Frank O’Farrell: Victim of United’s early 70s decline?

FRANK O’FARRELL was not only the oldest living West Ham United player until his death on March 6, 2022, he was also the last surviving manager to have Manchester United’s holy trinity of Best, Law and Charlton as part of his team.

Admittedly, those legendary players played just seven times in O’Farrell’s second season at Old Trafford as United imploded in 1972-73, but the former Irish international deserves credit for taking over at a club that was declining by the week.

O’Farrell was widely considered to be a likeable, thoughtful character who learned his trade through the so-called West Ham academy, a group of players who moved into coaching and met-up in a local café to discuss tactics, continental football and innovative methods. This “club” included Malcolm Allison, Jimmy Andrews, Dave Sexton, John Bond and others. O’Farrell had played for the Hammers in the 1950s and also turned out for Preston North End and Weymouth.

His managerial career began with Weymouth and then on to Torquay United, where he attracted the attention of clubs higher up the food chain. It was thought he would take over from Bill McGarry at Ipswich Town, but in December 1968, he was appointed manager of Leicester City, who were struggling near the foot of the first division and had just lost the long-serving Matt Gillies.

Leicester were 20^th in the league and had won just four games. They were just ahead of Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers. By the end of March 1969, they were in a relegation place, although they had games in hand due to their FA Cup run. Leicester’s FA Cup campaign saw them beat Liverpool at Anfield in the fifth round and in the semi-finals, they overcame holders West Bromwich Albion 1-0 at Hillsborough. Leicester faced Manchester City in the final, knowing they could also suffer relegation although they still had five league games to go. They lost 1-0 at Wembley to City, and then set about trying to save their first division life. They beat Spurs and Sunderland, drew with Everton and lost against Ipswich Town. They went into the last game at Manchester United, needing a win to stay up. They lost 3-2, after leading, and finished one point behind Coventry City. This was a very capable Leicester side that included Peter Shilton, David Nish and Allan Clarke.

It took two seasons to get Leicester back to the top flight and this brought O’Farrell to the attention of bigger clubs, including Manchester United. Sir Matt Busby, who had initially retired in 1969, had returned to stabilise a ship that had gone off course, but he was stepping down in 1971. O’Farrell was one of three men seen as likely successors, Ian Greaves of Huddersfield and Brian Clough of Derby were the other leading candidates.

O’Farrell was selected as the right man, although Busby was still trying to persuade Celtic’s Jock Stein to join the club. The relationship didn’t get off to a good start, largely because Busby offered him the job with a salary of £ 12,000 plus bonuses. Louis Edwards, the chairman, saw O’Farrell was not impressed and corrected Busby with an increased salary of £ 15,000. This time he accepted, but he admitted that he never trusted Busby after that incident. It didn’t help that when O’Farrell arrived at Old Trafford, Busby was still occupying the manager’s office. O’Farrell was his own man, though, and announced publicly that “I shall be manager in every sense of the word. From July 16, United are my team.”

He also headed off the potential problem of Busby being just along the corridor. “It has been said the presence of Sir Matt Busby could be a hindrance to a new manager because of his immense prestige. I don’t see it that way.” This could have been interpreted as O’Farrell letting his predecessor know he was going to do it his way.

O’Farrell’s first season, 1971-72, saw United top the table, perhaps surprisingly, but George Best was rapidly becoming a problem, his personal life, drinking, gambling and womanising setting a bad example. United’s autumn deteriorated after being three points clear on New Year’s Day, they lost seven games in a row. Best ended the season threatening to quit the game, Bobby Charlton was showing his age and Denis Law was coming to the end of his time.

O’Farrell bought in new faces to begin a rebuilding programme, which he said would cost a million pounds. Martin Buchan, a young defender from Aberdeen, joined United for £ 135,000. Ian Moore was signed from Nottingham Forest for £ 225,000 in March 1972, but the player, at his peak an excellent striker, was rarely fully fit. Another forward signing, Ted MacDougall, arrived from Bournemouth for £ 200,000 in September 1972. This was a move that didn’t really work out and within six months, United sold him to West Ham. Wyn Davies, the 30 year old former Newcastle forward, joined from Manchester City and spent just six months at Old Trafford.

