Sid Cann
Encyclopedia
Sydney Thomas Cann was an English professional football defender and football manager. He was capped twice by England
at Schools level.
from Babbacombe school in November 1928, making his league debut away to Crystal Palace
. After battling for a first team place with Willie Brown, he began the following season as a first choice, missing only a handful of games before moving to Manchester City
in March 1930.
He played 42 league games for the Maine Road side, appearing on the losing side in the 1933 FA Cup final, but was never a first team regular and moved to Charlton Athletic
in June 1935 and qualified as an FA Coach, making only 15 appearances as Charlton rose through the divisions prior to the onset of World War Two. He guested for Torquay United, Aldershot
and Bristol City
during the war, serving in the Army Physical Training Corps. Later during the war he qualified as a masseur (at the Bristol College of Physiotherapy) and joined Southampton
as a physio.
left for Fulham
, he was appointed manager, almost taking them to promotion from Division Two
in his first season in charge. He left the Dell in December 1951 after a fall-out with the board and took up a coaching role with the Football Association
.
side Wycombe Wanderers
and took them to 3rd place at the end of this first season, their highest finishing position for 23 years. In his 9 years in charge, he kept Wycombe constantly challenging for the league title, which they won in 1955-56 and 1956-57. They were also runners-up in 1957-58 and 1959-60, and reached the FA Amateur Cup
final in 1957.
He left Wycombe in July 1961 to take up a coaching position at Norwich City
, which he held until March the following year.
side Sutton United
and made an immediate impact, leading Sutton to the final of the FA Amateur Cup
at Wembley, where Sutton had never played before. The first two seasons of Cann's reign in Sutton saw good finishes in the Athenian League
, which led to an invite for the club to join the Isthmian League
.
Sutton confounded expectations in their first season by finishing in 4th place and remained in the top 10 for the next two seasons, before winning the title in 1966-67. A second defeat at Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup Final followed in 1969, with Sutton once more finishing in the top 3 in the table. The following season again saw Sutton challenging for the title, but they gained national prominence with a run in the FA Cup
which ended with a 6-0 defeat at home to the reigning league champions Leeds United
. He eventually left Sutton in the summer of 1973.
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...
at Schools level.
Playing career
Sid Cann joined Torquay UnitedTorquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
from Babbacombe school in November 1928, making his league debut away to 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...
. After battling for a first team place with Willie Brown, he began the following season as a first choice, missing only a handful of games before moving to 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...
in March 1930.
He played 42 league games for the Maine Road side, appearing on the losing side in the 1933 FA Cup final, but was never a first team regular and moved to 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,...
in June 1935 and qualified as an FA Coach, making only 15 appearances as Charlton rose through the divisions prior to the onset of World War Two. He guested for Torquay United, Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
and 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...
during the war, serving in the Army Physical Training Corps. Later during the war he qualified as a masseur (at the Bristol College of Physiotherapy) and joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as a physio.
Southampton
In June 1946 he was appointed assistant manager of Southampton and in August 1949, after Bill DodginBill Dodgin, Sr.
William "Bill" Dodgin was an English football player.Born in Gateshead, Dodgin played for Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Clapton Orient and Southampton, although his career was curtailed by the Second World War.After retiring as a player, he became coach and...
left for 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 was appointed manager, almost taking them to promotion from 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...
in his first season in charge. He left the Dell in December 1951 after a fall-out with the board and took up a coaching role with 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...
.
Wycombe Wanderers
In August 1952, he was appointed manager of Isthmian LeagueIsthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
side Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
and took them to 3rd place at the end of this first season, their highest finishing position for 23 years. In his 9 years in charge, he kept Wycombe constantly challenging for the league title, which they won in 1955-56 and 1956-57. They were also runners-up in 1957-58 and 1959-60, and reached the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
final in 1957.
He left Wycombe in July 1961 to take up a coaching position at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, which he held until March the following year.
Sutton United
In July 1962 he was appointed manager of Athenian LeagueAthenian League
The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined...
side Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
and made an immediate impact, leading Sutton to the final of the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
at Wembley, where Sutton had never played before. The first two seasons of Cann's reign in Sutton saw good finishes in the Athenian League
Athenian League
The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined...
, which led to an invite for the club to join the Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
.
Sutton confounded expectations in their first season by finishing in 4th place and remained in the top 10 for the next two seasons, before winning the title in 1966-67. A second defeat at Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup Final followed in 1969, with Sutton once more finishing in the top 3 in the table. The following season again saw Sutton challenging for the title, but they gained national prominence with a run in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
which ended with a 6-0 defeat at home to the reigning league champions 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...
. He eventually left Sutton in the summer of 1973.