BY his own admission, Ian Greaves was an "average" footballer, but leading Huddersfield Town and Wanderers to top flight promotions earned him a big reputation in the management game.
He was a gaffer respected and revered by the majority of those who played for him, many of whom went on to become managers or coaches in their own right: Peter Reid, Sam Allardyce, Mike Walsh and Frank Worthington all graduated into management from the Bolton team of 77-78 that won the old Second Division title after two agonising near-misses.
They were happy days for Wanderers and for Greaves, who is still in touch with many of his proteges. When he was sacked in January 1980 with Wanderers bottom of Division One and heading for relegation, his players were devastated. He went on to manage Oxford and Wolves before an enjoyable spell at Mansfield, where he won promotion from Division Four and Wembley success in the Freight Rover Trophy. But he regards promotion to Division One with Huddersfield in 1970 as his greatest achievement.
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"I've got the greatest affection for Bolton,," Greaves said, looking back on his Burnden days.
"I've never been happier in my life than I was there. But my best time was at Huddersfield, because I literally dragged them from nothing - and I say that with the greatest of modesty.
"I got my enthusiasm for management at Huddersfield. I'd been an average full-back and I was very fortunate to play for Manchester United, albeit for only 100 games or whatever.
"I had five or six clubs as a player, but I did 18 years, maybe a bit more as a manager.
"I'm not so sure I'd fancy it now, though, I'm 75 with a bad back. But I'd fancy it if I was young enough and, knowing what I know now, I might do better at it.
"It doesn't matter whether you've got 175 international caps or none. You just need something about you, like Reidy and Big Sam obviously have, looking at the succes they've had.
"They've never asked for too much advice, in fairness.
"I went to work with Peter at Manchester City, but he knew what he was doing. I couldn't predict how they'd do as managers, but full marks to both of them for the jobs they've done."
When I was a kid, my father, a foreman at Parkers garage on Bradshawgate, took me to an open day at BWFC. He and his colleagues had the contract to fix all the players' cars, and he got Ian Greaves to take me to the centre spot at Burnden Park. More than 30 years later and its still a cherished memory.
When I was a kid, my father, a foreman at Parkers garage on Bradshawgate, took me to an open day at BWFC. He and his colleagues had the contract to fix all the players' cars, and he got Ian Greaves to take me to the centre spot at Burnden Park. More than 30 years later and its still a cherished memory.
[quote][bold]voice of doom[/bold] wrote:
One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest[/quote] Quite right he was.
It didn't stop the idiots calling for his head when we were struggling in our second season in the top flight.
The directors obliged and freefall followed.
Many similarities to today,lets just hope the Chairmans a little stronger than back then.
voice of doom wrote:
One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest
Quite right he was.
It didn't stop the idiots calling for his head when we were struggling in our second season in the top flight.
The directors obliged and freefall followed.
Many similarities to today,lets just hope the Chairmans a little stronger than back then.
No idea why this article should pop up now, but Ian Greaves did a great job for us, the season we went up in 78 and our 1st season back in the top flight were fantastic achievements ie doing the double over Utd in 78/79, some of the football we played in those seasons puts todays lot to shame.
Of course once the inevitable decline set in, due to lack of investment, (sounds familiar??) he was summarily sacked, and look what happened after that!! Down to the 4th division within 7 years.
Do Directors and Chairmen never learn??
No idea why this article should pop up now, but Ian Greaves did a great job for us, the season we went up in 78 and our 1st season back in the top flight were fantastic achievements ie doing the double over Utd in 78/79, some of the football we played in those seasons puts todays lot to shame.
Of course once the inevitable decline set in, due to lack of investment, (sounds familiar??) he was summarily sacked, and look what happened after that!! Down to the 4th division within 7 years.
the thing that gets me about gartside is when things go wrong he just crawls under a rock and never explains himself.
he never explained why he didnt give big sam anymoney he just slated him.
he didnt explain why he appointed sammy lee and didnt apologise and admit he was to hasty.
didnt explain why he appointed megson. 'alot of people in football know why we have appointed megson' isnt an explanation.
why did the people at chelsea say the anelka deal was done months before we actually sold him?
why do we never get answers to these questions?? if there are reasons to these ludicrous actions then surely it would help you out to explain it to us?
the thing that gets me about gartside is when things go wrong he just crawls under a rock and never explains himself.
he never explained why he didnt give big sam anymoney he just slated him.
he didnt explain why he appointed sammy lee and didnt apologise and admit he was to hasty.
didnt explain why he appointed megson. 'alot of people in football know why we have appointed megson' isnt an explanation.
why did the people at chelsea say the anelka deal was done months before we actually sold him?
why do we never get answers to these questions?? if there are reasons to these ludicrous actions then surely it would help you out to explain it to us?
