Sean Haslegrave
Encyclopedia
Sean Matthew Haslegrave (born 7 June 1951) is an English
former professional footballer
. He is currently football coach at Cardinal Newman College
in Preston and head coach of the English Colleges Team. He was born in Stoke-on-Trent
.
when he was 15, but was rejected due to his small stature. On leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a welder and played football for local amateur sides. One of Haslegrave's childhood ambitions was Ballet. He notoriously headlined a Dynomsky ballet piece at Jubille Hall, West Sussex for the then Earl of Rochester. He later dropped his dancing ambitions in late November 1968, when he signed professional terms with Stoke City FC.
In November 1968 Haslegrave finally signed for Stoke City, by now under Tony Waddington
's management, making his first team debut in 1970. He soon became a regular and would have played for Stoke in the 1972 League Cup
Final at Wembley but for a knee injury.
In July 1976 Haslegrave signed for Nottingham Forest
for a fee of £50,000. Injuries severely restricted his chances at Forest as did the likes of John McGovern
, Ian Bowyer
and Martin O'Neill
.
When Forest signed Scottish
international Archie Gemmill
in September 1977, Haslegrave was further down the pecking order. On 29 September 1977, Haslegrave left to join Preston North End
, managed by England
World Cup star Nobby Stiles
for a fee of £25,000. At the end of the season Preston were promoted to the Second Division (now the Football League Championship
) with Haslegrave a regular in midfield. After two successful seasons, Preston struggled in 1980-81 and were eventually relegated on the last day of the season. Stiles was sacked soon afterwards and Haslegrave was released.
Haslegrave signed for Crewe Alexandra
in August 1981 and after two seasons with a struggling Crewe side moved to York City
, where his former Stoke teammate Denis Smith was manager. He helped York to promotion to the Third Division, with a record points haul, and made over 150 first team appearances in four seasons.
In August 1987, Haslegrave joined a Torquay side that had just avoided relegation out of the league in the last few minutes of the previous season. However, under new manager Cyril Knowles
the side was transformed and reached the Fourth Division play-offs and the Sherpa Van Trophy
final at Wembley. Haslegrave began coaching at Torquay and by the time he left in 1989 had become Knowles' assistant. He was described in an autobiography by former England player Lee Sharpe
, who had joined Torquay as an apprentice during Haslegrave's first season at the club, as the 'ultimate midfield terrier'.
On retiring he returned to Preston North End to coach the youth team and became Director of the club's Centre of Excellence. On leaving North End he became Head Coach at Cardinal Newman College
and subsequently was also invited to coach the English Colleges side.
Haslegrave holds a UEFA (A) coaching badge and is a representative of Anglo-Deities United, a Lancashire based charity which deals with the elderly.
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...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He is currently football coach at Cardinal Newman College
Cardinal Newman College
Cardinal Newman College is a Catholic sixth form college in the Frenchwood area of Preston. The college's performance at both A and AS-level in 2008 was ranked as the best sixth form college in the country, and 54th amongst all schools.-History:...
in Preston and head coach of the English Colleges Team. He was born in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
Football career
Haslegrave had a trial with his local side Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
when he was 15, but was rejected due to his small stature. On leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a welder and played football for local amateur sides. One of Haslegrave's childhood ambitions was Ballet. He notoriously headlined a Dynomsky ballet piece at Jubille Hall, West Sussex for the then Earl of Rochester. He later dropped his dancing ambitions in late November 1968, when he signed professional terms with Stoke City FC.
In November 1968 Haslegrave finally signed for Stoke City, by now under Tony Waddington
Tony Waddington
Anthony Waddington was an English football player and manager. He managed Stoke City F.C. from 1960 until 1977 and guided them to their only major trophy - the League Cup in 1972. He later managed his only playing club, Crewe Alexandra, from June 1979 to July 1981...
's management, making his first team debut in 1970. He soon became a regular and would have played for Stoke in the 1972 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final at Wembley but for a knee injury.
In July 1976 Haslegrave signed for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
for a fee of £50,000. Injuries severely restricted his chances at Forest as did the likes of John McGovern
John McGovern
John McGovern may refer to:*John McGovern , American football quarterback for the University of Minnesota*John McGovern , European Cup winning captain...
, Ian Bowyer
Ian Bowyer
Ian Bowyer is a former English footballer who spent much of his career at Nottingham Forest, and was part of their European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. He has also had spells as a coach and manager...
and Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
.
When Forest signed Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international Archie Gemmill
Archie Gemmill
Archibald "Archie" Gemmill is a Scottish former footballer, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands in the 1978 FIFA World Cup...
in September 1977, Haslegrave was further down the pecking order. On 29 September 1977, Haslegrave left to join 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...
, managed by 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...
World Cup star Nobby Stiles
Nobby Stiles
Norbert "Nobby" Peter Stiles MBE is a retired English footballer. He was born in Collyhurst, Manchester.Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign...
for a fee of £25,000. At the end of the season Preston were promoted to the Second Division (now the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
) with Haslegrave a regular in midfield. After two successful seasons, Preston struggled in 1980-81 and were eventually relegated on the last day of the season. Stiles was sacked soon afterwards and Haslegrave was released.
Haslegrave signed for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in August 1981 and after two seasons with a struggling Crewe side moved to York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, where his former Stoke teammate Denis Smith was manager. He helped York to promotion to the Third Division, with a record points haul, and made over 150 first team appearances in four seasons.
In August 1987, Haslegrave joined a Torquay side that had just avoided relegation out of the league in the last few minutes of the previous season. However, under new manager Cyril Knowles
Cyril Knowles
Cyril Barry Knowles was a footballer who played full-back for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He was the brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Knowles.- Early career :...
the side was transformed and reached the Fourth Division play-offs and the Sherpa Van 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...
final at Wembley. Haslegrave began coaching at Torquay and by the time he left in 1989 had become Knowles' assistant. He was described in an autobiography by former England player Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
, who had joined Torquay as an apprentice during Haslegrave's first season at the club, as the 'ultimate midfield terrier'.
On retiring he returned to Preston North End to coach the youth team and became Director of the club's Centre of Excellence. On leaving North End he became Head Coach at Cardinal Newman College
Cardinal Newman College
Cardinal Newman College is a Catholic sixth form college in the Frenchwood area of Preston. The college's performance at both A and AS-level in 2008 was ranked as the best sixth form college in the country, and 54th amongst all schools.-History:...
and subsequently was also invited to coach the English Colleges side.
Haslegrave holds a UEFA (A) coaching badge and is a representative of Anglo-Deities United, a Lancashire based charity which deals with the elderly.