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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Stanley Seymour | ||
| Date of birth | 16 May 1895 | ||
| Place of birth | Kelloe, England | ||
| Date of death | 24 December 1978 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
| Playing position | Winger, Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1909–1911 | Shilton Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1911–1912 | Bradford City | 1 | (0) |
| 1912–1920 | Greenock Morton | ||
| 1920–1929 | Newcastle United | 242 | (73) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1925–1926 | England | 2 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1950–1954 | Newcastle United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:10, 24 May 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Stan Seymour (16 May 1895 – 24 December 1978) was a footballer who played, managed, chairmanned, and directed Newcastle United. Born in Kelloe, Seymour is one of the all-time Newcastle United greats, and was known as 'Mr. Newcastle United' after the various years and roles he delivered for the club. As a player, despite his small physique, he was famous for tearing defences from down the left wing.
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After originally being rejected by Newcastle United as a teenager; the local pit worker was told to 'come back when you grow up', he played some non-league football for Shildon Athletic and Coxhoe before joining Bradford City in 1911 where he had a short spell at the Yorkshire-based side; making only one competitive appearance. After his short stint at Bradford, he then joined Scottish side Greenock Morton. He developed as a player at Morton, becoming popular with the locals who called him 'The little Englishman'. Unlike England, a fairly normal league season was played through-out the First World War in Scotland, and in all of Seymour's time in Greenock, Morton never finished outside the top four of what was a highly competitive league (the moment he had gone they slipped dramatically down the table). His performances were noticed back in England and he was eventually offered a transfer to the club who originally rejected him, Newcastle United in 1920 for a fee of £2,500.
It did not take long for Seymour to become a crowd favourite at St. James' Park, his performances helped Newcastle reach the FA Cup Final with goals against Portsmouth, Derby County, Liverpool, and Manchester City before eventually going on to win the FA Cup in 1924 in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa, in which he scored a thunderous 20-yard half volley to secure the win. He was also part of the Newcastle team that were crowned Division One champions in 1926–27. Such displays also earned him a call-up to the England squad in a tour to Australia. However in 1929, he was to leave the club after a disagreement with the officials over wages and a testimonial match. This was to be the end of his playing days as he decided to turn down the chance to join North-east rivals Middlesbrough and set up a sports shop in Newcastle upon Tyne, as he vowed 'never to kick a ball again'. He also later became involved in journalism. However his good service for Newcastle United were not forgotten and he was appointed the club's new Director in 1938.
As director he had control of first-team affairs, but like Frank Watt could not pick the team under the Director's Committee. However he had more influence on who could play than Watt had during his time at the club. He was manager of the club with the Directors Committee from 1938 to 1954. In 1943, Seymour gave a trial to a 19-year old 'Wor Jackie' Milburn, who later became a club legend himself. The club won the FA Cup in 1951 and retained it in 1952 whilst Seymour was at the helm. Seymour became the first person in English football history to win the FA Cup with the same club as a player and manager. In December 1954 Seymour resigned as manager and became chairman of the club. A position he held until 1956. He was appointed president of the club in April 1976. A post he held until his death in 1978. In a 2009 article written in The Times Online, Seymour was named Newcastle United's 5th Greatest player of all time. He scored 73 goals in 242 games for the club.
His son Stan Seymour, Jr. later became chairman of Newcastle United.[1]
'Wor Jackie' Milburn was once quoted saying "There is a great debt owed by Newcastle United to Stan Seymour for all of his services to the club".
Former United player and manager Kevin Keegan promised during his first spell incharge to re-name the club's Youth Academy after Seymour, however this was not carried out due to Keegan's resignation.
The North Eastern League Cup (in which teams from the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division compete in) was re-named the Stan Seymour League Cup in his honour.
third placed: 1915–1916², 1918–1919²
² Known as Division I at that time
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