Mervyn Day
Encyclopedia
Mervyn Day is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League
as a goalkeeper for West Ham United
, Leyton Orient
, Aston Villa
, Leeds United
, Luton Town
, Sheffield United
and Carlisle United
. He later managed Carlisle United. He is currently chief scout at Leeds United.
, and King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
.
Schools at all levels and was picked for the England Schools squad six times, though he did not play. At aged 15 Ipswich Town
, Tottenham Hotspur
and West Ham United
sent scouts to watch Day. Ron Greenwood's West Ham United signed Day on a youth contract in July 1971.
In February 1973 he signed a professional contract with West Ham and on 29 August 1973 he made his debut in a draw against Ipswich Town.
Day became the first team goalkeeper
soon after. In 1975, aged 19 he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear in an FA Cup Final, in their victory over Fulham
. He received the PFA Young Player of the Year
Award that same season, the only goalkeeper to have won the award. He was tipped as the next great England goalkeeper. In 1976 he appeared in the Cup Winners' Cup Final which West Ham lost 4–2 to Anderlecht
at a sold out Heysel Stadium. However, a loss of form and injuries saw him drop out of the side, and Phil Parkes' performances were good enough to keep Day out when he regained fitness.
In July 1979 he moved to Leyton Orient
for £100,000, where he replaced John Jackson
.
When Eddie Gray, then manager of Leeds United, signed him in 1985, he proved to be an excellent buy and was a key figure in Billy Bremner
's side in the 1987 run to the FA Cup semi-final and League play-offs. He remained first choice keeper for Howard Wilkinson, and picked up a Division 2 winners medal as promotion was finally achieved in 1990. With the re-signing of John Lukic, Day was relegated to the reserves and bench, and only made five more appearances for the first team, although he remained loyal to the club for three more seasons until he finally left Elland Road
in 1993 after eight years. His final club was Carlisle United
.
and lead them to promotion into Division Two
& a Football League Trophy
win in 1997, but left shortly after due to a falling out with the Chairman, Michael Knighton
, who replaced Day as manager.
He was first team coach to Alan Curbishley
at Charlton Athletic
for many years before he and Curbishley both left the club at the end of the 2005–06 season. On 13 December 2006, he was again named as Curbishley's number two after the former was unveiled as the new West Ham manager but left the club at the same time as Curbishley in September 2008. On 20 July 2010 he rejoined Leeds United as chief scout to work alongside technical director Gwyn Williams.
entitled a fan club only album What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?
. Released in 2006, it featured 18 original and unreleased pieces of music that featured in their film of the same name about the redevelopment of the Lower Lea Valley
in London (one of Day's previous clubs as a player was nearby Leyton Orient).
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
as a goalkeeper for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, 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...
, Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
. He later managed Carlisle United. He is currently chief scout at Leeds United.
Early life
He was educated at Kings Road Primary School,attended also by another famous West Ham player, Geoff HurstGeoff Hurst
Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. He made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West...
, and King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford)
King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It takes pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 — from Year 7 to 11 the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form .The present headteacher is Thomas...
.
Playing career
He represented EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
Schools at all levels and was picked for the England Schools squad six times, though he did not play. At aged 15 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
sent scouts to watch Day. Ron Greenwood's West Ham United signed Day on a youth contract in July 1971.
In February 1973 he signed a professional contract with West Ham and on 29 August 1973 he made his debut in a draw against Ipswich Town.
Day became the first team goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
soon after. In 1975, aged 19 he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to appear in an FA Cup Final, in their victory over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. He received the PFA Young Player of the Year
PFA Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
Award that same season, the only goalkeeper to have won the award. He was tipped as the next great England goalkeeper. In 1976 he appeared in the Cup Winners' Cup Final which West Ham lost 4–2 to Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
at a sold out Heysel Stadium. However, a loss of form and injuries saw him drop out of the side, and Phil Parkes' performances were good enough to keep Day out when he regained fitness.
In July 1979 he moved to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
for £100,000, where he replaced John Jackson
John Jackson (footballer)
John Jackson is an English former footballer who made 656 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Ipswich Town and Hereford United.-Career:...
.
When Eddie Gray, then manager of Leeds United, signed him in 1985, he proved to be an excellent buy and was a key figure in Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
's side in the 1987 run to the FA Cup semi-final and League play-offs. He remained first choice keeper for Howard Wilkinson, and picked up a Division 2 winners medal as promotion was finally achieved in 1990. With the re-signing of John Lukic, Day was relegated to the reserves and bench, and only made five more appearances for the first team, although he remained loyal to the club for three more seasons until he finally left Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
in 1993 after eight years. His final club was Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
.
Management and coaching career
After retiring, he was manager of Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and lead them to promotion into Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
& a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
win in 1997, but left shortly after due to a falling out with the Chairman, Michael Knighton
Michael Knighton
Michael Knighton is an English businessman who is best known for his involvement in Manchester United and Carlisle United football clubs.-Early life:...
, who replaced Day as manager.
He was first team coach to Alan Curbishley
Alan Curbishley
Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....
at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
for many years before he and Curbishley both left the club at the end of the 2005–06 season. On 13 December 2006, he was again named as Curbishley's number two after the former was unveiled as the new West Ham manager but left the club at the same time as Curbishley in September 2008. On 20 July 2010 he rejoined Leeds United as chief scout to work alongside technical director Gwyn Williams.
In popular culture
The British indie pop group Saint EtienneSaint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
entitled a fan club only album What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? is a fan club only release by Saint Etienne featuring 18 original and unreleased pieces of music that featured in their film of the same name about the redevelopment of the Lower Lea Valley in London...
. Released in 2006, it featured 18 original and unreleased pieces of music that featured in their film of the same name about the redevelopment of the Lower Lea Valley
Lower Lea Valley
The Lower Lea Valley is the southern end of the Lea Valley, surrounding the River Lea , which runs along the boundary of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on its western bank and the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest and Newham on its eastern bank, into the River Thames. The river forms the...
in London (one of Day's previous clubs as a player was nearby Leyton Orient).
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
 |
1 August 1996 | 11 September 1997 |
||||||
| Total |
|||||||||
Manager
Carlisle United- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 1997 Football League Trophy Final1997 Football League Trophy FinalThe 1997 Football League Trophy Final was the 14th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 20 April 1997, and was contested by Carlisle United and Colchester United...
Individual
- PFA Young Player of the YearPFA Young Player of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
: 1974-75