Bobby Ancell
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Dudgeon Ancell (16 June 1911 – 5 July 1987) was a Scottish
football
player and manager. He played as a left back and was capped twice by the Scottish national side
.
. As a teenager, he represented his home town at both cricket and rugby and one of his first jobs was as an assistant golf professional, a sport in which he retained a keen interest, eventually playing off a handicap of three.
Ancell's playing career began with local side Mid Annandale, from where he moved to St Mirren
in 1930. He was a stylish, intelligent full back. Ancell stayed with the Paisley
club for six years where the best league finishes were fifth in 1932 and seventh in 1933. In 1934 he played for St Mirren in a Scottish Cup final defeat against Rangers in front of a crowd of 113,430. However the team was in decline and was relegated in 1935. This was the only relegation of Ancell's career as either player or manager. The drop of a division was short lived though and promotion straight back up followed the season after.
Ancell was signed by Newcastle United
for a fee of £2,750 for the start of season 1936-37 in English football
. Within months of joining Newcastle, Ancell received international recognition. He made his Scotland
debut in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland
. He second and last cap was shortly after in the season against Wales. Ancell received a third, unofficial cap, against England in December 1939 played at Newcastle's St. James' Park.
He returned north upon the outbreak of World War II
, Ancell served the war as a PT instructor as many players did. Guesting for numerous teams before joining Dundee
in 1944, he had a spell as coach to the Norwegian army. Ancell helped Dundee lift the Second Division championship in 1946/47. The first season back in the top flight ended in fourth spot.
In season 1948-49
he left the Dark Blues to join a side managed by a fellow native of Dumfries, Dave Halliday
's Aberdeen
. Ancell returned to Dundee play a small number of games in the season after.
then of the East of Scotland League turning down an offer from a Dunfermline Athletic making headlines from board room disputes. Ancell was then approached by Dunfermline again in 1952 and with a completely new set of directors running the club, Ancell accepted. From his first to last season in management, not once did his side finish a season having been fighting for divisional survival.
The Pars had been without a manager during the previous season and, having released no fewer than eighteen players at the end of it, Ancell had to rebuild the squad with very little money. The upheaval led to a mediocre season but Ancell was happy to develop young talent and shape them into the kind of players he wanted. One of his first signings was 17 year-old Jimmy Millar
. The Pars improved in all three seasons under Ancell and achieved promotion to the First Division in 1955 after an absence of eighteen years. However Ancell left for elsewhere.
Motherwell
was Ancell's next port of call in 1955 where he appointed ex Dundee team mate Reuben Bennett
to his training staff. At Fir Park, he was able to put his purist principles into practice and developed a dynamic young side known as the 'Ancell Babes'. Under his guidance, no fewer than eight players gained international recognition featuring players like Ian St John, Charlie Aitken
and Willie Hunter. The club's best finish in Ancell's tenure was third place in 1959 followed by finishes in fifth spot in the two subsequent seasons.
Ancell next rejoined ex club Dundee where his best finish was sixth in 1967. He took Dundee to an Autumn 1967 Scottish League Cup Final
against the previous season's European Cup winners, Celtic. Ancell's team scored three times at Hampden Park
in Celtic's native Glasgow
but still lost out 5-3. In the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Dundee eliminated opposition from Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland to meet Leeds United in the semi final. After a 1-1 draw at Dens, a 1-0 second leg win took Leeds through on their way to lifting the trophy.
After a year working as reserve team coach at Dens Park, he acted for Nottingham Forest in a scouting role before finally retiring from the game to spend more time on the golf course prior to his death on 5 July 1987.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager. He played as a left back and was capped twice by the Scottish national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Player
Born in Dumfries on 16 June 1911, Bobby Ancell grew up with a marked aptitude for sport, thanks in no small part to his father, a physical training instructor at Dumfries AcademyDumfries Academy
Dumfries Academy is one of four secondary schools in the town of Dumfries in South West Scotland.-History:Dumfries Academy has existed in its present form, though not in the buildings it currently occupies, since 1804...
. As a teenager, he represented his home town at both cricket and rugby and one of his first jobs was as an assistant golf professional, a sport in which he retained a keen interest, eventually playing off a handicap of three.
Ancell's playing career began with local side Mid Annandale, from where he moved to St Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in 1930. He was a stylish, intelligent full back. Ancell stayed with the Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
club for six years where the best league finishes were fifth in 1932 and seventh in 1933. In 1934 he played for St Mirren in a Scottish Cup final defeat against Rangers in front of a crowd of 113,430. However the team was in decline and was relegated in 1935. This was the only relegation of Ancell's career as either player or manager. The drop of a division was short lived though and promotion straight back up followed the season after.
