Colin Addison
Encyclopedia
Colin Addison is an English
former professional footballer
and manager.
Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United
during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which saw them defeat Newcastle United
. Colin currently resides in the city of Hereford, and was a pundit on BBC Radio Wales until 2008.
in 1957. He played in the inside-forward position although, being a versatile player, he played in midfield as well during his career.
In his second season he scored 10 league goals helped York win promotion to the recently created Third Division but the Minstermen lasted only one season before being relegated and midway through the 1960-61 season he was transferred to First Division side Nottingham Forest for £12,000.
Addison was a regular at the City Ground
scoring 62 goals in 160 league appearances, before being signed by Bertie Mee's Arsenal
in 1966 for £45,000. His time at Highbury was hampered somewhat by injury and, after scoring an average of 1 goal in every 3 games for the Gunners, he was sold to First Division side Sheffield United at the end of season 1967.
In his final season at Bramall Lane with the Blades, and with his playing-career winding down, Addison left to join leading non-league side Hereford United as player-manager.
in October 1971, succeeding the legendary John Charles
as player-manager. He inherited a strong group of players which he led through the club's most famous FA Cup run and ultimately election to the Football League.
In the Second Round, Addison and his team needed two replays to get past Northampton Town
but it was worth the effort as a trip to top-flight Newcastle United
awaited. After going 2-1 down in the tie, it was Addison who hit the 25-yard equaliser to take the Magpies to the return fixture at Edgar Street.
In front of a capacity crowd and on a quagmire of a pitch, Addison and Hereford unbelievably won 2-1 after extra time
with Radford and George scoring. They went on to take West Ham United to another replay in the Fourth Round before eventually losing 3-1 at Boleyn Ground
.
Hereford were elected to the Football League at the end of Addison's first season as a manager, and the success continued the following season when Hereford finished as runners-up in Division Four.
n side Durban City F.C.. To mark his achievements at Hereford, an area north of the Edgar Street football ground was named Addison Court in his honour.
He returned to England in December 1975, joining Notts County
as assistant to Ronnie Fenton
. His next managerial position was at Newport County then of the Fourth Division before he reverted to assistant manager to Ron Atkinson
at West Bromwich Albion
.
Two poor seasons in charge at Derby County
led to his sacking in early 1982 and Addison returned to Newport County where he led the team to their highest post-war league finish in the 1982-83 season. In May 1985 Addison left the club with Newport County heading for financial meltdown and eventual closure. He then went abroad to the Middle East, and later to Spain where he took Celta Vigo into La Liga.
A second spell as West Brom assistant manager followed before he and Ron Atkinson left for Atletico Madrid in October 1988. However, Atkinson was sacked after only two months in charge and Addison took over. After Madrid he remained in Spain with Cádiz CF
, and then had a second, less successful spell at Hereford United.
After another spell abroad, he managed a succession of lower league sides including Yeovil Town F.C.
, although he did manage in the Football League again, with Swansea City. He then became manager at Conference National
side Forest Green Rovers leading the club to what was their highest ever league finish in his period of management.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer
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...
and manager.
Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which saw them defeat 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...
. Colin currently resides in the city of Hereford, and was a pundit on BBC Radio Wales until 2008.
Playing career
Addison was born in Taunton, Somerset but brought up in York, signing as a professional for York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in 1957. He played in the inside-forward position although, being a versatile player, he played in midfield as well during his career.
In his second season he scored 10 league goals helped York win promotion to the recently created Third Division but the Minstermen lasted only one season before being relegated and midway through the 1960-61 season he was transferred to First Division side Nottingham Forest for £12,000.
Addison was a regular at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
scoring 62 goals in 160 league appearances, before being signed by Bertie Mee's Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1966 for £45,000. His time at Highbury was hampered somewhat by injury and, after scoring an average of 1 goal in every 3 games for the Gunners, he was sold to First Division side Sheffield United at the end of season 1967.
In his final season at Bramall Lane with the Blades, and with his playing-career winding down, Addison left to join leading non-league side Hereford United as player-manager.
Player-Manager
Addison arrived at Hereford UnitedHereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in October 1971, succeeding the legendary John Charles
John Charles
William John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
as player-manager. He inherited a strong group of players which he led through the club's most famous FA Cup run and ultimately election to the Football League.
In the Second Round, Addison and his team needed two replays to get past Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
but it was worth the effort as a trip to top-flight 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...
awaited. After going 2-1 down in the tie, it was Addison who hit the 25-yard equaliser to take the Magpies to the return fixture at Edgar Street.
In front of a capacity crowd and on a quagmire of a pitch, Addison and Hereford unbelievably won 2-1 after extra time
Hereford United v Newcastle United 1972
Hereford United v Newcastle United was a football match played on 5 February 1972 at Edgar Street, Hereford. The match was an FA Cup Third Round Replay after the first match had resulted in a 2–2 draw. The result, a 2–1 extra time victory for Hereford, is notable for being arguably the...
with Radford and George scoring. They went on to take West Ham United to another replay in the Fourth Round before eventually losing 3-1 at Boleyn Ground
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
.
Hereford were elected to the Football League at the end of Addison's first season as a manager, and the success continued the following season when Hereford finished as runners-up in Division Four.
Retired to the Touchline
Addison carried on playing until November 1973, but with a broken leg, he proceeded as manager until 1974 when he left to manage South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n side Durban City F.C.. To mark his achievements at Hereford, an area north of the Edgar Street football ground was named Addison Court in his honour.
He returned to England in December 1975, joining Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
as assistant to Ronnie Fenton
Ron Fenton
Ronald Fenton is an English former footballer, coach and manager. He played as an inside forward and made nearly 200 appearances in the Football League....
. His next managerial position was at Newport County then of the Fourth Division before he reverted to assistant manager to Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
.
Two poor seasons in charge at Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
led to his sacking in early 1982 and Addison returned to Newport County where he led the team to their highest post-war league finish in the 1982-83 season. In May 1985 Addison left the club with Newport County heading for financial meltdown and eventual closure. He then went abroad to the Middle East, and later to Spain where he took Celta Vigo into La Liga.
A second spell as West Brom assistant manager followed before he and Ron Atkinson left for Atletico Madrid in October 1988. However, Atkinson was sacked after only two months in charge and Addison took over. After Madrid he remained in Spain with Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
, and then had a second, less successful spell at Hereford United.
After another spell abroad, he managed a succession of lower league sides including Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, although he did manage in the Football League again, with Swansea City. He then became manager at Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Forest Green Rovers leading the club to what was their highest ever league finish in his period of management.