United went into 1972-73 in some disarray and O’Farrell had to deal with Best seeking solace in Spain, hosting a press conference in the sunshine. United’s players were getting tired of the antics of their star man. Brian Kidd, for example, commented: “There’s one set of rules for George Best and one for us.”

United’s form in 1972-73 was abysmal at times and although Best was persuaded to return, he went missing again in December 1972. For O’Farrell, time was running out and after a 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, he was sacked. Louis Edwards told him, “We’re terminating your contract,” and O’Farrell asked why. “No reason,” replied Edwards. At the same time, United transfer listed Best while Sir Matt Busby, his great mentor, announced: “We’ve finally had enough of George.”

United were relegated at the end of 1973-74 under Tommy Docherty, but they returned with a young, vibrant team. It was O’Farrell’s misfortune to arrive at Old Trafford at a time when the team needed rebuilding and old hands needed rebuilding. And then there was Best.

O’Farrell continued in management and was employed by Cardiff, Iran, Torquay and the UAE club, Al Shaab. Needless to say, his career will always be remembered for his time at Leicester and Manchester United. Things might have been so different if United had disposed of Best far earlier and the likeable Irishman was allowed to build a team in his own image.

Nobby wore glasses and won the World Cup

I’VE SAT next to two members of the 1966 World Cup winning team, and both are no longer with us. I’ve been in the same bar as two others and I saw one of the England legends snip a ribbon to open a social club. To be in the company of players who achieved something genuinely special was a privilege and an honour.

One of those players was Nobby Stiles, one of the unsung heroes of the 1966 team and one of the most notable characters in the England game at the time. Sadly, little Nobby (the same height as me), died on October 30 2020, aged 78 after a period of illness. He died the day before Sean Connery – two 1960s icons passing within hours of each other.

Nobby Stiles was a man for a specific task and that role was to win the ball, stop others from playing and link-up with the more creative players in the 1966 team. Sir Alf Ramsey knew exactly why he selected Nobby, who described himself as a blind dwarf with no front teeth – clearly he was a man who could laugh at himself. I remember him saying he was born during an air raid in a cellar.

Ramsey gave Nobby 28 England caps, a considerable haul. He scored one goal against West Germany in a friendly in 1966. He was the least capped of all the team that won the World Cup final and went on to play just eight more games for his country after that memorable afternoon, making his last appearance on April 25 1970 against Scotland. He was on the plane for Mexico as England sought to retain the Jules Rimet trophy, but never played, although Ramsey knew that if he had selected Stiles, the Manchester United midfielder would not have let him down. Nobby’s job for England, which had lasted five years, had been done and his place effectively went to Tottenham’s Alan Mullery.

At club level, Stiles followed the 1966 World Cup with a league title win in 1967 and a memorable European Cup medal in 1968 where he helped neutralise Benfica’s Eusébio, the player he had marked in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley.

But Nobby was an inspiration to a every young lad who had eyesight problems. Personally, I was heartbroken when I had to wear glasses in January 1970 at the age of 11. How would I play football? My school teacher, who had his own disability in the form of diabetes, consoled me when I told him I was short-sighted. “It’s not the end of the world, son. Look at Nobby Stiles, he wears glasses but he won the World Cup. I’m not saying you will win the World Cup, but it won’t stop you playing football,” said dear old Mr Heath.

Some years later, at a Sportsman’s Dinner in North Hertfordshire, I recounted that story to Nobby, who had just sold me an England cap in an auction (not one of his, I would add). “So you’re as blind as a bat like me?,” he said. “You’ve got more hair than me, though,” he joked.

Stiles was a warm character, self deprecating, appreciative and clearly enjoyed meeting the fans. His success reminded us that a team has many parts and different skill sets, not just in football, but also in life. He may not have been Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks or Bobby Charlton, but nobody has ever forgotten Nobby Stiles.

