way

[Conroysleftfoot]

Good article Tony.

[ClaretTony]

Good article Tony.

Thanks. In some ways it was easy to write but in other ways difficult because I thought the world of him.

Hard to believe it is 25 years ago.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I think you alluded to it in the article, but according to my dad, Harry could get fouled on the centre spot and land in the penalty area.

Thanks, a nice write up for a true gentleman.

[ClaretTony]

I think you alluded to it in the article, but according to my dad, Harry could get fouled on the centre spot and land in the penalty area.

Thanks, a nice write up for a true gentleman.

Exactly what my dad used to say - I actually used those words initially and then took them out.

A friend of mine once met his sister-in-law who didn't really go to football but on one occasion went with Margaret, Harry's wife. Harry went down injured and sister-in-law was concerned and asked Margaret what would happen next. She said he'll probably get up and get a penalty.

[Venkys4eva]

Good read, he was way before my time but he sounded like a true gent.

[Sozturf7]

Didn't know the man but what wonderful football his teams played.

[Cajun]

Good read Tony. Always had huge respect for Harry, as did my dad who met him on a couple occasions. He even took the trouble to send me a handwritten reply after I wrote to him in 1970 when he had been relieved of the manager's position, last para pic below.

[ClaretTony]

Good read Tony. Always had huge respect for Harry, as did my dad who met him on a couple occasions. He even took the trouble to send me a handwritten reply after I wrote to him in 1970 when he had been relieved of the manager's position, last para pic below.

And definitely written by Harry - very much his handwriting. I bet you treasure that.

[onewillieirvine]

What I hadn't really appreciated was how young he was, when taking the managers job. He was only 39/40 in the title winning campaign. A true legend.

[ClaretTony]

What I hadn't really appreciated was how young he was, when taking the managers job. He was only 39/40 in the title winning campaign. A true legend.

Just 39 when we won the league. He’d only been retired from playing 18 months when he got the Burnley job.

[onewillieirvine]

Thanks CT. I have usually associated managers of that era as being a lot older somehow.

[ClaretTony]

Thanks CT. I have usually associated managers of that era as being a lot older somehow.

Just looking at the table that season and on the date of our last game, these were the ages of the managers. Incredibly only Matt Busby, Cliff Britton and Dally Duncan had reached 50 alongside Billy Walker who was 62, while all of Charlie Mitten, Bedford Jezzard, Ron Suart, Matt Gillies and Syd Owen were younger than Harry Potts.

1. Burnley - Harry Potts 39
2. Wolves - Stan Cullis 43
3. Tottenham - Bill Nicholson 41
4. West Brom - Gordon Clark 45
5. Sheffield Wednesday - Harry Catterick 40
6. Bolton - Bill Ridding 49
7. Manchester United - Matt Busby 50
8. Newcastle - Charlie Mitten 39
9. Preston - Cliff Britton 50
10. Fulham - Bedford Jezzard 32
11. Blackpool - Ron Suart 39
12. Leicester - Matt Gillies 38
13. Arsenal - George Swindin 45
14. West Ham - Ted Fenton 45
15. Everton - Johnny Carey 40
16. Manchester City - Les McDowell 47
17. Blackburn - Dally Duncan 50
18. Chelsea - Ted Drake 47
19. Birmingham - Pat Beasley 46
20. Nottingham Forest - Billy Walker 62
21. Leeds - Jack Taylor 46
22. Luton - Syd Owen 37