RIVAL MANAGING

 

Taking the managership of your previous club's local rivals is very much the topic today. The issue has been around for seasons of course, which is why William E. Barclay is the starting point of this blog. He is the man with the "dog". (1892-6)

More recently, Rafa Benitez has got the pundits wagging, more of him later..... what's all the fuss about?

Others who have crossed the boundary line; Steve Bruce, double trouble- Birmingham City and Aston Villa +++ Sunderland and Newcastle ALSO Sam Allardyce-Newcastle and Sunderland, Bolton and Blackburn. Owen Coyle-Burnley, Bolton, Blackburn. Brian Clough-Derby County and Nottingham Forest. George Graham- Arsenal and Tottenham H. Alex McLeish-Birmingham, Aston Villa, Harry Redknapp-Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton. Danny Wilson- Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United. Paul Lambert-Norwich, Villa, Ipswich. Steve Coppell- Crystal Palace, Brighton.

William Edward Barclay (14 June 1857 – 30 January 1917) was the first manager of Everton and also the first manager of Liverpool, working with club secretary John MacKenna.

His time at Everton was short, managing them for their first 22 games. When the majority of the Everton set-up left Anfield (Everton's first "ground") in order to move to the purpose built Goodison Park, Barclay was one of the people who stayed to form a new club which eventually became Liverpool F.C.

While he was in charge of the side it won the Second Division championship in 1893–94, Liverpool got relegated from the First Division the following season (with Liverpool losing a "test match"** to Bury 1–0). However, in his last season as Liverpool manager, Barclay led the side to the Second Division championship in 1895–96.

** Test Matches were "play offs involving the potential promoting club  from the lower division and the potential "relegated" teams from the higher division.