Eric was 81 years old and he spent 27 years at United, mainly as the Youth team coach and player developer.
His playing history was modest having been born in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, he played at Halifax Town. In the late 60s and early 70s he turned out at Barrow FC and was described as a hard and strong defender. It was noticeable that he didn't mollycoddle his young footballers, making sure that they experienced tough as well as skill moments when they were with him.
He showed his resilience having played more than 500 games in the 3rd and 4th Divisions and on one Saturday was married in the morning and played in a Halifax v Shrewsbury league match in the afternoon.
He once described a newly appointed Hartlepool United manager as someone who slaughtered you when you played badly and made you feel ten feet tall when you played well. Eric preferred to make players feel ten feet tall all the time! The manager was Brian Clough. Harrison sometime described his job as 90% arm round and 10% kick up the back side! He worked at Southport and Scarborough before taking the Everton Youth team to the FA Youth Cup Final in 1977. He then went to Man U with Ron Atkinson.
I saw him coach at Old Trafford once, working with young United players. He had a magic touch.
Having worked alongside Mark Hughes on the Welsh international bench, he was awarded the MBE in 2018 but couldn't travel to receive his award due to his dementia. When he was ill, Beckham, Giggs and Scholes made the effort to visit him bringing him a homemade carrot cake and a bottle of whiskey!
Still very much alive, another highly successful youth coach is on the move! Tony Carr, born in Bow, East London, is published as a youth football coach and his massive influence has been developing young players at West Ham United for 36 years, remaining the common factor when managers have come and gone. He helped Bobby Moore, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard through their early careers, coaching for 40 years at the same club. Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe and Joe Cole are a few more of his legacy. The 2010 World Cup squad included those mentioned above as well as Glen Johnson and John Terry...all his! There are many more.
At 68, he is 3 years younger than Roy Hodgson and now is limited to working occasionally with young coaches in the Premier League. Carr left West Ham in 2016 after 43 years, having been "eased aside" to an "ambassadorial role" in 2014. His treatment was thought to be disrespectful and he now only attends Hammers' matches when friends have tickets! Considering his "finds" have earned over £80 million in transfers, it seems a poor way to show gratitude, although he has had a "testimonial".
Carr was awarded his MBE in 2010, so somebody loves him.
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