Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE (9 August 1914 – 9 August 1990) was an English football player and manager.

Playing career[link]

Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack during the Great War, while his son was only 12.^[1] In later life, after his footballing career was over, Joe Mercer junior became a regular attendee at Tranmere Rovers due to his father's involvement.

Joe Mercer, a left-half, first played for Ellesmere Port Town. He was a powerful tackler and good at anticipating an opponent's moves. He joined Everton in September 1932 at the age of 18 and claimed a regular first team place in the 1935–36 season. Mercer made 186 appearances for Everton, scoring two goals and a winning a League Championship medal in the 1938–39 season. While playing for Everton he gained five England caps between 1938 and 1939.

Like many players of his generation, Mercer lost out on seven seasons of football due to the Second World War. He became a sergeant-major and played in 26 wartime internationals, many of them as captain. The Everton manager Theo Kelly accused Mercer of not trying in an international against Scotland, but in reality Mercer had sustained a severe cartilage injury. Even after consulting an orthopaedic specialist, the Everton management refused to believe him and Mercer had to pay for the surgery himself. During the war Mercer guested for Chester, making his debut in a 4–1 win over Halifax Town in September 1942.^[2]

Mercer moved in late 1946 for £9,000 (2010: £277,000) to Arsenal, commuting from Liverpool; Theo Kelly brought Mercer's boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back to say goodbye to the other players at Everton.^[3] He made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers on 30 November 1946 and soon after joining Arsenal, Mercer became club captain. As captain, he led Arsenal through their period of success in the late 1940s and early 1950s, helping to haul his side from the lower end of the table to win a League Championship title in 1947–48.

Mercer went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal in 1950 and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year the same year. He led Arsenal to Cup final in 1952, which they lost 1–0 to Newcastle United, but the following year bounced back to win his third League title with Arsenal winning the 1952–53 League Championship on goal average. Mercer initially decided to retire in May 1953, but soon recanted and returned to Arsenal for the 1953–54 season. However, he broke his leg in two places after a collision with team-mate Joe Wade in a match against Liverpool on 10 April 1954, and finally called time on his footballing career the year after. Mercer played 275 times for Arsenal in all, scoring two goals.

Managerial career[link]

After his playing career ended Mercer spent a little over a year working as a journalist and a grocer. His wife's family had encouraged him to become involved in grocery during his time at Everton and, while still Arsenal's captain, he ran his grocery business from 105–107 Brighton Street, Wallasey.^[4] He became known as the Footballing Grocer in football annuals of the late forties and fifties.

On 18 August 1955, he returned to football, becoming manager of Sheffield United two days before their first game of the season against Newcastle United. Mercer was appointed to replace manager Reg Freeman who had died during the close season. As a manager he began inauspiciously and his first season ended in relegation; despite Mercer buying Derek Pace, who would go on to become a hero at Sheffield United, from Aston Villa for £12,000 on 26 December 1957.

The rest of his time as manager was spent in the Second Division and in December 1958, wanting to move to a bigger club, he resigned and moved to Aston Villa who were bottom of the First Division. Although he led them to the FA Cup semi-finals he was relegated to Division Two for a second time. He moulded a talented young side at Villa and his team became known as the 'Mercer Minors'. He led Villa to victory in the inaugural League Cup in 1961 but suffered a stroke in 1964, and was then sacked by the Aston Villa board upon his recovery.^[5]

Despite this his health improved and he went on to enjoy great success as a manager with Manchester City between 1965 and 1971. In his first season at Maine Road, the club won the 1966 Second Division title to regain top-flight status. Two seasons later Mercer led Manchester City to the 1968 First Division championship, and went on to win the FA Cup (1969), League Cup (1970), and European Cup Winners' Cup (1970).

In 1970–71 Mercer had a dispute with his assistant Malcolm Allison, after the two men became embroiled in Manchester City's takeover battle. Mercer supported the existing Board, led by the respected Albert Alexander, while Allison supported the rival group after being promised that he would be manager in his own right.^[6]

The takeover succeeded, and Mercer was shocked to discover that his car parking space and office were removed. This led to Mercer's departure to become manager of Coventry City, whom he managed from 1972 to 1974. During the same time Mercer was also caretaker manager of the England national football team for a brief period in 1974 after Sir Alf Ramsey's resignation. He was in charge for seven matches, during which time England won the 1974 British Home Championship title (shared with Scotland); in total Mercer was in charge for seven games — winning three, drawing three and losing one.

