Frank Upton
Encyclopedia
Frank Upton was an English
professional football player and manager.
in March 1953, making his league debut the same season. In June 1954 he moved to Derby County
, making over 200 appearances before a £15,000 move to Chelsea
in August 1961. He helped Chelsea to promotion back to the First Division
in the 1962–63 season and won the League Cup
with them in 1965.
In September 1965 he rejoined Derby County, moving on to Notts County
a year later. He left league football the following summer, joining non-league Worcester City
in July 1967,
as player-manager in January 1968, but lost his job six months later after Workington had finished 23rd in Football League Division Four Division Four and been forced to seek re-election.
He joined Northampton Town's coaching staff in October 1969, but moved to coach Aston Villa
in January 1970. He joined Chelsea's coaching staff in August 1977 and became caretaker manager in December 1978 after the dismissal of Ken Shellito
. He was later coach of Danish
side Randers Freja
between February 1979 and February 1980.
He joined Dundee
as a coach in August 1980 and coached Al Arabi of Kuwait
in 1981. In 1982 he returned to the UK as coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers
, a post he held until October 1984 when he was appointed as manager of Bedworth United
.
He was assistant manager of Coventry City
between December 1985 and April 1987. The following month he took over as coach of Iceland
ic side Keflavik ÍF
. In May 1989 he was appointed as coach to the Sabah FA
, but returned to the UK as caretaker-manager of Burton Albion
in January 1990.
He was appointed as youth coach at Conference
side Northwich Victoria
in April 1990, taking a similar position at Cheltenham Town
in November 1990.
In 1991 he opened a sports injuries clinic in Derby
, continuing with his coaching career and joined the coaching staff at Leicester City
in 1992.
In December 2008 he returned to Derby
for the annual dinner of the Derby County Former Players' Association, and he served on the association's committee.He died just over two years later, in May 2011, at the age of 76.
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...
professional football player and manager.
Playing career
Upton, a hard tackling central defender, began his football career with Nuneaton Borough. He moved to Northampton TownNorthampton 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...
in March 1953, making his league debut the same season. In June 1954 he moved to 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...
, making over 200 appearances before a £15,000 move to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in August 1961. He helped Chelsea to promotion back to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in the 1962–63 season and won the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
with them in 1965.
In September 1965 he rejoined Derby County, moving on to 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...
a year later. He left league football the following summer, joining non-league Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in July 1967,
Coaching and managerial career
Upton joined WorkingtonWorkington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
as player-manager in January 1968, but lost his job six months later after Workington had finished 23rd in Football League Division Four Division Four and been forced to seek re-election.
He joined Northampton Town's coaching staff in October 1969, but moved to coach Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in January 1970. He joined Chelsea's coaching staff in August 1977 and became caretaker manager in December 1978 after the dismissal of Ken Shellito
Ken Shellito
Kenneth John Shellito is a former English football player and manager who now works in a coaching role for the Asian Football Confederation, based in Kuala Lumpur...
. He was later coach of Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
side Randers Freja
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
between February 1979 and February 1980.
He joined 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...
as a coach in August 1980 and coached Al Arabi of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in 1981. In 1982 he returned to the UK as coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, a post he held until October 1984 when he was appointed as manager of Bedworth United
Bedworth United F.C.
Bedworth United Football Club is a football club based in Bedworth, Warwickshire, England, currently playing in the Southern League Division One Central....
.
He was assistant manager of Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
between December 1985 and April 1987. The following month he took over as coach of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic side Keflavik ÍF
Keflavik ÍF
Keflavík ÍF is an Icelandic sports club, from the town of Reykjanesbær. The club has several divisions for different sports: football, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, badminton, shooting and taekwondo...
. In May 1989 he was appointed as coach to the Sabah FA
Sabah FA
The Football Association of Sabah is a registered football association affiliated with the Football Association of Malaysia. The association's football team competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. Sabah FA is a professional football club and one of the 14...
, but returned to the UK as caretaker-manager of Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
in January 1990.
He was appointed as youth coach at Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in April 1990, taking a similar position at Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
in November 1990.
In 1991 he opened a sports injuries clinic in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, continuing with his coaching career and joined the coaching staff at Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 1992.
In December 2008 he returned to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
for the annual dinner of the Derby County Former Players' Association, and he served on the association's committee.He died just over two years later, in May 2011, at the age of 76.