Allenby Chilton

Allenby Chilton
Personal information
Full nameAllenby C. Chilton[1]
Date of birth16 September 1918
Place of birthSouth Hylton, England
Date of death15 June 1996 (aged 77)
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionCentre-half
Youth career
Hylton Colliery
Seaham Colliery
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1938Liverpool0(0)
1938–1955Manchester United352(3)
1955–1956Grimsby Town63(0)
National team
1950–1951England2(0)
Teams managed
1955–1959Grimsby Town
1960–1961Wigan Athletic
1962–1963Hartlepools United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Allenby C. Chilton[1] (16 September 1918 – 15 June 1996) was an English footballer.

Chilton started his career with Seaham Colliery before joining Liverpool as an amateur in the summer of 1938, but he never played a senior game for the Anfield club.

Chilton transferred to Manchester United soon after in November 1938 and made his first team debut against Charlton Athletic in September 1939. Chilton's early career was cut short by the Second World War although he made guest appearances for Airdrieonians, Cardiff City, Hartlepools United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic who he helped to win the War Cup South Final in 1944. He served in the Durham Light Infantry and saw active service in the Normandy Landings also in 1944.

Chilton established himself as a centre half in Matt Busby's first post-war team and helped United to triumph in the 1948 FA Cup and was a key member of the 1952 league championship winning team. He was made club captain during the 1953–54 season. Having missed just 13 games in nine seasons at United and with 175 consecutive appearances to his name, Chilton requested a rest from first team action in early 1955. He was replaced by Mark Jones, one of the rising Busby Babes, and never returned to first team action. He left the club in March 1955 to become player-manager with Grimsby Town. He joined the Mariners late in the 1954–55 season and was unable to stop them having to apply for re-election, but the following season under his management they were champions of Division Three North – the only club ever to go from re-election to promotion in one season.

Chilton continued as manager at Grimsby Town until April 1959 when he joined Wigan Athletic as manager for one season during 1960–61. Chilton joined Hartlepools United as a scout for the 1961–62 season and became manager during 1962–63. Chilton made 432 appearances and scored three goals for United and made two international appearances for England.

Chilton died on 15 June 1996, at the age of 77.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ponting, Ivan (2008). Manchester United: Player by Player (8th edition ed.). Studley: Know The Score Books. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-84818-300-1.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Stan Pearson		 Manchester United captain
1953–1955 		Succeeded by
Roger Byrne