Tony Waddington - Managerial Career

Managerial Career

He joined Stoke City as a coach in 1952 and did well enough to be promoted to assistant manager to Frank Taylor and when Taylor was sacked in 1960 Waddington was given his position. His first task was to prevent a poor Stoke side slipping into the Third Division in 1960–61, achieving this by a mere three points. He brought in a defensive tactic to adverse Stoke's slide which became known as 'Waddington's Wall'. But Waddington knew that this wouldn't bring back the crowds back to the Victoria Ground and so he decided something needed to be done. He pulled off a master stroke after paying £3,000 to Blackpool for the returning 46 year old Stanley Matthews. Crowds instantly arrived in large numbers with Matthews first match back against Huddersfield Town more than 35,000 turned up a good 15,000 more than the last home match. A promotion push could not be sustained in 1961–62 but the feeling around the club had changed dramatically.

Promotion was achieved in a thrilling 1962–63 season which saw Stoke take the Second Division title. With the euphoria of winning promotion over, Waddington knew that his side had to be strengthened to have any hope of surviving in the First Division and he broke the clubs record transfer for Peter Dobing. He also brought in John Ritchie from non-league Kettering Town he would go on to become the club's record goalscorer. Stoke stayed up easily in 1963–64 and also reached the 1964 Football League Cup Final losing a 2 legged affair to Leicester City. Stoke then had several mid-table seasons before Waddington brought in World Cup winners George Eastham and Gordon Banks to the club in 1966–67. However two poor seasons followed 1967–68 and 1968–69 which saw Stoke narrowly avoid relegation. But another raid in the transfer market saw Stoke fortunes turn around dramatically, as Waddington brought in Jimmy Greenhoff and re-signed John Ritchie this combined with local players Alan Bloor, Denis Smith, Alan Dodd, Mike Pejic and Jackie Marsh plus the emergence of Terry Conroy, John Mahoney saw Stoke enjoy their best period in their history.

They reached the FA Cup semi-finals two seasons running in 1970–71 and in 1971–72 losing both controversially to Arsenal but the biggest achievement was guiding Stoke to their first major trophy, winning the 1972 League Cup beating Chelsea at Wembley. This saw Stoke able to attract some famous players to the club such as Alan Hudson, Geoff Hurst and Peter Shilton and by 1974–75 Stoke had become on of the best sides in the country playing an exciting brand of attacking football which saw them nearly win their first English league title.

But disaster struck in January 1976 as winds of hurricane force battered Stoke-on-Trent and the Victoria Ground was badly damaged. The roof of the Butler street stand collapsed and Stoke had to play a league match against Middlesbrough at nearby Vale Park whilst repair work was carried out. In order to pay for the repairs the club had to sell their best players, such as Jimmy Greenhoff to Manchester United, Alan Hudson to Arsenal and Mike Pejic to Everton. Waddington had to play inexperienced players in 1976–77 and with the side heading for relegation he left in March 1977. He had spent 25 years at the Victoria Ground as manager, assistant and coach as is considered to be the clubs greatest manager having helped them win their first major trophy in 1972.

He then spent two years out of the game before having had a two year spell in charge of Crewe Alexandra from 1979-1981. He returned to Stoke when he was appointed an associate director of the club in 1991 - a position he retained until his death in January 1994 at the age of 69. His son Steve was also a footballer.