Notts County
Upon taking his new position Sirrel said "Ask any kid what he knows about Notts County and he'll tell you they're the oldest football team in the world. By the time I've finished he'll know a lot more," immediately endearing himself amongst the Notts County faithful.
From previous managers Jack Wheeler and Billy Gray, Sirrel had inherited a team including Don Masson, David Needham, Bob Worthington and Les Bradd, and his team would become increasingly difficult to beat. His first season in charge of the Magpies ended with a respectable seventh place finish after several seasons of struggle on the pitch and financial woes off it.
The following season the Magpies stormed their way to the Fourth Division Championship.
It would be the end of September before the Magpies would be beaten and the season would be completed without a single defeat at Meadow Lane. Sirrel built a solid defence, difficult to break down which would concede just 36 goals, while in front of goal, Sirrel built an equally impressive goalscoring side which would score an average of 2.47 goals per game.
The following season Notts excelled again, missing out on a second successive promotion by three points. Sirrel's status as a Notts County legend was fast become confirmed.
1972-73 started off slowly for the Magpies and by the end of the year they were languishing in 16th place. However, Notts would lose just twice more all season and secure second place and promotion into the Second Division following a final day 4-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers.
Sirrel had overseen a transformation of Notts which had seen them go from Division Four strugglers to a Division Two side in little under four years. For the next two seasons, the Magpies would finish with respectable midtable positions and looked to be heading that way again during 1975-76. Sirrel however announced that he would leave Notts County for Sheffield United and was appointed their new manager on 21 October 1975, replacing Ken Furphy.
Read more about this topic: Jimmy Sirrel
Famous quotes containing the word county:
“Don’t you know there are 200 temperance women in this county who control 200 votes. Why does a woman work for temperance? Because she’s tired of liftin’ that besotted mate of hers off the floor every Saturday night and puttin’ him on the sofa so he won’t catch cold. Tonight we’re for temperance. Help yourself to them cloves and chew them, chew them hard. We’re goin’ to that festival tonight smelling like a hot mince pie.”
—Laurence Stallings (1894–1968)