Ewan Fenton
Encyclopedia
Alexander Ewan Fenton, more commonly known as Ewan Fenton (17 November 1929 — 3 April 2006) was a Scottish
professional football
er. He spent thirteen seasons at Blackpool
, with whom he was victorious in the famous FA Cup Final of 1953
.
, Fenton began his career with Scottish junior side Lochee Harp
. In 1946, at the age of 17, he signed professional forms with Blackpool. He made his Seasiders debut at Bloomfield Road
two years later, in September 1948, as understudy to skipper Harry Johnston
.
In 1952/53
, his patience was rewarded when he appeared regularly in the first team. He had established himself enough to the liking of manager Joe Smith
that he made the starting eleven for the FA Cup Final.
In 1956
, Fenton was named club captain.
Fenton had a transfer request turned down in 1958, but in May of 1959
, he was released, and joined Wrexham
for a small fee. He spent just over a year at the Racecourse Ground
, although a serious injury almost ended his career.
as player/manager, the same season they played in the European Cup
.
In 1967, he moved north of the border to become manager of Linfield
. Three years later, however, he returned to Limerick, this time as full-time manager. In 1971, under his guidance, Limerick won their first ever cup, the FAI Cup
, beating Drogheda in the final.
In 2003, Fenton returned to Bloomfield Road to attend a 50th anniversary reunion of the Tangerines' FA Cup victory with fellow surviving teammates.
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...
professional 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...
er. He spent thirteen seasons at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, with whom he was victorious in the famous FA Cup Final of 1953
FA Cup Final 1953
The 1953 FA Cup Final, also known as the Matthews Final, was the eighth to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War. The football match was contested between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers, with Blackpool winning 4-3. The match became famous for the performance of Blackpool winger...
.
Playing career
Born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Fenton began his career with Scottish junior side Lochee Harp
Lochee Harp F.C.
Lochee Harp Football Club are a Scottish Junior football club based in the Lochee area of the city of Dundee. Formed in 1904 and nicknamed "the Harp", they play their home games at Beechwood Park, which has room for around 1,800 spectators...
. In 1946, at the age of 17, he signed professional forms with Blackpool. He made his Seasiders debut at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
two years later, in September 1948, as understudy to skipper Harry Johnston
Harry Johnston (footballer)
Henry "Harry" Johnston was an English footballer. He was the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1951. He spent his entire professional playing career with Blackpool, with whom he appeared in three FA Cup Finals...
.
In 1952/53
1952-53 in English football
The 1952–53 season was the 73rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the closest championship win in English league history at the time, with Arsenal claiming the title by just 0.099 of a goal. Both Arsenal and Preston had identical records aside from their goal averages...
, his patience was rewarded when he appeared regularly in the first team. He had established himself enough to the liking of manager Joe Smith
Joe Smith (football manager)
Joseph "Joe" Smith was an English professional football player and manager. He was manager of Blackpool for 23 years and guided them to victory in the 1953 FA Cup Final, the only time they have won the competition since their 1887 inception.-Playing career:Born in Dudley in the West Midlands,...
that he made the starting eleven for the FA Cup Final.
In 1956
1956-57 in English football
The 1956–57 season was the 77th season of competitive football in England.Manchester United won the First Division to become English football champions for the fifth time. Tottenham Hotspur were runners-up. In the Second Division it was Leicester City who finished in top spot, ahead of East...
, Fenton was named club captain.
Fenton had a transfer request turned down in 1958, but in May of 1959
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
, he was released, and joined Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
for a small fee. He spent just over a year at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, although a serious injury almost ended his career.
Managerial career
At the start of the 1960/61 season, Fenton joined Irish club LimerickLimerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
as player/manager, the same season they played in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
In 1967, he moved north of the border to become manager of Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. Three years later, however, he returned to Limerick, this time as full-time manager. In 1971, under his guidance, Limerick won their first ever cup, the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
, beating Drogheda in the final.
In 2003, Fenton returned to Bloomfield Road to attend a 50th anniversary reunion of the Tangerines' FA Cup victory with fellow surviving teammates.
Personal life
Fenton settled in Limerick in 1960 and operated a driving school, "Ewan Fenton's School of Motoring" from 1965 to the late 1990s. He died there in 2006 at the age of 76 after a short illness and was survived by his Blackpool-born wife, Vera, son Ewan, and his three grandchildren Sarah, Ewan and David.As a manager
Limerick- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
winner: 1971 - FAI League Cup winner: 1977