Sam Ormerod
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ormerod was an English football player, referee and manager.
In the early years of football Ormerod was an influential figure in his home town, first as a player and then as one of the men who formed Accrington F.C.
, which later became one of the founder members of the Football League. By 1883 he was a referee. Officiating a Bolton Wanderers
match in November 1883, he was chased from the ground by a mob and assaulted at the railway station, an event which led the Football Association
to threaten Bolton with expulsion.
In 1895 Ormerod was appointed manager of Manchester City
, succeeding Joshua Parlby
. In his first season in charge the club finished second in the Second Division
, qualifying for the Test Matches, a nineteenth century equivalent of the promotion play-offs
. The club won only one of their four test matches, and failed to gain promotion. The following season was less successful with a sixth place finish for the club.
During Ormerod's tenure City's style of play combined physical defending with an attack spearheaded by Billie Gillespie
and Billy Meredith
. Gillespie was an Ormerod signing, who came to the club from Lincoln City
in 1897. A third place finish was achieved in 1898, and in 1898–99
Ormerod's City won the Second Division championship, earning automatic promotion
to the First Division
, the highest level of English football. This was the first time the Manchester club had achieved promotion.
City's debut season in the top flight resulted in a comfortable finish in the upper mid-table, and this successful period earned Ormerod the nickname "The Wizard of Longsight
". However, the club finished bottom of the First Division in the 1901–02 season
and were relegated. This, coupled with club debts of £1,000, led to Ormerod resigning in July 1902. After leaving the club he became manager of Stockport County
. In 1904 his former club invited him to travel to the FA Cup final as a thank you for his work. He later managed Clapton Orient
. He died in 1906 shortly after his departure from Clapton.
In the early years of football Ormerod was an influential figure in his home town, first as a player and then as one of the men who formed Accrington F.C.
Accrington F.C.
Accrington Football Club were an English football club from Accrington, Lancashire, who were one of the founder members of The Football League. Accrington F.C. was formed following a meeting at a local public house in 1876...
, which later became one of the founder members of the Football League. By 1883 he was a referee. Officiating a 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....
match in November 1883, he was chased from the ground by a mob and assaulted at the railway station, an event which led the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
to threaten Bolton with expulsion.
In 1895 Ormerod was appointed manager of 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...
, succeeding Joshua Parlby
Joshua Parlby
Joshua Parlby was an English football manager who managed Manchester City in the 1890s.Details of Parlby's life before he moved to Manchester are unclear, though some sources indicate he played for Stoke in the pre-professional era. Parlby moved to Manchester to run a public house...
. In his first season in charge the club finished second in the Second Division
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...
, qualifying for the Test Matches, a nineteenth century equivalent of the promotion play-offs
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
. The club won only one of their four test matches, and failed to gain promotion. The following season was less successful with a sixth place finish for the club.
During Ormerod's tenure City's style of play combined physical defending with an attack spearheaded by Billie Gillespie
Billie Gillespie
Billie Gillespie was an English football player who was a centre forward who 'hung around in the penalty circle and picked up lots of goals'. He played for Manchester City F.C. between 1896 and 1904 appearing 217 times and scoring 125 goals....
and Billy Meredith
Billy Meredith
William Henry "Billy" Meredith was a Welsh footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won each domestic trophy in the English football league and also gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he...
. Gillespie was an Ormerod signing, who came to the club from Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in 1897. A third place finish was achieved in 1898, and in 1898–99
1898-99 in English football
The 1898–99 season was the 28th season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the first season in which automatic promotion/relegation was introduced between the First and Second divisions. Both Divisions were expanded to 18 teams....
Ormerod's City won the Second Division championship, earning automatic promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, the highest level of English football. This was the first time the Manchester club had achieved promotion.
City's debut season in the top flight resulted in a comfortable finish in the upper mid-table, and this successful period earned Ormerod the nickname "The Wizard of Longsight
Longsight
Longsight is an area of Manchester, England, about south of the city centre. Its population is about 16,000.-History:Longsight has been known over the past for its gang related violence, similar to that of nearby Moss Side. Most of the violence came from tensions between 2 gangs; The Longsight...
". However, the club finished bottom of the First Division in the 1901–02 season
1901-02 in English football
The 1901–02 season was the 31st season of competitive football in England.-League changes:Doncaster Rovers and Burton United replaced Walsall and Burton Swifts in the Football League. Burton United were formed by a merger of Burton Swifts with former League side Burton Wanderers...
and were relegated. This, coupled with club debts of £1,000, led to Ormerod resigning in July 1902. After leaving the club he became manager of Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. In 1904 his former club invited him to travel to the FA Cup final as a thank you for his work. He later managed Clapton 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...
. He died in 1906 shortly after his departure from Clapton.