Ancell was signed by Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for a fee of £2,750 for the start of season 1936-37 in English football
1936-37 in English football
The 1936–37 season was the 62nd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
. Within months of joining Newcastle, Ancell received international recognition. He made his Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
debut in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. He second and last cap was shortly after in the season against Wales. Ancell received a third, unofficial cap, against England in December 1939 played at Newcastle's St. James' Park.
He returned north upon the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ancell served the war as a PT instructor as many players did. Guesting for numerous teams before joining Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 1944, he had a spell as coach to the Norwegian army. Ancell helped Dundee lift the Second Division championship in 1946/47. The first season back in the top flight ended in fourth spot.
In season 1948-49
1948-49 in Scottish football
The 1948–49 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in Scotland. Rangers became the first team to win the Scottish domestic treble. Scottish League Division "C" was disbanded...
he left the Dark Blues to join a side managed by a fellow native of Dumfries, Dave Halliday
Dave Halliday
David "Dave" Halliday was a Scottish footballing prolific goalscorer and trophy winning manager. His 38 goals in 1923-24 made him top scorer in Scotland's top flight that season and 43 goals in 1928–29 gave him the same distinction in England's top flight that season. He scored 376 senior goals as...
's Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. Ancell returned to Dundee play a small number of games in the season after.
Manager
Ancell then turned his hand to management in 1950 with Berwick RangersBerwick Rangers F.C.
Berwick Rangers Football Club are a football team based in the English Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, although they play in the Scottish Football League Third Division...
then of the East of Scotland League turning down an offer from a Dunfermline Athletic making headlines from board room disputes. Ancell was then approached by Dunfermline again in 1952 and with a completely new set of directors running the club, Ancell accepted. From his first to last season in management, not once did his side finish a season having been fighting for divisional survival.
The Pars had been without a manager during the previous season and, having released no fewer than eighteen players at the end of it, Ancell had to rebuild the squad with very little money. The upheaval led to a mediocre season but Ancell was happy to develop young talent and shape them into the kind of players he wanted. One of his first signings was 17 year-old Jimmy Millar
Jimmy Millar
James "Jimmy" Millar is a retired footballer who played for Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers and Dundee United....
. The Pars improved in all three seasons under Ancell and achieved promotion to the First Division in 1955 after an absence of eighteen years. However Ancell left for elsewhere.
Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
was Ancell's next port of call in 1955 where he appointed ex Dundee team mate Reuben Bennett
Reuben Bennett
Reuben Bennett from Aberdeen was a Scottish professional association footballer for Queen of the South, Dundee F.C. and Elgin City. He was then manager at Ayr United and a founder member of the Boot Room coaching staff at Liverpool F.C.-Player:In Bennett's playing days he was a goalkeeper with...
to his training staff. At Fir Park, he was able to put his purist principles into practice and developed a dynamic young side known as the 'Ancell Babes'. Under his guidance, no fewer than eight players gained international recognition featuring players like Ian St John, Charlie Aitken
Charlie Aitken (footballer born 1932)
Charlie Aitken was a Scottish professional football player who spent his entire career with Motherwell, making 314 appearances in the Scottish Football League between 1950 and 1966....
and Willie Hunter. The club's best finish in Ancell's tenure was third place in 1959 followed by finishes in fifth spot in the two subsequent seasons.
Ancell next rejoined ex club Dundee where his best finish was sixth in 1967. He took Dundee to an Autumn 1967 Scottish League Cup Final
1967 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1967 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 28 October 1967 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 22nd Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Dundee and Celtic, with Dundee becoming the first side from outside the Old Firm to reach a League Cup Final since...
against the previous season's European Cup winners, Celtic. Ancell's team scored three times at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in Celtic's native Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
but still lost out 5-3. In the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Dundee eliminated opposition from Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland to meet Leeds United in the semi final. After a 1-1 draw at Dens, a 1-0 second leg win took Leeds through on their way to lifting the trophy.
After a year working as reserve team coach at Dens Park, he acted for Nottingham Forest in a scouting role before finally retiring from the game to spend more time on the golf course prior to his death on 5 July 1987.
Player
- St Mirren - 1934 Scottish Cup finalist; 1936 Second Division promotion
- Dundee - 1947 B Division Championship
Manager
- Dunfermline Athletic - 1952 Scottish B Division promotion
- Dundee - 1967-68 Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
finalist; 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi finalist
External links
- League playing career stats on Neil Brown's football database
- Profile at Official Scottish FAScottish Football AssociationThe Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
site - Career profile on the Dunfermline Athletic website