- Eric Houghton
William Eric Houghton (
29 June 1910 -1 May 1996 ), was an English footballer and manager.Eric Houghton was born in
Billingborough, Lincolnshire and educated at Donnington Grammar School. He signed for Aston Villa as a seventeen-year-old and played in the Villa side for two decades, scoring 170 goals in 392 games. (The total including war-time matches was over 200 goals.) He also won 7 caps for England. His formidable and powerful shot was regarded as the hardest shot of his era. Houghton converted 58 spot kicks and also scored direct from about 30 free-kicks.He finished his playing career at Notts County.
He went on to become Aston Villa manager, winning the
FA Cup in 1957, and after a spell managing Notts County, he returned to Villa as a director, the only person to do this at the club. He had 4 children. Often referred to as Mr Aston Villa in recognition of his long standing service and contribution to the club.He also played seven first-class matches as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler for
Warwickshire County Cricket Club (1946-1947) and also minor counties cricket forLincolnshire County Cricket Club . He also played club cricket for Sleaford, Aston Unity and Olton Cricket Clubs.He died in
Sutton Coldfield aged 85.External links
* [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3388/3388.html Eric Houghton] at Cricket Archive
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/14277.html Eric Houghton] at Cricinfo
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