George Ainsley
Encyclopedia
George Edward Ainsley was an English
professional footballer
and football manager.
George Ainsley,a centre forward, played for his local side South Shields St. Andrews before joining Sunderland
in April 1932. He made his league debut on 6 May 1933 in a 1-1 draw away to Chelsea
. He played three more times the following season, in games against Portsmouth
, Stoke City
and Manchester City
, but failed to feature again for Sunderland.
He left to join Bolton Wanderers
in August 1936. In December the same year, after just seven league games for Bolton, Ainsley moved to Leeds United. He scored on his league debut (On 19 December against Sunderland
) and scored twice in his second appearance (as Leeds beat Middlesbrough
).
He was never a regular at Elland Road, despite scoring 30 times in 89 league games. He remained with Leeds until after the war
, joining Bradford Park Avenue
in November 1947. He retired from playing in 1949, having scored 29 goals in 44 games for Bradford Park Avenue.
After retiring as a player, Ainsley travelled the world as a coach. He began coaching in India
in 1950, returning to coach the football team at Cambridge University in the early 1950s. In Bergen
,
he trained the Norwegian team SK Brann half of 1955. He was head coach of Ghana
between 1958 and 1959. He was later coach of the Pakistan
national team until November 1962 when he moved to Highland Park, Johannesburg
as coach. Late in 1963 he became the manager of the Israel
national side, leaving that post in December 1964.
He was appointed manager of Workington
in June 1965, guiding the side to their highest ever league position (5th in Division Three) the following season. However, Workington were relegated at the end of the 1966-67 season and Ainsley was sacked in November 1966. He then coached USL Dunkerque
in France.
He died in Leeds in 1985.
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 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 football manager.
George Ainsley,a centre forward, played for his local side South Shields St. Andrews before joining Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in April 1932. He made his league debut on 6 May 1933 in a 1-1 draw away 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...
. He played three more times the following season, in games against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, but failed to feature again for Sunderland.
He left to join Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in August 1936. In December the same year, after just seven league games for Bolton, Ainsley moved to Leeds United. He scored on his league debut (On 19 December against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
) and scored twice in his second appearance (as Leeds beat Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
).
He was never a regular at Elland Road, despite scoring 30 times in 89 league games. He remained with Leeds until after the war
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...
, joining Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
in November 1947. He retired from playing in 1949, having scored 29 goals in 44 games for Bradford Park Avenue.
After retiring as a player, Ainsley travelled the world as a coach. He began coaching in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1950, returning to coach the football team at Cambridge University in the early 1950s. In Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
,
he trained the Norwegian team SK Brann half of 1955. He was head coach of Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
between 1958 and 1959. He was later coach of the Pakistan
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
national team until November 1962 when he moved to Highland Park, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
as coach. Late in 1963 he became the manager of the Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
national side, leaving that post in December 1964.
He was appointed manager of Workington
Workington 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...
in June 1965, guiding the side to their highest ever league position (5th in Division Three) the following season. However, Workington were relegated at the end of the 1966-67 season and Ainsley was sacked in November 1966. He then coached USL Dunkerque
USL Dunkerque
USL Dunkerque is a French football club based in the commune of Dunkirk.They currently play in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group A. The club's nickname is The Doves. Their kit colours are white and blue. They play their home matches at the Stade Tribut in Dunkirk.-History:The club was...
in France.
He died in Leeds in 1985.