Dave Merrington Retires

[Dum Spiro Spero]

Dave Merrington is retiring as a BBC Radio Solent pundit after Sunday's match. Many on here will remember him from his playing days.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022 ... ry-feature

[evensteadiereddie]

A very useful player and a nice bloke too.

[The Enclosure]

Did he go to Southampton from Burnley?

[Quicknick]

Only 98 league games for Burnley, then he went to Bristol City, where he didn't maske a league appearance. Source: Google.

[beddie]

Now he could tackle. A good player for us back in the 60/70s. There was no mention of his Ministerial duties, just wondered if he’s retired from that.

[evensteadiereddie]

Indeed, he came Edge End to talk about his experience as a footballer and - of more relevance to our RE teacher who invited him- his work as a, I think Methodist lay preacher.
It's hard to imagine a pro footballer being in that position these days.
Imagine the headline..." Footballer comes out as a Methodist."

[Petersa]

Memories of a half back line of Merrington, Waldron and Blant still brings a shudder down my spine. Burnley could definitely be physical in THOSE days! Always liked Dave Merrington.

If memories serve me correct he was a lay preacher in Burnley when he finished playing, he finished early due to dodgy ankles. He combined it with being 2IC to Jimmy Adamson when he was manager of Leeds. Something of a conflict of interests in more ways than one I always thought!

[Suratclaret]

I can’t remember the exact year…late 70s early 80s probably, but he worked for the Probation Service as a community service supervisor and he was very good at dealing with offenders…the attendance rate exceeded by far previous rates. We spent many lunch hours talking football. I don’t think he was a Methodist lay preacher but was involved with a local Pentecostal church.

[Hipper]

I was never too impressed with Merrington the defender.

Doug Collins and Alan West from that era also became involved in church work. Perhaps they felt they must continue working for the Lord after they left Turf Moor.

[Tricky Trevor]

Coached under Jimmy Adamson at both Sunderland and Leeds. In both jobs he took temporary managerial duties after Adamsons’ dismissal.
Managed Saints for one full season and kept them up with two vital late season wins but was still dismissed to be replaced by Souness.
At 77 he’s earned a long healthy retirement.

[ClaretTony]

Did he go to Southampton from Burnley?

Went to Bristol City from Burnley but got an injury before he'd played for them that ended his career. He returned to Burnley as reserve team coach under Adamson and then went to both Sunderland and Leeds with Adamson.

He then went to Southampton to work in the youth department and was there for the rest of his career. Matt Le Tissier speaks very highly of him.

[ClaretTony]

Dave Merrington was one of the answers to a question about Premier League managers that I was asked on Sunday on the way to Spurs. The others in the car were astounded when I got him because they'd never heard of him.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Matt Le Tissier speaks very highly of him.

He’s probably worried about that now.

[the_magic_rat]

Indeed, he came Edge End to talk about his experience as a footballer and - of more relevance to our RE teacher who invited him- his work as a, I think Methodist lay preacher.
It's hard to imagine a pro footballer being in that position these days.
Imagine the headline..." Footballer comes out as a Methodist."

That's correct Eddie. Dave was a Methodist lay preacher. I recall him coming to speak at my local Methodist church when I couldn't have been older than 10.

Dave's off-field persona couldn't have been more different from his on-field image of a hard-as-nails tough-tackling defender. I remember vividly the second leg of the Eintracht Fairs Cup quarter final. My dad had managed to break his foot in a work accident, which as a result was in plaster. He somehow wangled it for me, my mum and him, to sit on a bench in front of the perimeter wall on the old Brunshaw Road stand side. (Could you imagine that nowadays?) The Eintracht great, Juergen Grabowski was away down the right wing and Dave came across to stop him in his tracks with a shuddering challenge right in front of us, which cut him off at thigh height. I can still hear the thud as he took him out! I don't think Dave even got booked.

[lakedistrictclaret]

The day I became a Claret was 4th December 1965, when we drew 1-1 at home to Tottenham.

My memory may well be playing tricks, but I think Frank Saul may have been sent off for smacking Dave Merrington in the face.

[ClaretTony]

The day I became a Claret was 4th December 1965, when we drew 1-1 at home to Tottenham.

My memory may well be playing tricks, but I think Frank Saul may have been sent off for smacking Dave Merrington in the face.

I think your memory is fine lakedistrict

[ClaretTony]

That's correct Eddie. Dave was a Methodist lay preacher. I recall him coming to speak at my local Methodist church when I couldn't have been older than 10.

Dave's off-field persona couldn't have been more different from his on-field image of a hard-as-nails tough-tackling defender. I remember vividly the second leg of the Eintracht Fairs Cup quarter final. My dad had managed to break his foot in a work accident, which as a result was in plaster. He somehow wangled it for me, my mum and him, to sit on a bench in front of the perimeter wall on the old Brunshaw Road stand side. (Could you imagine that nowadays?) The Eintracht great, Juergen Grabowski was away down the right wing and Dave came across to stop him in his tracks with a shuddering challenge right in front of us, which cut him off at thigh height. I can still hear the thud as he took him out! I don't think Dave even got booked.

I knew he was a lay preacher but always thought he went to the church on Colne Road where Joe Brown was a lay preacher. He came to our school too to give a talk and someone asked him how he could go preaching on a Sunday having kicked **** out of someone the day before. He just said that the football was his job.

And he cost us in that aforementioned Fairs Cup tie against Eintracht, he gave both goals away.

[IanMcL]

Much work done for Southampton Youth set up. They made a few quid, as a result!

[Cirrus_Minor]

I went to a Methodist Sunday school in the mid sixties and we were awarded a book prize if you had a good attendance. The prizes were presented usually by Burnley players and once this was Joe Brown and Dave Merrington, Joe I think was a lay preacher and gave a long religious speech, but Dave Merrington was happy to chat with us kids about football. Always had my respect after that, guy.

[warksclaret]

He will no doubt have kept i n touch with one of my favorirte players Brian O Neil who went to play for the Saints