Jack Bruton
Encyclopedia
Jack Bruton was a professional footballer and manager who spent the major part of his career in both capacities with Blackburn Rovers
.
, near Bolton
, he initially played as an amateur with Wigan Borough
, Bolton Wanderers
and Horwich RMI while working in the coal mines before signing for Burnley
as a professional in 1925 - it was reported that he came up from the pit and signed professional forms on an overturned tub at the pit head. At Turf Moor
he established himself as one of the best wingers in the country and won representative honours with the Football League team. He also made three appearances for England
.
He scored 44 times in 176 games for Burnley before becoming Blackburn Rovers
' record £6,500 signing in December 1929. A maker of goals as well as a scorer, Bruton proved to be remarkably consistent during his playing career with Rovers. In the 1930–31 season, Bruton was Rovers' top-scorer with 19 league goals, closely followed by his unrelated namesake Les Bruton
on 18.
He scored 115 times in 344 appearances for Blackburn before moving on to Preston North End
in 1939, although he was prevented from making any first team appearances for Preston as a result of the outbreak of World War II
.
as assistant trainer and assistant secretary. During manager Will Scott
's absence through illness, Bruton took over the running of the club and on Scott's return was appointed assistant manager. He was the natural successor when Rovers' lack of consistency led to Scott finally vacating the manager's chair in December 1947. On taking control Bruton's immediate aim was to avoid the team's relegation from Division 1, but nine defeats in the last ten games sealed the club's fate.
In an attempt to regain First Division status, Bruton signed Dennis Westcott
, a proven goal-scorer from Wolves
, and also unearthed an exciting prospect at left-back in the shape of Bill Eckersley
. However, success proved just as elusive and after the club finished in fourteenth place in the Second Division, Bruton was summoned to a board meeting and dismissed in May 1949.
In 1950 he was appointed manager at Bournemouth, who played in the Third Division South. He remained at Dean Court for six years until 1956.
After retiring as a manager he continued as a scout for both Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth and also for Portsmouth
.
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
Playing career
Born in WesthoughtonWesthoughton
Westhoughton is a town and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is southwest of Bolton, east of Wigan and northwest of Manchester....
, near Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, he initially played as an amateur with Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
, 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....
and Horwich RMI while working in the coal mines before signing for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
as a professional in 1925 - it was reported that he came up from the pit and signed professional forms on an overturned tub at the pit head. At Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
he established himself as one of the best wingers in the country and won representative honours with the Football League team. He also made three appearances for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
He scored 44 times in 176 games for Burnley before becoming Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
' record £6,500 signing in December 1929. A maker of goals as well as a scorer, Bruton proved to be remarkably consistent during his playing career with Rovers. In the 1930–31 season, Bruton was Rovers' top-scorer with 19 league goals, closely followed by his unrelated namesake Les Bruton
Les Bruton
Leslie Hector Ronald "Les" Bruton was an English footballer who played at centre-forward in the 1920s and 1930s for various clubs, having his most successful period with Blackburn Rovers.-Football career:...
on 18.
He scored 115 times in 344 appearances for Blackburn before moving on to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 1939, although he was prevented from making any first team appearances for Preston as a result of 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...
.
Management career
After the war he returned to Ewood ParkEwood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
as assistant trainer and assistant secretary. During manager Will Scott
Will Scott
William Scott was an English footballer and football manager who managed in England in the 1940s and 1950s....
's absence through illness, Bruton took over the running of the club and on Scott's return was appointed assistant manager. He was the natural successor when Rovers' lack of consistency led to Scott finally vacating the manager's chair in December 1947. On taking control Bruton's immediate aim was to avoid the team's relegation from Division 1, but nine defeats in the last ten games sealed the club's fate.
In an attempt to regain First Division status, Bruton signed Dennis Westcott
Dennis Westcott
Dennis Westcott was an English footballer, who played for New Brighton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Chesterfield as a striker....
, a proven goal-scorer from Wolves
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...
, and also unearthed an exciting prospect at left-back in the shape of Bill Eckersley
Bill Eckersley
William "Bill" Eckersley was an English footballer. He played as a fullback, spending his entire playing career at Blackburn Rovers.-Football career:...
. However, success proved just as elusive and after the club finished in fourteenth place in the Second Division, Bruton was summoned to a board meeting and dismissed in May 1949.
In 1950 he was appointed manager at Bournemouth, who played in the Third Division South. He remained at Dean Court for six years until 1956.
After retiring as a manager he continued as a scout for both Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth and also for 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...
.
External links
- England profile
- Article in The Bolton News
- Cigarette card picture at Spartacus Educational (scroll to 3rd row of cards)