BALD EAGLES-JOURNEYMEN

Sadly, within days of each other, two of our long serving and best respected  managers have died; both of them known for their hair styles, or lack of.

Ron Saunders, I saw as an old fashioned centre forward playing at Fratton Park for  Portsmouth in the late 1950s. He was losing it then!
Ron died on December 7th, aged 87, with a record of nearly 400 match appearances and over 200 goals. He was a prolific goalscorer. His career began at Tonbridge Angels and then a huge step to Everton in 1951. He then went to Everton, Gillingham, Portsmouth (1958-64) with 236 games under his belt. He had a short stay at Watford and then two years at Charlton Athletic, retiring in 1967. He played for 16 years.

After time on the pitch, Ron managed from 1974 until 1987, creating a record by looking after Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, a Midlands hat trick.
He had success at Villa with Football League Cups in 1975 and 1977, then the First Division (top div then) in 1980-1.
Prior to that he managed at Yeovil Town, Oxford Utd, Norwich city (2nd Div title) and Man City in 1973.

Jim Smith was 79 when he died recfently and although he had a modest playing career, starting at local club, Sheffield Utd, but not recording any games, he was a journeyman, who learned much about the game on his travels.
Next, he was playing at Aldershot in 1961, Halifax Town, Lincoln City, Boston Utd and Colchester in 1973, amounting 372 apps with 8 goals only!

He then managed around 1500 games, with 9 clubs, over 39 years.
He worked at Birmingham City from 1969 as player-manager,
Boston Utd: won Eastern Professional Floodlit League Cup 1972
Here Jim took Boston to the top of the Northern Premier League over three seasons and to the FA Cup 3rd Rd proper in 1972. He set a professional club record with 51 unbeaten games and
was signed by Colchester Utd (1972-5) who won the Football League 4th Div promotion 1974.
He went to Blackburn Rovers 1975-8,
Birmingham City (1978-82): in 1978 he was stepping into Alf Ramsey's shoes, as he resigned and Jim signed Trevor Francis as the first £1 million footballer. 
Winning the FL 2nd Div Promotion 1980

Then at Oxford United (1982-5): FLeague 3rd and 2nd Div promotion 1984,1985 to TOP FLIGHT.
Next QPR (1985-8), Newcastle Utd 1988-91, Portsmouth 1991-5, Derby County:FL 1st Div 1996 until 2001.
Then Coventry 2002, Portsmouth 2002, linking up with Harry Redknapp, gaining promotion to the Premier League 2002-3 and Harry then took him to Southampton 2004.

Jim finished at Oxford Utd 2006-8 (caretaker). He became the League Managers' Association  Chief Executive in 1995.
Remember all that?