 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
(c) 2007 Clarets Museum Copyright
Harry Potts was not only a great goal scorer for Burnley, but
also their most successful manager in post war football. With
the aid of the nucleus of a good football team ad the guidance
of Bob Lord, Harry Potts help build and maintain Burnley's
Golden Era.
Harry Potts was brought up in Hetton, the same small village as
another famous football manager Bob Paisley, and both were to go
on to be extremely successful in the sport of football.
He was 16 years old when he joined Burnley in 1937, and a year
later he signed a professional contract with the club, by his 18th
birthday he was being touted as a future Burnley first team player, but
with the outbreak of the Second World War, his first team debut
would have to wait.
During the war he played for Fulham, Bury and Sunderland, as well
as being stationed in India as a Physical Training Instructor with the
British Army. At the end of the war he returned to Burnley and started
for the first team on the 31st August 1946, at the recommencement
of the Football League.
He was Burnley's leading goal scorer that season with 15 goals, as
the Clarets won promotion, coming second in the League, and
reaching the 1947 FA Cup Final.
In his first season in the First Division, Harry Potts continued to score
goals, getting 14 when Burnley finished 3rd in 1948. In 1950 Harry
Potts was sold to Everton, as Jimmy McIlroy replaced him at inside
left.
Within a season Everton was relegated, and Harry stayed at Everton
for two more season before hanging up his boots in 1956.
Harry Potts then took up a scouting position at Wolverhampton
Wanderers, before taking the managers job at Shrewsbury Town,
only to leave them shortly after and become manager at Turf Moor in
February 1958.
Burnley's first two season under Harry Potts showed promise as the
Clarets ended the 1957-58 season in 6th place and the season after
in 7th, during this time Harry made only one signing, Alex Elder, he
didn't sign anyone else for the next eight years.
The 1959/60 season proved to be his most successful as the Clarets
claimed the League Championship for only their second time. The
1961 season provided the Clarets with an European adventure, as
the Clarets eventually crashed out of the European Cup at the
Quarter Final stage.
In 1961/62 with four weeks of the season left, Burnley headed the
League and were through to the 1962 FA Cup Final, but ended the
season Trophyless, as the double eluded Burnley and Harry Potts.
After the 1963 sale of Jimmy McIlroy, Burnley managed one last
foray into Europe in 1966/67, when they played in the Inter-Cities
Fairs Cup (UEFA Cup), But Harry Potts' days were numbered when
in February 1970, he was moved to the position of General manager,
and Jimmy Adamson was made manager, and he left Burnley
completely in 1972.
He then became manager at Blackpool, and had moderate success,
failing only to gain promotion on the last game of the 1973-74
season. In May 1976 he was sacked by Blackpool after failing to
gain promotion to the First Division, although he had beaten Burnley
and Jimmy Adamson in the FA Cup 3rd Round that season, a result
which probably lead to Jimmy Adamson's sacking as Burnley
manager.
Harry Potts then returned to Turf Moor as Chief Scout, and by
February the next year he was back as manager. He managed to
help Burnley stay away from relegation for that season and the
following 2 seasons including an Anglo-Scottish Cup win in 1978-79.
But after a terrible start to the 1978-79 season, and 11 winless
games Harry Potts was sacked, and Burnley were relegated to the
Third Division.
Harry Potts then involved himself at with Colne Dynamoes as a
scout, before illness prevented him from continuing, and he died on
16 January 1996.
On the day of his funeral, members of the 1959-60 League
Championship winning side, former players, colleagues and Burnley
fans gathered at Turf Moor, to pay their respects as his cortege
stopped outside the stadium.
As a monument to his effort and success, the road outside of Turf
Moor, which was formerly named as Brunshaw Road, was renamed
as Harry Potts Way.
also their most successful manager in post war football. With
the aid of the nucleus of a good football team ad the guidance
of Bob Lord, Harry Potts help build and maintain Burnley's
Golden Era.
Harry Potts was brought up in Hetton, the same small village as
another famous football manager Bob Paisley, and both were to go
on to be extremely successful in the sport of football.
He was 16 years old when he joined Burnley in 1937, and a year
later he signed a professional contract with the club, by his 18th
birthday he was being touted as a future Burnley first team player, but
with the outbreak of the Second World War, his first team debut
would have to wait.
During the war he played for Fulham, Bury and Sunderland, as well
as being stationed in India as a Physical Training Instructor with the
British Army. At the end of the war he returned to Burnley and started
for the first team on the 31st August 1946, at the recommencement
of the Football League.
He was Burnley's leading goal scorer that season with 15 goals, as
the Clarets won promotion, coming second in the League, and
reaching the 1947 FA Cup Final.
In his first season in the First Division, Harry Potts continued to score
goals, getting 14 when Burnley finished 3rd in 1948. In 1950 Harry
Potts was sold to Everton, as Jimmy McIlroy replaced him at inside
left.
Within a season Everton was relegated, and Harry stayed at Everton
for two more season before hanging up his boots in 1956.
Harry Potts then took up a scouting position at Wolverhampton
Wanderers, before taking the managers job at Shrewsbury Town,
only to leave them shortly after and become manager at Turf Moor in
February 1958.
Burnley's first two season under Harry Potts showed promise as the
Clarets ended the 1957-58 season in 6th place and the season after
in 7th, during this time Harry made only one signing, Alex Elder, he
didn't sign anyone else for the next eight years.
The 1959/60 season proved to be his most successful as the Clarets
claimed the League Championship for only their second time. The
1961 season provided the Clarets with an European adventure, as
the Clarets eventually crashed out of the European Cup at the
Quarter Final stage.
In 1961/62 with four weeks of the season left, Burnley headed the
League and were through to the 1962 FA Cup Final, but ended the
season Trophyless, as the double eluded Burnley and Harry Potts.
After the 1963 sale of Jimmy McIlroy, Burnley managed one last
foray into Europe in 1966/67, when they played in the Inter-Cities
Fairs Cup (UEFA Cup), But Harry Potts' days were numbered when
in February 1970, he was moved to the position of General manager,
and Jimmy Adamson was made manager, and he left Burnley
completely in 1972.
He then became manager at Blackpool, and had moderate success,
failing only to gain promotion on the last game of the 1973-74
season. In May 1976 he was sacked by Blackpool after failing to
gain promotion to the First Division, although he had beaten Burnley
and Jimmy Adamson in the FA Cup 3rd Round that season, a result
which probably lead to Jimmy Adamson's sacking as Burnley
manager.
Harry Potts then returned to Turf Moor as Chief Scout, and by
February the next year he was back as manager. He managed to
help Burnley stay away from relegation for that season and the
following 2 seasons including an Anglo-Scottish Cup win in 1978-79.
But after a terrible start to the 1978-79 season, and 11 winless
games Harry Potts was sacked, and Burnley were relegated to the
Third Division.
Harry Potts then involved himself at with Colne Dynamoes as a
scout, before illness prevented him from continuing, and he died on
16 January 1996.
On the day of his funeral, members of the 1959-60 League
Championship winning side, former players, colleagues and Burnley
fans gathered at Turf Moor, to pay their respects as his cortege
stopped outside the stadium.
As a monument to his effort and success, the road outside of Turf
Moor, which was formerly named as Brunshaw Road, was renamed
as Harry Potts Way.
|
 | |  | |  | |  |