Later life[link]

He was the first football figure to be selected as a special guest on the television guest show This Is Your Life, appearing for the edition aired on 25 March 1970.^[7]

After quitting as Coventry City boss, he served as a director of the club from 1975 to his retirement in 1981. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to football in 1976. He suffered with Alzheimer's Disease in later life and died, sitting in his favourite armchair, on his 76th birthday in 1990.^[8]He was survived by his widow Norah, who is now in her nineties. Norah remains a keen football follower, and still attends to Manchester City matches to support City.^[9]

He is commemorated by his old club Manchester City with the road Joe Mercer Way at the City of Manchester Stadium being named after him. On the road there are two mosaics by renowned Manchester artist Mark Kennedy of Mercer; one shows his smiling face lifting the League Championship trophy; the other is a version of a famous photograph showing the back of him as he looks out over the Maine Road pitch towards the Kippax Stand.^[10]

At Maine Road a corporate suite, The Joe Mercer Suite, was officially opened by his widow Norah in 1993. A similar facility named after him exists at Goodison. In 1993 Mercer's official biography, Football With A Smile, was written by Gary James. This book sold out within six months and was revised and re-published early in 2010.^[11]

Honours[link]

As a player[link]

Everton

• First Division Title winner: 1938–1939
• FA Charity Shield winner: 1932
• FA Cup winner: 1933
• FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1933

Arsenal

• First Division Title winner: 1947–48, 1952–53
• FA Charity Shield winner: 1948, 1953
• FA Cup winner: 1950
• FA Cup runner-up: 1952

As a manager[link]

Aston Villa

• Second Division Title winner: 1959–60
• Football League Cup winner: 1960–61

Manchester City

• Second Division Title winner: 1965–66
• First Division Title winner: 1967–68
• FA Charity Shield winner: 1968
• FA Cup winner: 1969
• FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1969
• Football League Cup winner: 1969–70
• European Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1970

England

• British Home Championship Title winner: 1974* (*Shared)

Hall of Fame[link]

• Mercer was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in the National Football Museum in Preston on 4 July 2009. He was inducted for his managerial success.

^[12]

Managerial statistics[link]

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %
Sheffield United		August 1955	December 1958	156	64	35	57	41.0
Aston Villa		December 1958	July 1964	282	120	63	99	42.6
Manchester City		July 1965	June 1971	292	124	82	86	42.5
Coventry City		June 1972	May 1974	90	29	22	39	32.2
England		1974	1974	7	3	3	1	42.9

References[link]

• Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4. 

External links[link]

• Joe Mercer career stats at Soccerbase
• Joe Mercer management career stats at Soccerbase

Malcolm Alexander Allison^[1] (5 September 1927 – 14 October 2010) was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.

Allison's managerial potential become apparent while in his youth at West Ham United, where he became a reliable defender and acted as a mentor to the younger players including future England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore. His playing career was cut short in 1958 when he had to have a lung removed because of tuberculosis.

As a coach he is remembered for assisting manager Joe Mercer in the transformation of the team he supported as a young boy - Manchester City.^[1] And during the 1960s and early 70s, he won seven trophies in seven years with Joe Mercer.^[1] After Mercer left, he went on to manage the club on two occasions whilst offering his managerial services for a third time in 1989. He went on to manage several more English sides, as well as three in Portugal and the Kuwait national team.

Early life[link]

Son of an electrical engineer, Allison was born in Dartford in September 1927.^[3] Allison was educated at state schools rather than grammar school after deliberately failing the entry exam so he could play football, not rugby.^[3]

Playing career[link]

He started his career with Charlton Athletic, however he struggled to make a difference on the pitch, playing just twice in 6 years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods - which was normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing, were outdated.^[3]

Allison joined West Ham United in February 1951, after seven seasons at Charlton Athletic. Here he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and often stayed behind after training with anyone interested in football to discuss and devise new tactics.^[4]

A promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of tuberculosis as he fell ill after a game against Sheffield United on 16 September 1957 and had a lung removed in hospital. This turned out to be his last senior game for West Ham, and although he battled on in their reserve team he struggled with the inability to achieve full fitness. For a period he left football altogether, and worked first as a car salesman, then as a professional gambler and nightclub owner.^[5] He came back to football to play a final season for non-league Romford in 1963.