Posted by: il duce, bolton on 2:41am Wed 30 Apr 08
ok..... the point of this story being???????
this "paper" is an absolute joke. the supposed stories they have are just copied and pasted from other web sites and then not given in the proper context. headlines are invariably misleading. and the lack of any kind of investigative journalism makes you wonder what these guys are doing to earn their salary
ok..... the point of this story being???????
this "paper" is an absolute joke. the supposed stories they have are just copied and pasted from other web sites and then not given in the proper context. headlines are invariably misleading. and the lack of any kind of investigative journalism makes you wonder what these guys are doing to earn their salary
Posted by: PPAinsworth, Ainsworth on 3:37am Wed 30 Apr 08
A great manager in his time at Bolton,he employed a style of football which we have not enjoyed for many years (Rioch probably). Incidentally, he should have been on the ill fated Munich flight but was dropped for the game in Belgrade, and remained in Manchester. His best friend played in his place (cant remember his name) and was killed in the crash.
He still follows the whites progress (or in the case of this season ...their demise),with interest, and lives locally. Unfortunately, He rarely attends matches due to his aforementioned health problems. Phil Parker
A great manager in his time at Bolton,he employed a style of football which we have not enjoyed for many years (Rioch probably). Incidentally, he should have been on the ill fated Munich flight but was dropped for the game in Belgrade, and remained in Manchester. His best friend played in his place (cant remember his name) and was killed in the crash.
He still follows the whites progress (or in the case of this season ...their demise),with interest, and lives locally. Unfortunately, He rarely attends matches due to his aforementioned health problems. Phil Parker
Posted by: Gareth Jones, Australia on 4:45am Wed 30 Apr 08
As a regular at Burnden throughout the 1970s, I remember when Ian Greaves first came to Wanderers. We had taken our seats in the stand when a guy with a full head of steel grey hair came out of the tunnel under the stand.
I turned to a friend and asked: "Who's that?"
And he said: "It's Ian Greaves."
I knew Greaves had a good reputation, but I was expecting someone a little younger. Ian is 75 now, but I will always remember him by his steel grey hair, which he had even then.
While I'm talking of things 1970s, I was at a game around that time, when an incident occurred in the stand that always puzzled me. At this particular match in the mid 70s, Ian St John made an appearance in the stand, and he was absolutely excoriated by the crowd: jeers, boos, whistles - the lot!
I might be missing something, but why was St John so unpopular with the crowd at that time? Surely it can't be just his Liverpool credentials.
As a regular at Burnden throughout the 1970s, I remember when Ian Greaves first came to Wanderers. We had taken our seats in the stand when a guy with a full head of steel grey hair came out of the tunnel under the stand.
I turned to a friend and asked: "Who's that?"
And he said: "It's Ian Greaves."
I knew Greaves had a good reputation, but I was expecting someone a little younger. Ian is 75 now, but I will always remember him by his steel grey hair, which he had even then.
While I'm talking of things 1970s, I was at a game around that time, when an incident occurred in the stand that always puzzled me. At this particular match in the mid 70s, Ian St John made an appearance in the stand, and he was absolutely excoriated by the crowd: jeers, boos, whistles - the lot!
I might be missing something, but why was St John so unpopular with the crowd at that time? Surely it can't be just his Liverpool credentials.
Le Roi,is your arse still twitching this morning .
Proud ,played off the park more like it.
Its a good job they were trying to walk the ball in the net instead of just sticking them away!
All this we have the best player in the world at United.
Messi must be on another planet then.
Sorry fellow Bolton fans for rising to the bait.
But as much as I liked Ian Greaves ,I dont want to talk about him at this stage of the season.
Come on Spurs!
Le Roi,is your arse still twitching this morning .
Proud ,played off the park more like it.
Its a good job they were trying to walk the ball in the net instead of just sticking them away!
All this we have the best player in the world at United.
Messi must be on another planet then.
Sorry fellow Bolton fans for rising to the bait.
But as much as I liked Ian Greaves ,I dont want to talk about him at this stage of the season.
Come on Spurs!
[quote][bold]steve[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]voice of doom[/bold] wrote: One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest[/quote] Quite right he was. It didn't stop the idiots calling for his head when we were struggling in our second season in the top flight. The directors obliged and freefall followed. Many similarities to today,lets just hope the Chairmans a little stronger than back then.[/quote] Difference being - Greaves was a great manager - Megson is a no hoper who knows little about the game - apart from what he plays on the X-box!
