| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ernie Machin | ||
| Date of birth | 26 April 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Walkden,[1][2] Greater Manchester, England | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 19??–1962 | Nelson | ||
| 1962–1963 | Coventry City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1963–1972 | Coventry City | 257 | (33) |
| 1972–1974 | Plymouth Argyle | 57 | (6) |
| 1974–1976 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 64 | (2) |
| Total | 378 | (42) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ernie Machin (born 26 April 1944) is a retired English-born footballer who played as a midfielder.
He began his career with Nelson,[1] before becoming one of Jimmy Hill's earliest signings for Coventry City in 1962.[3] He made his debut against Millwall on 8 April 1963 and went on to make 289 appearances for the club,[2] a figure which would have been considerably higher had it not been for long-term knee injuries.[3]
He then spent two years with Plymouth Argyle and made such an impression that he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2004, and was also included in their Team of the Century.[4] He finished his playing career with Brighton & Hove Albion beforee returning to Coventry City as a coach in 1976.[1] He is now retired after spending a number of years in the transport business.[5]
In 1972 he became the first English football player to successfully challenge a fine and suspension by the Football Association in the English courts. He was sent off in a game apparently for kicking an opponent, however TV evidence showed that he was innocent; nevertheless the FA noticed something else which he had done and upheld the disciplinary action on the basis of that without allowing him to present a defence. The courts ruled against the FA, and the PFA established the rights of players to legal representation in disciplinary cases.
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