Management career[link]

Allison's first taste of coaching was at West Ham, where – under Ted Fenton – he took charge of coaching sessions and acted as mentor to a young Bobby Moore and was a leading figure in the establishment of the academy principles at the club.^[6] After gaining further experience of coaching at Cambridge University, Allison moved into management at non-league Bath City. He replaced the veteran Bob Hewson, who had retired.^[7] One of his first moves was to double the number of training sessions. The players, who held full-time jobs outside football, were required to train four times every week.^[8] Allison's first season as a manager was a moderate success; he led the club to a third-place finish in the league, and to a third round F.A.Cup tie with First Division Bolton Wanderers. City were leading 1–0 at Twerton Park until a late equaliser from the penalty spot. They lost the replay 3–0.

At the end of the English season Allison accepted an offer to coach in North America over the summer, with Toronto City.^[8] After a matter of weeks he was back in England. His success at Bath had alerted a number of Football League clubs, and in May 1964 he joined Plymouth Argyle, where he had been offered a £3,000 per annum salary. He soon returned to Bath to sign full-back Tony Book. However, Allison knew the Argyle board would be reluctant to permit the purchase of a player with no League experience, who was approaching his thirtieth birthday. Allison encouraged Book to doctor his birth certificate, making him appear two years younger.^[9]

Manchester City[link]

Joe Mercer was named Manchester City manager in July 1965. As ill health had hindered him in his previous job as manager of Aston Villa, Mercer sought a younger, energetic man to be his assistant. He offered the position to Allison, who he knew from coaching courses at Lilleshall.^[10] Allison was due to meet Raich Carter to discuss a position at Middlesbrough, but Mercer was able to arrange a meeting the day before, and persuaded Allison to accept his offer.^[11]

The Mercer-Allison era is believed to be strongest in Manchester City's history – they were surprise winners of the First Division in 1967–68 against the odds, some at long 200-1 for City to win the league at the start of the season.^[12] The following season they 1969 FA Cup, the 1970 League Cup and Cup Winners' Cup, with a team including Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee. Allison turned down an offer to manage Juventus on the understanding that Mercer would move aside and let him become full-time Manchester City manager – however, Mercer steadfastly refused to stand down. Their relationship disintegrated and eventually Allison won the power struggle – Mercer was sidelined and quit to take over at Coventry City in the summer of 1972. Allison was left in sole charge at City, but the team struggled, the fans became hostile, and in March 1973 he resigned.

Crystal Palace[link]

Allison was certainly one of the most flamboyant characters in Crystal Palace's history and his time at Selhurst Park was a rollercoaster ride for Palace supporters.

On 31 March 1973 Malcolm was appointed Palace manager after previously holding the role at Bath City, Plymouth Argyle and Manchester City where he helped the club to top domestic honours along with Joe Mercer. Despite his arrival the Eagles were relegated, losing five out of their last seven games.

Allison immediately instigated a huge stylistic shift both on and off the field, raising Palace's profile with his charismatic media appearances, rebranding the club’s rather homely nickname ‘The Glaziers’ as ‘The Eagles’, and ending the club’s 68-year association with claret-and-blue kits.^[13] Palace’s highly recognisable red-and-blue striped home kit was introduced, and later, the all-white strip with red and blue sash, changes which still reflect in the character of the club today.

The following season, 1974, was even more disastrous because of a second successive relegation.^[13] Allison completely restructured the side in an attempt to halt the club's decline and he angered many fans with his decision to replace favourite John Jackson in the Palace goal. Allison's larger than life image was a mixed blessing in Division Three for it raised hopes and aspirations of supporters while also serving to motivate other clubs when they visited SE25. Palace defender Jim Cannon said: "Malcolm Allison put Palace on the map. No other man could single-handedly take a club from the First Division to the Third Division and still become an instant hero".