If you want Gartside to be strong then he should be sacking egson before he demolishes the team even more - remember apart from 3 players all the others are under threat of being sold off due to the fact they are NOT players that he bought/brought!
steve wrote:
voice of doom wrote: One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest
Quite right he was. It didn't stop the idiots calling for his head when we were struggling in our second season in the top flight. The directors obliged and freefall followed. Many similarities to today,lets just hope the Chairmans a little stronger than back then.
Difference being - Greaves was a great manager - Megson is a no hoper who knows little about the game - apart from what he plays on the X-box!
If you want Gartside to be strong then he should be sacking egson before he demolishes the team even more - remember apart from 3 players all the others are under threat of being sold off due to the fact they are NOT players that he bought/brought!
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
I don't give a flying flip, all I know is we are going to Moscow. Fully deserved. You should be so proud for our city.[/quote] warum?
LIVERPOOL - come on the scouse Reds - beat the Russians tonight and then beat the SCUM in the final!!
Le Roi wrote:
I don't give a flying flip, all I know is we are going to Moscow. Fully deserved. You should be so proud for our city.
warum?
LIVERPOOL - come on the scouse Reds - beat the Russians tonight and then beat the SCUM in the final!!
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
Well done United you have made all of Manchester and its suburbs like Bolton very proud[/quote] Funny, I thought that there was another city in between Manchester and the great TOWN of Bolton!!!!!
Doesn't it go
Bolton
City of Salford
Scumchester
If I am right - then how CAN we be a suburb of Scum!!!!
Le Roi wrote:
Well done United you have made all of Manchester and its suburbs like Bolton very proud
Funny, I thought that there was another city in between Manchester and the great TOWN of Bolton!!!!!
Doesn't it go
Bolton
City of Salford
Scumchester
If I am right - then how CAN we be a suburb of Scum!!!!
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
Scouse ? 2 players ? All of England should have been shouting on the Reds last night. Otherwise you should be hung as traitors.[/quote] England - hmmmmmmm
Traitors - more like martyrs not to watch the Reds - At least I was watching the BETTER team - Barcelona!
At least tonight I will be shouting for the Reds - the true European RED team. Liverpool!!! Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????
Le Roi wrote:
Scouse ? 2 players ? All of England should have been shouting on the Reds last night. Otherwise you should be hung as traitors.
England - hmmmmmmm
Traitors - more like martyrs not to watch the Reds - At least I was watching the BETTER team - Barcelona!
At least tonight I will be shouting for the Reds - the true European RED team. Liverpool!!! Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
You are one of 10 boroughs that make up Greater Manchester. Be proud. Be very proud.[/quote] Why?????
We are NOT Manchester's neighbours - Manchester takes money AWAY from Bolton!!! The sooner we separate all our services from Greater Manchester and pay Lancashire services, the better. Lancashire police, Lancashire Fire, Lancashire ambulance etc... are all cheaper than Greater Manchester.
and for a fact - GREATER Manchester does NOT exist - it is a political area but as a uniformed part of the region - no!, because all the towns and cities are metropolitan boroughs of their OWN
Le Roi wrote:
You are one of 10 boroughs that make up Greater Manchester. Be proud. Be very proud.
Why?????
We are NOT Manchester's neighbours - Manchester takes money AWAY from Bolton!!! The sooner we separate all our services from Greater Manchester and pay Lancashire services, the better. Lancashire police, Lancashire Fire, Lancashire ambulance etc... are all cheaper than Greater Manchester.
and for a fact - GREATER Manchester does NOT exist - it is a political area but as a uniformed part of the region - no!, because all the towns and cities are metropolitan boroughs of their OWN
[quote]Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????[/quote]
This morning I don't give a toss.
It's the future I'm bothered about. Not history.
Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????
This morning I don't give a toss.
It's the future I'm bothered about. Not history.
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????[/quote] This morning I don't give a toss. It's the future I'm bothered about. Not history.[/quote] Liverpool IS the future.
There is no other club like Liverpool when it comes to winning European cups!!!
Le Roi wrote:
Now which English club team has won more European awards than any other??????
This morning I don't give a toss. It's the future I'm bothered about. Not history.
Liverpool IS the future.
There is no other club like Liverpool when it comes to winning European cups!!!
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
BTW Hargreaves Ferdinand Brown Scholes Carrick All on the pitch. All English.[/quote] Wasn't Hargreaves born overseas - he only has relations living in BOLTON (Horwich).
If Scum city is the be all of all English cities, then why do players live in Alderley Edge (Cheshire) and even on the outskirts of Chorley (Adlington) in Lancashire!!!!!
Le Roi wrote:
BTW Hargreaves Ferdinand Brown Scholes Carrick All on the pitch. All English.
