David Calderhead
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| David Calderhead | |
| |
| Full Name | David Calderhead |
| Date of Birth | 19 June 1864 |
| Place of Birth | Hurlford, East Ayrshire |
| Chelsea career | 1907-1933 |
| Win percentage | - |
| Honours | None |
| Other clubs | Lincoln City |
- This is an article on David Calderhead the manager. For his son of the same name, who played under his father at Chelsea, see David Calderhead, Jnr.
David Calderhead (19 June 1864 – 9 January 1938) was manager of Chelsea from May 1907 to June 1933. He remains the longest serving manager in Chelsea's history. A former centre half for Notts County and a Scotland international, he managed Lincoln City prior to his 26 years at the helm at Stamford Bridge. He led Chelsea to the club's first FA Cup final, in 1915.
Before Chelsea
A centre half in his playing days, Calderhead spent 8 years at Queen of the South Wanderers in Dumfries. His one international cap – a 7-0 win against Ireland at Ibrox in the British Home Championship in March 1889 – led to interest from Notts County, for whom he signed the same year. He played in two FA Cup finals for County, the second of which resulted in victory; a 4-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in 1894.
Calderhead then moved into management; taking over at Lincoln City in 1900. He led his side to a replay victory over Chelsea in the 1906-07 FA Cup, impressing the Chelsea hierarchy sufficiently that they hired the Scot later in the year, taking over from caretaker-secretary-manager William Lewis. Calderhead brought Scottish winger Norrie Fairgray to London from his former club.
Chelsea career
Chelsea's first full-time secretary-manager, Calderhead endured six losses in seven games at the start of the 1907-08 season, but eventually led his side to 13th in the table. After consecutive mid-table finishes, Chelsea were relegated in 1910, before regaining top flight status at the second attempt. In 1915 Calderhead led Chelsea to their first FA Cup final, but they were beaten by Sheffield United 3-0 at Old Trafford in what was known as the "Khaki Final" due to the large number of uniformed servicemen in attendance as the First World War intensified. It would be the last final until after the War.
Calderhead's Chelsea were on course for a domestic double in 1919-20, but ultimately finished 3rd in the First Division and were denied in the FA Cup by Aston Villa. Despite this post-war promise, a second relegation for Calderhead and Chelsea followed in 1923-24, with the Blues eventually rejoining the top flight in 1930 after six seasons; Chelsea's longest spell outside England's top division.
Calderhead was notoriously shy of the media, earning the nickname "The Sphinx of Stamford Bridge". But he was not afraid to spend headline-making transfer fees on star strikers (especially fellow Scots), bringing the likes of Hughie Gallacher, Alex Jackson and Alec Cheyne to Stamford Bridge. Despite the glamour of the squad, trophies remained elusive. 1931-32 brought a further FA Cup semi final, but Chelsea lost to Newcastle United, with a Gallacher strike not enough after Tommy Lang had put the Tyneside club two goals in front.
The long-serving Scot spent one more season at the club, before leaving Chelsea in June 1933 after 966 games in charge, replaced by Leslie Knighton. Calderhead died five years after leaving Chelsea, at the age of 73. His son, also called David, played for Chelsea while Calderhead was manager and later managed Lincoln City.
Chelsea honours
- Runner-up: 1915
| Managers |
|---|
| Robertson (1905–06) • Lewis (1906–07) • Calderhead (1907–33) • Knighton (1933–39) • Birrell (1939–52) Drake (1952–61) • Docherty (1961–67) • Sexton (1967–74) • Suart (1974–75) • McCreadie (1975–77) • Shellito (1977–78) Blanchflower (1978–79) • Hurst (1979–81) • Neal (1981–85) • Hollins (1985–88) • Campbell (1988–91) Porterfield (1991–93) • Webb (1993) • Hoddle (1993–96) • Gullit (1996–98) • Vialli (1998–00) • Ranieri (2000–04) Mourinho (2004–07) • Grant (2007–08) • Scolari (2008–09) • Hiddink (2009) • Ancelotti (2009–11) Villas-Boas (2011–12) • Di Matteo (2012) • Benítez (2012–13) • Mourinho (2013–15) • Hiddink (2015–16) Conte (2016–) |
