Today in the big spending world of Chelsea and Manchester United, who throw millions away after glory, it’s nice to recall a bygone era, when every penny was counted.
Major Frank Buckley would certainly put today’s mangers to shame; I love the fact that he had a sign on the team bus offering his players for sale. This is from ‘Soccer’ by Denzil Batchelor published in 1954:-
“Major Frank Buckley, this remarkable manager had began as a £3 a week player and had won his international cap while on the books of Derby County. He came to Wolverhampton Wanderers as manager in 1927, to find the club facing an overdraft. He stayed at Molineux for eighteen years….and when he left had the satisfaction of knowing that there was a £50,000 credit in the bank.
He did more than achieve a profit. His plan, carried out to the last particular, was to make stars and sell them. He sold stars during his stay at Wovlerhampton, to the tune of £160,000 – it was said that when his team traveled to away matches by bus there was a placard on the windows: “Stop me and Buy One.” Buckley built new stands with the same money he made, rather than buy new stars. Between 1935 and 1939 he took over £110,000 in transfer fees and only spent £42,000 on new stock.”