Wasn't Hargreaves born overseas - he only has relations living in BOLTON (Horwich).
If Scum city is the be all of all English cities, then why do players live in Alderley Edge (Cheshire) and even on the outskirts of Chorley (Adlington) in Lancashire!!!!!
Also why do Manchester United not play in Manchester but in the neighbouring town of Trafford?
At least when Bolton moved, unfortunately, we stayed in the Borough of Bolton
Also why do Manchester United not play in Manchester but in the neighbouring town of Trafford?
At least when Bolton moved, unfortunately, we stayed in the Borough of Bolton
Posted by: wrothy, westhoughton on 8:44am Wed 30 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
What has any of this got to do with football ? It's a day for all of us to rejoice.[/quote] get to the job center pal posting crap on here at 2.45am another salford parasite you are the reason we have to fill our country with poles
now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone moran
Le Roi wrote:
What has any of this got to do with football ? It's a day for all of us to rejoice.
get to the job center pal posting crap on here at 2.45am another salford parasite you are the reason we have to fill our country with poles
now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone moran
Posted by: dirkdiggler, Morecambe on 8:54am Wed 30 Apr 08
As a regular at Burnden in th 70's I would just like to say thanks to Greavsie and George M. for some of the most exciting, entertaining and 'enjoyable' football we have seen in the modern era. Give me a time machine and I'd be back at Burnden for those 3 promotion pushing seasons every other satuday, miles better than the bloody breezeblock!
As a regular at Burnden in th 70's I would just like to say thanks to Greavsie and George M. for some of the most exciting, entertaining and 'enjoyable' football we have seen in the modern era. Give me a time machine and I'd be back at Burnden for those 3 promotion pushing seasons every other satuday, miles better than the bloody breezeblock!
[quote]now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone [bold]moran[/bold] [/quote]
Here's a little tip.
Before you call someone a 'moron', take the trouble to spell it right.
Congratulations, you've just won "Numpty of the Week".
now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone moran
Here's a little tip.
Before you call someone a 'moron', take the trouble to spell it right.
Congratulations, you've just won "Numpty of the Week".
Posted by: wrothy, westhoughton on 10:23am Wed 30 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
[quote]now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone [bold]moran[/bold] [/quote] Here's a little tip. Before you call someone a 'moron', take the trouble to spell it right. Congratulations, you've just won "Numpty of the Week".[/quote] just finished a 10 hour shift numpty,something you will know nowt about frank,
Le Roi wrote:
now get back to chatsworth and leave us alone moran
Here's a little tip. Before you call someone a 'moron', take the trouble to spell it right. Congratulations, you've just won "Numpty of the Week".
just finished a 10 hour shift numpty,something you will know nowt about frank,
Posted by: wrothy, westhoughton on 11:25am Wed 30 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Le Roi[/bold] wrote:
Aaah a **** handed son of toil. Some of us work freelance, from home, from abroad.... So no you're right a 10 hour shift is not pour moi.[/quote] FREELANCE hAhA HA WERE IN THE BLUEBELL AT LITTLE HULTON?????
FULL OV SH1TE MUCKER
Le Roi wrote:
Aaah a **** handed son of toil. Some of us work freelance, from home, from abroad.... So no you're right a 10 hour shift is not pour moi.
FREELANCE hAhA HA WERE IN THE BLUEBELL AT LITTLE HULTON?????
FULL OV SH1TE MUCKER
Posted by: warwickshire white, Leamington Spa on 11:12am Thu 1 May 08
[quote][bold]dirkdiggler[/bold] wrote:
As a regular at Burnden in th 70's I would just like to say thanks to Greavsie and George M. for some of the most exciting, entertaining and 'enjoyable' football we have seen in the modern era. Give me a time machine and I'd be back at Burnden for those 3 promotion pushing seasons every other satuday, miles better than the bloody breezeblock![/quote] Spot on.
Packed terraces, noise, songs, players giving their all....now think of football today!
dirkdiggler wrote:
As a regular at Burnden in th 70's I would just like to say thanks to Greavsie and George M. for some of the most exciting, entertaining and 'enjoyable' football we have seen in the modern era. Give me a time machine and I'd be back at Burnden for those 3 promotion pushing seasons every other satuday, miles better than the bloody breezeblock!
Spot on.
Packed terraces, noise, songs, players giving their all....now think of football today!
[quote][bold]voice of doom[/bold] wrote:
One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest[/quote] What about Jimmy Armfield who built Greaves team....
voice of doom wrote:
One of the better managers we have had in the last 50 years along with Rioch and BSA - u can keep the rest
What about Jimmy Armfield who built Greaves team....
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