Philip Bach
Encyclopedia
Philip Bach was an English
footballer who played at full back
. He played his club football for various teams including Middlesbrough
and Sunderland
and made one appearance for England
in 1899. He was later the chairman of Middlesbrough F.C.
for a total of 18 years.
, Shropshire
, but moved to Middlesbrough
as a child. He was signed by the local club, Middlesbrough
, then an amateur club, straight from school. In 1895, he moved to Reading
and spent two seasons with the club playing in the Southern League
, before returning to the north east
to join Sunderland
in June 1897.
He made his Sunderland debut in a 1–0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday
on 4 September 1897. In his first season at the Newcastle Road club, Sunderland finished as runners-up in the Football League
with Bach making twenty appearances. On 18 February 1899, Bach made his only international appearance against Ireland. The match was played at Roker Park
, Sunderland's new ground and ended in a 13–2 victory for England, with four goals from Gilbert Smith
and three from Jimmy Settle
. The scoreline in this match is the record number of goals scored by England in a single match, and also the highest aggregate goals (15) in a game involving England.
While England were playing at Roker Park, Sunderland were away to Sheffield Wednesday
. In Bach's absence on international duty, Andy McCombie
took over at right-back in a 1–0 victory. Bach was unable to regain his place, making only two further appearances.
Two months later, in April 1899, he signed for Middlesbrough again, but failing to break into the first team he was on the move again a year later joining Bristol City
. He spent four years at Ashton Gate helping City gain Football League status in 1901. In 1904 he was re-instated as an amateur, turning out for Cheltenham Town
.
and later Middlesbrough
. He returned to Middlesbrough F.C. for the third time becoming a director in February 1911. In July he was appointed chairman in place of the disgraced Thomas Gibson-Poole. He was charged with rebuilding the club following the match-fixing scandal involving Gibson-Poole and manager Andy Walker
. He appointed Thomas H. McIntosh
as the new manager, who guided the club to their highest ever league position - third in the First Division in 1913-14 - but with a potential championship team taking shape his plans were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
. During the war, Boro released their players and closed down, while Ayresome Park
was used as a munitions store.
Bach served as chairman until 1925, and again from 1931 to 1935. He later served on the F.A. Council from 1925 until his death in 1937 and was on the international selection committee from October 1929. He was also on the Football League Management Committee and President of the North Eastern League.
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...
footballer who played at full back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played his club football for various teams including 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...
and 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 made one appearance 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...
in 1899. He was later the chairman of Middlesbrough F.C.
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...
for a total of 18 years.
Playing career
Bach was born in LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, but moved to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
as a child. He was signed by the local club, 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...
, then an amateur club, straight from school. In 1895, he moved to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and spent two seasons with the club playing in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, before returning to the north east
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
to join 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 June 1897.
He made his Sunderland debut in a 1–0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on 4 September 1897. In his first season at the Newcastle Road club, Sunderland finished as runners-up in the Football League
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...
with Bach making twenty appearances. On 18 February 1899, Bach made his only international appearance against Ireland. The match was played at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, Sunderland's new ground and ended in a 13–2 victory for England, with four goals from Gilbert Smith
G.O. Smith
Gilbert Oswald Smith , familiarly known as G. O. Smith or simply as G...
and three from Jimmy Settle
Jimmy Settle
Jimmy Settle was an English professional footballer. A fast-paced inside or outside right, he could have chosen sprinting if he had not taken up football.Settle played for Bolton and Bury before joining Everton in 1899, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1906...
. The scoreline in this match is the record number of goals scored by England in a single match, and also the highest aggregate goals (15) in a game involving England.
While England were playing at Roker Park, Sunderland were away to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. In Bach's absence on international duty, Andy McCombie
Andy McCombie
Andrew McCombie was a Scottish international footballer who played at right back for North East England rival clubs Sunderland and Newcastle United. He won the Football League championship with both clubs, and was twice on the losing side in the FA Cup final...
took over at right-back in a 1–0 victory. Bach was unable to regain his place, making only two further appearances.
Two months later, in April 1899, he signed for Middlesbrough again, but failing to break into the first team he was on the move again a year later joining Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. He spent four years at Ashton Gate helping City gain Football League status in 1901. In 1904 he was re-instated as an amateur, turning out for 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...
.
Later career
He developed hotel interests in CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and later Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. He returned to Middlesbrough F.C. for the third time becoming a director in February 1911. In July he was appointed chairman in place of the disgraced Thomas Gibson-Poole. He was charged with rebuilding the club following the match-fixing scandal involving Gibson-Poole and manager Andy Walker
Andy Walker (football manager)
Andy Walker was manager of English football team Middlesbrough F.C. from June 1910 to January 1911.Following Andy Aitken's departure in February 1909, Boro had been managed by secretary-manager John Gunter for sixteen months before Walker signed on 1910-06-27....
. He appointed Thomas H. McIntosh
Thomas H. McIntosh
Thomas Herbert McIntosh more commonly known as Thomas H. McIntosh was secretary manager of Darlington, Middlesbrough and Everton- Biography :He played for Darlington before becoming secretary manager in 1902...
as the new manager, who guided the club to their highest ever league position - third in the First Division in 1913-14 - but with a potential championship team taking shape his plans were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. During the war, Boro released their players and closed down, while Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
was used as a munitions store.
Bach served as chairman until 1925, and again from 1931 to 1935. He later served on the F.A. Council from 1925 until his death in 1937 and was on the international selection committee from October 1929. He was also on the Football League Management Committee and President of the North Eastern League.