@GameofthePeople

Photo: PA

Big Jack… shrewd and forthright football man

HE WOULD be the first to admit that he was not the most sophisticated player or that he never expected to win the honours that came his way, but Jack Charlton was every bit a “football man”, from his club career at Leeds to his time as a manager that gave Ireland its finest moments in the international game.

Jack wasn’t just Bobby’s older brother, the fact he played a key role in Leeds United’s glory years and also won the World Cup tells you that managers identified the value the lanky centre half brought to a team. Uncompromising, perhaps, a little tactless at times, but nobody could accuse Jackie Charlton of being “establishment” or out of a box, he was a unique figure. And there was the legendary “black book”, packed with details of those that had upset Jack in his career.

Alf Ramsey saw Jack as the perfect foil for the more skilful Bobby Moore on the pitch when they turned out for England, but he formed a fearsome partnership with the equally tough Norman Hunter in Leeds’ defence.

He was a character who spoke his mind, hence the TV panels loved his blunt, to the point views on the game. He also liked blokey activities like shooting and fishing and enjoyed a cigarette during and after training. He provided, in many ways, one of the bridges between the austere 1950s and the super soaraway 1970s, coming from an era of chunky boots, laced balls and brylcreem and ending his career alongside teams of playboys in football shirts.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland in May 1935, Jack and Bobby were the nephews of legendary Newcastle United centre forward Jackie Milburn. Their mother, Cissie, was very influential in nurturing their love of football. Jack made his debut for Leeds United in 1953 and for years, there was no hint of what was to follow. Don Revie, when he took over at Elland Road, wasn’t over-keen on Jack or his style. He became something of a thorn in Revie’s side for he was not an easy player to manage and his personal frustration that his kid brother was enjoying great success at Manchester United gnawed away at him. In fact, in 1962, he told Jack that he was prepared to let him leave the club and both Liverpool and Manchester United expressed an interest. Neither was prepared to pay the asking price, so Jack stayed on and was pivotal in Leeds United’s rise.

Revie used Jack’s intimidating presence as a tactic to unsettle opponents, particularly at corners where he would stand in front of the goalkeeper, earning the nickname “the dirty giraffe” from opposition fans. But it was an effective ploy and even England used it, notably in 1969-70 when Jack scored the winning goal against Portugal at Wembley, with commentator David Coleman just calling “Jack!” as the ball was headed in from point blank range.

His England career didn’t begin until he was almost 30, debuting against Scotland in April 1965. Alf Ramsey liked the way he slotted in and although there were centre halves with more finesse, big Jack suited the system better than other possibles. When England won the World Cup, Jack was genuinely surprised at how modest the medal was: “It was given to me a tiny cardboard box – the World Cup – it seemed really odd,” he later recalled.

At Leeds, Jack won almost everything there was to win, although he also picked-up plenty of runners-up prizes, too. He finally retired in 1973, immediately taking up a position as Middlesbrough’s manager and winning promotion in his first season and was named “Manager of the Year”.

Jack’s pragmatism and openness prompted people to believe he would have a successful post-playing career. “He will be settled and know where he’s going very quickly. He’s his own man,” said one leading journalist at the time.

While he managed to squeeze a lot out of Middlesbrough’s limited resources, taking the club to the upper reaches of the top division, he also had a six-year spell with Sheffield Wednesday. However, he will be best remembered for his time as manager of the Republic of Ireland. Jack took them to two World Cups and the 1988 European Championship where they beat England 1-0. The Irish side, which resembled a Football League team with a rigid 4-4-2 formation, became media darlings, with their all-grinning coach and squad built around players with – sometimes a little tenuous – Irish heritage. Jack was granted the Freedom of Dublin for his efforts in 1994 and became known as an honorary Irishman. There is a statue of him in Cork Airport, in typical fishing attire and holding a salmon. In 2012, he was also given the Freedom of the City of Leeds.

Jack disappeared from view for some years and had struggled with illness. In an age when football folk offer little more than anodyne, “safety-first” comments, the views of people like the Leeds and England legend (and this is an appropriate term) are greatly missed. Jack’s physique, and his opinions, demonstrated that here was a man never afraid to stick his neck out. RIP big man.

@GameofthePeople

Photo: PA