However 1975–76 was the most successful season for Allison at Selhurst Park as he spurred his side on to an FA Cup semi-final appearance.^[13] Brilliant victories against higher league opposition in the shape of Leeds United, Chelsea and Sunderland led to the club's first FA Cup semi-final appearance but unfortunately eventual winners Southampton proved too strong in the match which was played at Stamford Bridge. The cup run was also notable for the first appearance of Allison's trademark fedora hat during a third round game at Scarborough and his use of the sweeper system in football which, at the time, was a relatively new idea.^[13]

With the team failing to reach Wembley and win promotion (despite building up a big lead in the league table in the early part of the season) Allison resigned in May 1976.^[13] He returned to the club in 1980–81 for a two-month period in a doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight.

Return to Manchester City[link]

In 1979, Allison was offered the chance to return to Manchester City by then-chairman Peter Swales. City's only success since Allison left in 1972 was League Cup victory in 1976 although the club had been doing reasonably well under long-term manager Tony Book, finishing 2nd in the league in 1976 and runners-up in the League Cup in 1974.

Allison was given a sizeable war chest to build his team - this time without Joe Mercer. Allison controversially sold crowd favourites such as Peter Barnes and Gary Owen and replaced them with players such as Michael Robinson and Steve Daley - who became the British transfer record for £1,450,000m.

Daley turned out to be a flop, and Allison always claimed that he had agreed a much lower fee with the then Wolves manager for Daley. Allison later claimed Swales intervened on a chairman to chairman basis and secured the transfer instantly but at a much higher, possibly rip-off price.^[14] Allison later admitted on his first meeting with chairman Swales: ""I looked at him, saw the comb-over, the England blazer and the suede shoes and thought 'this isn't going to work".^[15] Indeed it didn't and Allison left a year later in 1980 with City struggling in the league, nor did Allison do himself any favours by getting involved in a verbal scrap with his successor and fellow maverick manager, John Bond.

Overseas[link]

Allison also managed overseas, in Turkey with Galatasaray (1976–1977), and in Portugal with Sporting. With the Lisbon club he won the league championship and the Portuguese Cup in 1981-1982. That would be the only Championship title won by Sporting until the 1999–2000 season, which meant that Allison is fondly remembered by Sporting fans.^[16]

Personality[link]

Allison was remembered as one of the most exuberant characters in football and^[17] some believed his character made him "ahead of his time".^[12] His reputation as an unpredictable character was certainly well known by his assistant at Manchester City Joe Mercer. When Mercer was stopped by police in his car for erratic driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving a club function at Maine Road, upon winding down his window Mercer quipped to the police officer: "OK chaps, what's Malcolm done now?"^[15]

Whilst at City Allison enjoyed winding up rivals, Manchester United. At a reception, he called Matt Busby "Matt Baby"^[15] and when City beat United 4-1 in January 1970 he walked over to the Stretford End and held four fingers aloft to signify the margin of City's victory.^[15] Allison later revealed he had hired a steeplejack to lower the flag on top of Old Trafford's main stand to half-mast.^[18]

Controversies[link]

Allison's outspoken nature and womanising were of great interest to the tabloids and it was reputed that Allison had relationships with Christine Keeler of the Profumo scandal, singer Dorothy Squires and two Miss UKs.^[19] And in 1976, Allison received a Football Association disrepute charge after a News of the World photograph appeared showing him in the Crystal Palace players' bath with porn star Fiona Richmond whom he had invited to a training session.^[20] Then Crystal Palace player, Terry Venables later said of the incident, "I was in the bath with all the players and we heard the whisper that she was coming down the corridor." So far, so good. "We all leapt out and hid, because we knew there'd be photos and that wouldn't go down too well. Malcolm and Fiona dropped everything and got in the bath."^[21]

After football[link]

In 2001 it was revealed by his son that Allison was suffering from alcoholism.^[22] In 2009 it was reported that Allison was suffering from dementia.^[23]

In January 2007 Crystal Palace fans organised a tribute to Allison, which they named 'Fedora Day'. Fans set up a campaign on www.cpfc.org, an unofficial forum dedicated to the club, to mark the 31st anniversary of the famous FA Cup run which Allison masterminded. The date chosen was that of the game against Preston North End in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on 27 January 2007. Fans sporting Allison's favoured Fedoras smoked cigars and drank champagne while cheering on their side. This generated major national press coverage. Crystal Palace – managed by Peter Taylor, a star of the 1976 side – were unable to match their predecessors and were knocked out of the cup 2–0.

