Sam Ellis

Sam Ellis
Personal information
Full name Samuel Ellis
Date of birth 12 September 1946 (1946-09-12) (age 65)
Place of birth Ashton-under-Lyne, England
Playing position Centre-half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1964–1972 Sheffield Wednesday 155 (1)
1972–1973 Mansfield Town 64 (7)
1973–1977 Lincoln City 173 (33)
1977–1979 Watford 30 (4)
Total 422 (45)
National team
1968–1969 England U-23 3 (0)
Teams managed
1982–1989 Blackpool
1989–1990 Bury
1994–1995 Lincoln City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Samuel "Sam" Ellis (born 12 September 1946 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester) is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of Sheffield United on December 30, 2010.

Contents

Career

In his younger days, Ellis played as a centre-half for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1960s. As a teenager he made his debut in the 1966 FA Cup final against Everton, in which his team lost 3–2.[1]. He then moved on to play for Mansfield Town, Lincoln City, and Watford. It was at Vicarage Road that he became coach and assistant manager to future England boss Graham Taylor. With Ellis' help, Watford climbed the divisions before turning down a new contract in favour of trying his hand at management. When the Blackpool job was advertised, Ellis applied and was given the job on 1 June 1982.[1]

Ellis was manager at the seaside for seven years, from 1982 to 1989, with no prior managerial experience under his belt, but the new board at Bloomfield Road were confident in his ability. Despite finishing in the bottom four of the Fourth Division in his first season, thus forcing the club to apply for re-election to the Football League, Ellis managed to turn the side around and gain promotion two years later with only limited funds handed to him. Although he kept the Tangerines in the Third Division, they were unable to make further progress and Ellis' contract was terminated on 28 March 1989,[1] with relegation looking a possibility.

Ellis then had a brief spell as manager of Bury before moving to Manchester City as Peter Reid's assistant manager. In 1994 he was appointed manager of Lincoln City before returning to Gigg Lane as Stan Ternent's assistant the following year. When Ternent moved to Burnley in 1998, Ellis followed him. After six years at Turf Moor, Ellis became assistant manager to Kevin Blackwell at Leeds United. Ellis later worked with Blackwell at Luton Town (after a spell at Stoke City) and, Sheffield United.[2]

Personal life

On October 31, 2001, Ellis' 28-year-old son, Timothy, was killed in a car accident.[3] Ellis' other son, Steven, is a professional rugby player.[4]

Honours

As a manager

Blackpool

References

  1. ^ a b Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905411-50-2. 

External links
Blackpool F.C. – managers
* as caretaker-manager
Bury F.C. – managers
Lincoln City F.C. – managers