Harry Catterick facts for kids

Harry Catterick (born November 26, 1919 – died March 9, 1985) was a famous English football player and manager. He played for teams like Everton and Crewe Alexandra. His playing career was interrupted by World War II. However, Harry Catterick is best known for his amazing work as a manager. He led Everton to win the top English football league twice and also the FA Cup. Many people see him as one of Everton's most successful managers ever.

Harry Catterick's Football Journey

Playing Days: A Wartime Story

Harry Catterick's father, Harry Catterick Sr, was also a football player and coach. Young Harry played for school teams and local clubs before joining Everton part-time in 1937 when he was 18. At the same time, he was training to be a marine engine engineer.

Sadly, his professional football career started just as World War II began. This meant he couldn't play as many official games as he would have liked. During the war, he still scored an impressive 55 goals in 71 games for Everton. He also played for other teams like Manchester United during this time. He finally made his official league debut in August 1946, when he was 26 years old.

Becoming a Top Manager

After his playing career, Harry Catterick became a football manager. He managed Crewe Alexandra and Rochdale before joining Sheffield Wednesday.

Success at Sheffield Wednesday

In 1958, Catterick became the manager of Sheffield Wednesday. He had a lot of success in his three years there. He led the team to win the Division 2 title in 1959. The next season, they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. In his final season, Wednesday finished second in the league to Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham won both the league and the FA Cup that year. Catterick left Sheffield Wednesday to join Everton.

Leading Everton to Glory

Harry Catterick took over as manager of Everton in 1961. He quickly made the team stronger and signed some very talented players. Under his strict but fair leadership, Everton won the First Division Championship in the 1962–63 season. They also won the 1966 FA Cup Final.

Even though they lost the 1968 FA Cup Final, his young team came back strong. They dominated the 1969–70 season, winning the Championship again. They almost set a new record for points that season. Catterick made sure Everton continued its tradition of playing skillful, attacking football.

Many people thought Everton would be the best team throughout the 1970s under Catterick. However, the team's performance dropped the next season. The sale of star player Alan Ball in 1971 surprised many fans. The stress of the team's struggles affected Catterick's health. He had a serious heart attack in January 1972. He spent time in the hospital and said it took him a year to fully recover.

He later took on a different role at the club in 1973. Then, in 1975, he became the manager of Preston North End until 1977. After that, he worked as a scout for Southampton.

The Rivalry with Bill Shankly

Harry Catterick was very different from Bill Shankly, the manager of Everton's big rivals, Liverpool. Shankly was outgoing and loved talking to the press. Catterick was the opposite; he was quiet and private.

Catterick didn't like the media sharing information about his team. He even listed players on the team-sheet in alphabetical order. This was so rival managers wouldn't know Everton's starting line-up or formation. He also disliked televised games because he wanted to keep Everton's playing style a secret from other teams. Shankly, however, welcomed televised matches. He thought it would scare opposing teams to see Liverpool play so well.

There's a famous story about Catterick tricking a journalist. He told the journalist that Everton had failed to sign Howard Kendall and that Kendall was going to Liverpool instead. The journalist published the story. But just hours later, Kendall actually signed for Everton! People say Catterick did this to play mind games with Shankly.

His Final Years and Legacy

Harry Catterick passed away from a heart attack on March 9, 1985. He was 65 years old. He died shortly after watching Everton draw a game at Goodison Park. It was a sad day for Everton fans, as it happened almost exactly five years after another Everton legend, Dixie Dean, had also died at the stadium from a heart attack. Everton's players wore black armbands in his honor in their next game.

Harry Catterick is buried in the graveyard of St Anne's Church, St Anne's-on-the-Sea. His gravestone has the Everton motto: "Nil satis nisi optimum," which means "Nothing but the best is good enough."

Achievements and Trophies

Manager

Sheffield Wednesday

• Football League Second Division: 1958–59

Everton

• First Division: 1962–63, 1969–70
• FA Cup: 1965–66
• FA Charity Shield: 1963, 1970

See Also

• List of English football championship-winning managers