Allison died in a nursing home on 14 October 2010 at the age of 83.^[24] He had six children.^[24] His funeral took place on 27 October and the cortege passed the City of Manchester Stadium on its way to a service at the Southern Cemetery. Around 300 people had gathered to pay their respects and a round of applause from the assembled crowd greeted the arrival of the cars. A sky-blue Manchester City scarf was draped over his coffin and next to it was an ice bucket containing a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne.^[25]

Legacy[link]

Allison was known as a great innovator in revolutionising training methods in English football.^[26]

Quotes[link]

• "A lot of hard work went into this defeat."^[27]
• "You're not a real manager unless you've been sacked."^[27]
• "John Bond has blackened my name with his insinuations about the private lives of football managers. Both my wives are upset." - Allison on his successor at Manchester City in 1980^[27]
• "A lot of people in football don't have much time for the press; they say they're amateurs."^[27]
• "I think I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world because I had a job I loved doing."^[28]
• "We'll terrify the cowards of Europe" - Allison following Manchester City's European Cup qualification in 1968. They were knocked out in the first round by Fenerbahce.^[29]

Record[link]

Honour(s) as player[link]

West Ham United

• Football League Second Division
  • Winner (1): 1957–58

Honour as coach[link]

Manchester City – 1965–1973 and 1979–1980

• Football League First Division (first tier)
  • Winner (1): 1967–68
• Football League Second Division (second tier)
  • Winner (1): 1965–66
• FA Cup
  • Winner (1): 1969
• League Cup
  • Winner (1): 1970
• Charity Shield
  • Winner (2): 1968, 1972
  • Runner-up (2): 1969, 1973
• European Cup Winners Cup
  • Winner (1): 1970

Sporting Clube de Portugal – 1981–1982

• Portuguese Liga (first tier)
  • Winner: 1981–82
• Cup of Portugal
  • Winner: 1981–82
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  • Winner: 1981–82

Managerial record[link]

• Competitive games only^[30]

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Plymouth		1 May 1964	30 April 1965	&1000000000000004200000042	&1000000000000001600000016	&100000000000000080000008	&1000000000000001800000018	&1000000000000003810000038.10
Manchester City		12 June 1972	30 March 1973	&1000000000000004300000043	&1000000000000001400000014	&1000000000000001200000012	&1000000000000001700000017	&1000000000000003256000032.56
Crystal Palace		30 March 1973	19 May 1976	&10000000000000146000000146	&1000000000000005200000052	&1000000000000004500000045	&1000000000000004900000049	&1000000000000003561999935.62
Plymouth		16 March 1978	5 January 1979	&1000000000000003400000034	&1000000000000001200000012	&1000000000000001200000012	&1000000000000001000000010	&1000000000000003528999935.29
Manchester City		16 July 1979	1 October 1980	&1000000000000005000000050	&1000000000000001200000012	&1000000000000001700000017	&1000000000000002100000021	&1000000000000002400000024.00
Crystal Palace		1 December 1980	1 February 1981	&100000000000000090000009	&100000000000000010000001	&100000000000000030000003	&100000000000000050000005	&1000000000000001110999911.11
Yeovil Town		1 February 1981	14 February 1981	&100000000000000040000004	&100000000000000000000000	&100000000000000010000001	&100000000000000030000003	&0&100000000000000000000000.00
Sporting Lisbon		1981	1982	&1000000000000003900000039	&1000000000000002800000028	&100000000000000080000008	&100000000000000030000003	&1000000000000007179000071.79
Middlesbrough		23 October 1982	28 March 1984	&1000000000000007000000070	&1000000000000002100000021	&1000000000000002300000023	&1000000000000002600000026	&1000000000000003000000030.00
Bristol Rovers		1 August 1992	1 March 1993	&1000000000000003600000036	&100000000000000080000008	&100000000000000080000008	&1000000000000002000000020	&1000000000000002221999922.22
Total				&10000000000000434000000434	&10000000000000136000000136	&10000000000000129000000129	&10000000000000169000000169	&1000000000000003133999931.34