Roy Little
Encyclopedia
Roy Little was an English football right back who was born in Manchester
. Once he left school at aged 14 he started working in rylands. His first professional club was Manchester City
, who he joined from amateur side Greenwood Victoria in August 1949. He did not make his league debut until more than three years later, playing against Liverpool
at Anfield
in January 1953. He made five further appearances that season, but the following season he displaced Jack Hannaway
to become first choice full-back. Under the Revie Plan
, Little formed a defensive partnership with Jimmy Meadows
, as Manchester City reached consecutive FA Cup finals.
In the 1955 FA Cup final, against Newcastle United
, Little's despairing lunge was unable to prevent a Jackie Milburn
from scoring the opening goal after less than a minute. Midway through the first half Little's defensive partner Meadows was lost to injury, and though Manchester City equalised, the final score was a comfortable 3–1 win for Newcastle. Though defeated in the 1955 final, Manchester City had another strong season in 1955–56
. Little was ever-present as City finished fourth in the league and again reached the FA Cup final, in which they faced Birmingham City
. This time Manchester City scored an early goal, and by the middle of the second half gained a 3–1 lead. A serious injury to Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
meant City captain Roy Paul
considered putting Little in goal. However, Trautmann insisted upon carrying on, and City held out for the victory, giving Little the first and only major honour of his career. Three days later X-rays found that Trautmann had broken his neck.
Little remained a first team regular for two further seasons, but lost his place to Cliff Sear
in 1958, and was transferred to Brighton
for £4,850 on 18 October, having played a total of 187 matches for City, scoring two goals. He later played for Crystal Palace
, who had just gained promotion to the Third Division
. He was one of four players to make their Palace debut on the opening day of the 1961–62 season. After 38 appearances for the Eagles Little ended his football career with a spell as player-manager of Dover
.
After retiring from professional football Little returned to Manchester, and took a job at a University of Manchester
sports centre in Wythenshawe
, where he worked for over 25 years until retirement. A university football competition is named in his honour.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Once he left school at aged 14 he started working in rylands. His first professional club was 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...
, who he joined from amateur side Greenwood Victoria in August 1949. He did not make his league debut until more than three years later, playing against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in January 1953. He made five further appearances that season, but the following season he displaced Jack Hannaway
Jack Hannaway
Jack Hannaway is an English former Association football player. He made over 250 Football League appearances for Manchester City, Gillingham and Southport in an eleven-year professional career.-References:...
to become first choice full-back. Under the Revie Plan
Revie Plan
The Revie Plan was a tactical system in association football used by Manchester City in the 1950s. The system was named after Manchester City player Don Revie, who had the most important role in it....
, Little formed a defensive partnership with Jimmy Meadows
Jimmy Meadows
James "Jimmy" Meadows was an England international who started his playing career in 1949 at Third-Division Southport, with whom, later in life, he had his most successful period in management...
, as Manchester City reached consecutive FA Cup finals.
In the 1955 FA Cup final, against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Little's despairing lunge was unable to prevent a Jackie Milburn
Jackie Milburn
John Edward Thompson 'Jackie' Milburn, , also known to fans as Wor Jackie and 'the first World Wor' in reference to his global fame, was a football player for Newcastle United and England...
from scoring the opening goal after less than a minute. Midway through the first half Little's defensive partner Meadows was lost to injury, and though Manchester City equalised, the final score was a comfortable 3–1 win for Newcastle. Though defeated in the 1955 final, Manchester City had another strong season in 1955–56
1955-56 in English football
The 1955–56 season was the 76th season of competitive football in England. The First Division was won by Manchester United, the fourth time they had won that particular accolade.-Awards:Football Writers' Association...
. Little was ever-present as City finished fourth in the league and again reached the FA Cup final, in which they faced Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. This time Manchester City scored an early goal, and by the middle of the second half gained a 3–1 lead. A serious injury to Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper...
meant City captain Roy Paul
Roy Paul
Roy Paul was a footballer who played as a half-back for Swansea Town and Manchester City...
considered putting Little in goal. However, Trautmann insisted upon carrying on, and City held out for the victory, giving Little the first and only major honour of his career. Three days later X-rays found that Trautmann had broken his neck.
Little remained a first team regular for two further seasons, but lost his place to Cliff Sear
Cliff Sear
Cliff Sear was a Welsh football left back who played for Manchester City between 1956 and 1967. During this time he made 250 appearances for the team and scored 1 goal....
in 1958, and was transferred to Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
for £4,850 on 18 October, having played a total of 187 matches for City, scoring two goals. He later played for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, who had just gained promotion to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. He was one of four players to make their Palace debut on the opening day of the 1961–62 season. After 38 appearances for the Eagles Little ended his football career with a spell as player-manager of Dover
Dover F.C.
Dover F.C. was a football club based in Dover, Kent, England. The club joined the Kent League in 1894, but folded in 1901. Dover F.C. was revived a year later, this time as a purely amateur club, and rejoined the Kent League, but folded again in 1909...
.
After retiring from professional football Little returned to Manchester, and took a job at a University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
sports centre in Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe
Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner...
, where he worked for over 25 years until retirement. A university football competition is named in his honour.