Tony Sealy
Encyclopedia
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy (born 7 May 1959) is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.
, London
, but signed his first professional contract with Southampton
in 1977. At the club, he appeared as a substitute in the 1979
League Cup
final. He was the second black
player to play for Southampton after Alf Charles
in 1937.
He signed with Crystal Palace
in 1979. Whilst at Palace he was sent on loan to Port Vale
in February 1980, after impressing there he returned in May of that year. He switched to QPR
in 1981. Sealy made his QPR debut in the 3–1 win over Derby County
in March 1981 and went on to play 63 league games, scoring 18 goals. He was lightning fast, and his best season came in QPR's promotion year of 1982–83 when he was top scorer (quite a feat when the like of Clive Allen
and Simon Stainrod
were in the team). Once more he came to Vale on loan, in February 1982, once again impressing, but the club could not afford to secure his services permanently and he returned to Rangers the following month.
After a loan spell with Fulham
, he moved to the club permanently in 1984. He had gotten into the habit of regularly moving from club to club, and in fact kept this habit up for the rest of his career. He joined Leicester City
in 1985, where he stayed for two years. He then left the UK
and played for Portuguese
sides Sporting Clube de Portugal and Sporting Braga, before returning to England to play for Brentford
, Swindon Town
and Bristol Rovers
. He then moved to Finland
with MYPA
, returning to Brentford in 1991, before moving to Hong Kong
the next year with Michelotti, Eastern AA
and Hong Kong FC.
in 1995, a position he maintained until 2002, when he was promoted to Operations Manager.
is also a football player. Jack played under Tony at HKFC before moving to Sun Hei in August 2011 in the 2011-12 Hong Kong First Division League season.
Playing career
Sealy was born in HackneyHackney Central
Hackney Central is the central district of the London Borough of Hackney in London, England. It comprises the area roughly surrounding, and extending north from Mare Street. It is situated north east of Charing Cross...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but signed his first professional contract with 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...
in 1977. At the club, he appeared as a substitute in the 1979
1979 Football League Cup Final
The 1979 Football League Cup Final took place on 17 March 1979 at Wembley Stadium. It was the nineteenth Football League Cup final and the thirteenth to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Nottingham Forest and Southampton. Forest were the hot favourites to win being the holders of the...
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. He was the second black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
player to play for Southampton after Alf Charles
Alf Charles
Alfred Pious Charles was a Trinidadian footballer who made one appearance in the Football League Second Division with Southampton in 1937...
in 1937.
He signed with 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...
in 1979. Whilst at Palace he was sent on loan to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in February 1980, after impressing there he returned in May of that year. He switched to QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in 1981. Sealy made his QPR debut in the 3–1 win over Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in March 1981 and went on to play 63 league games, scoring 18 goals. He was lightning fast, and his best season came in QPR's promotion year of 1982–83 when he was top scorer (quite a feat when the like of Clive Allen
Clive Allen
Clive Darren Allen is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961...
and Simon Stainrod
Simon Stainrod
Simon Allan Stainrod is an English former footballer most famously with Queens Park Rangers in the 1980s.-Career:...
were in the team). Once more he came to Vale on loan, in February 1982, once again impressing, but the club could not afford to secure his services permanently and he returned to Rangers the following month.
After a loan spell with 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 moved to the club permanently in 1984. He had gotten into the habit of regularly moving from club to club, and in fact kept this habit up for the rest of his career. He joined Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 1985, where he stayed for two years. He then left the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and played for Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
sides Sporting Clube de Portugal and Sporting Braga, before returning to England to play for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. He then moved to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
with MYPA
MyPa
Myllykosken Pallo –47 is a Finnish football club, based in the industrial town of Myllykoski, part of the city of Kouvola since January 2009. They currently play in the Finnish Premier Division...
, returning to Brentford in 1991, before moving to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
the next year with Michelotti, Eastern AA
Eastern AA
Eastern Athletic Association is a football club and now plays in Hong Kong Third Division "A" League. It was a very successful team especially in the 1990s and was given the name 'Eastern Dynasty'. Eastern had originally competed in Second Division League during 2006/07 season and demoted to Third...
and Hong Kong FC.
Management career
He became Manager of Hong Kong FCHong Kong FC
The Soccer Section of Hong Kong Football Club has few teams. The First Team is competitng in Hong Kong Second Division League.-History:...
in 1995, a position he maintained until 2002, when he was promoted to Operations Manager.
Personal life
Tony Sealy's son JackJack Sealy
Jonathan Jack Sealy , commonly known as Jack Sealy , is a professional footballer currently playing for Sun Hei SC in the 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League.-Early age:...
is also a football player. Jack played under Tony at HKFC before moving to Sun Hei in August 2011 in the 2011-12 Hong Kong First Division League season.
Honours
with Southampton- Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
runner-up: 19791979 Football League Cup FinalThe 1979 Football League Cup Final took place on 17 March 1979 at Wembley Stadium. It was the nineteenth Football League Cup final and the thirteenth to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Nottingham Forest and Southampton. Forest were the hot favourites to win being the holders of the...