Harry Catterick

Infobox Football biography
playername = Harry Catterick


fullname =
dateofbirth = 26 November 1919
cityofbirth = Darlington
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1985|3|9|1919|11|26|df=y
cityofdeath = Goodison Park, Liverpool
countryofdeath = England
height = 5 ft 9 in
position = Centre Forward
currentclub =
youthyears = Stockport County
Cheadle Heath Nomads
youthclubs =
years = 1946-1951
1951–1953
clubs = Everton
Crewe Alexandra
caps(goals) = 59(19)
24(11)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears = 1951–1953
1953–1958
1958-1961
1961-1973
1975-1977
managerclubs = Crewe Alexandra
Rochdale
Sheffield Wednesday
Everton
Preston North End

Harry Catterick (November 26, 1919 — March 9, 1985) was an English football player for Everton, but he is best remembered as the manager during one of Everton's most successful periods.

Playing career

Catterick played at amateur level for Stockport County where his father Henry was a coach and Cheadle Heath Nomads before signing for Everton in 1937 as an eighteen year old. Prior to turning professional he was an apprentice marine engineer.

However his professional career coincided with the second world war meaning his opportunities to play were limited. His wartime record scoring record with Everton was an impressive 55 goals in 71 games.

He finally made his league debut in August 1946 aged 27.

Managerial career

Everton

Catterick took over from Johnny Carey in 1961 and soon began to motivate the team and to make some astute signings. Under his authoritarian guidance, Everton won the Football League Championship in the 1962/63 season, the FA Cup in 1966, narrowly lost the 1968 FA Cup final with the young team that eventually dominated the 1969/70 season, winning the Championship again by one point short of a record points total. Catterick upheld Everton's tradition of cultured attacking football.

Many tipped Everton to dominate the 1970s under Catterick. However, the sale of Alan Ball to Arsenal and a dip in team morale saw Everton struggle in the league the following season. The effects of a great team now struggling had effects on Catterick's health, and he suffered a heart attack on 5 January 1972 due to the immense stress.

He was persuaded to accept the role of a non-executive director of the club in April 1973 and held that role until becoming manager of Preston North End from 27 August 1975 to May 1977.

The Shankly Rivalry

Whilst Shankly was an extrovert, Catterick was the opposite; an introvert. He despised the press giving information about his team out to the public, even simple details such as line ups. He requested that the players on the team sheet were listed in alphabetical order so that rival managers could not figure out the line up.

He is also famous for protesting against televised games as he wanted to keep Everton's playing style out of the public eye. Rival Shankly was the opposite, he welcomed televised matches as he felt it frightened opposing teams.

Catterick once gave an 'exclusive' story to a journalist that Everton had missed out on the signing of Preston North End's Howard Kendall and that Kendall had in fact opted to sign for city rivals Liverpool.

The journalist published the story in the newspaper but hours later Kendall had in fact signed for Everton. Harry Catterick had manipulated the media to score points off the field against Shankly.

An embarrassed Shankly later wrote his resignation letter, which was rejected.

Honours with Everton

*Old First Division Winners 1962–63
*Charity Shield Winners 1963
*FA Cup Winners 1966
*Old First Division Winners 1969–70
*Charity Shield Winners 1970

Death

He died after watching Everton draw 1-1 with Ipswich Town in an FA Cup Quarter Final at Goodison Park on 9 March 1985 of a heart attack. He was 65 years old, and his death came almost exactly five years after former Everon striker Dixie Dean had died while watching a game at the ground, also of a heart attack.

Everton won the replay 1-0 and the players wore a black armband in honour of Harry Catterick.