• Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery
  INDIA SPURS:
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery

Hotspur Towers - Frank Brettell

24/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Another major milestone in Tottenham’s early history was the appointment of its first manager. Frank Brettell, was certainly a character, an Irish Liverpuddian, and has been described as ‘A jovial, assured but impatient man.’ He was secretary-manager of St Domingo’s (later Everton) whom he had helped found and also worked as a columnist and reporter for the Liverpool press. As well as being a pupil teacher (2)

Frank had started his playing career as a forward although later after an injury he converted into a goalkeeper. In 1883 the papers aid of him ‘No one has ever kept goal better than Frank Brettell.’  Another broken leg forced his retirement and he joined the club committee. In 1892 when Everton left Anfield he remained with the newly formed Liverpool. Later in 1896 he moved to become secretary-manager of Bolton Wanderers. The local paper here said he was ‘Willing to talk but rather lath to be dragged in to conversation which might savior of blowing his own trumpet with unnecessary force.’

Charles Roberts the Tottenham manager brought him to Spurs in March 1898 as the club was in the process of becoming a limited company. Tottenham were one of the top sides in the south and it was hoped Spurs could be lifted to match Southampton.  His first action was to bring several Wanderers players with him, much to the displeasure of the Bolton board.  Over the coming months he recruited a number of players including John Cameron who would succeed him and bring Tottenham’s first major honours.
Picture As drawn by the Liverpool press upon his move to Bolton.
Brettell left Tottenham in February 1899 (less than a year after joining) to join Portsmouth who doubled his wages. Its been suggested he had became frustrated with the slow progress of the club and with Roberts. 

The following season he would lead Portsmouth to second place in the table, finishing behind Spurs (1) when he promised other teams bonuses if they could beat Spurs.



During his time at Tottenham he won 37 of his 63 games whilst overhauling the squad. He was also in charge during that great FA Cup run in 1899 (3). At that point he would have been heavily involved in the office side of the club. The trainer (W.Brierley) would of done most of the work with the players and had a major say in team selection.
He would later move to Plymouth and was in charge for their first meeting with Spurs. Brettell may have been with the club just a short time but he laid some of the foundations for the future success not least his signing of Cameron. Frank died in 1936.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f - https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @ -  View Full Bio

Notes – 1 -Finding Glory.
2 -  1881 Census
3 – The First Great Cup run.
Extra thanks to  toffeeweb


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Features

    Flying Down to Rio
    History of T.H.F.C.
    Tribute to Bill Nicholson
    Talking Tottenham
    Early Legends
    The Road to Turin
    International Connections
    Hotspur Towers

    Most Read Articles

    The 100 Year War
    Interview with Marina Sirtis

    A Long Dark Shadow
    By Royal Appointment
    School Report: An Insight into the Younger Eric Dier
    Dear Jimmy
    All Change At Spurs
    Hotspur Towers
    History Of THFC: Part 1

    Passage to India: Rohan Rickets
    Thanks For The Memories
    Our Tommy Carroll
    The AVB Files: Part1 
    The Lilywhites 
    You The Jury
    The Hand Of Hugo
    Connection - Argentina
    Creating a Reputation
    One Hotspur


    Archives

    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Fanpost
    Interviews
    Keith Harrison
    Martin Cloake
    Match Preview
    News
    Nikhil Saglani
    Tactics
    Transfer
    Youth Team

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    View all titles
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recruitment
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery