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Mike Bailey' Manager - who can remember ?.



Uncle Spielberg

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Mike Bailey is the most succesful Albion manager of all time but who even gives him a fleeting thought every few years.

We had our highest ever position in the top flight with the record below

Played 23
Won 9
Drawn 10
Lost 4
Points 37
Position 8th

We were at that stage the team in the whole top division who had lost the least amount of games 4 in 23 !.

We ended up in 13th our highest ever position.

The next season he got sacked with a fantastic home record and terrible away record something like

Home Won 5 Drawn 2 Lost 0
Away Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 9

We were still clear of relegation however. Melia came in and the rest is history. We went down that season.

Whatever happened to Mike Bailey ???
 


Uncle Spielberg

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Mike Bailey
Birth Date:
27.02.1942

Playing Position:
Midfielder Defender

Mike Bailey spent all but 16 games of his 18 year playing career with Wolves and Charlton Athletic. Mike was born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on the 27th February 1942, and he played his early football for Gorleston before moving to Charlton as an amateur trialist in 1958. In March, 1959, he signed for the club as a professional and his qualities as a leader were soon obvious as he skippered his way through the junior teams until he made his first team debut in December, 1960.

It was certainly a debut to remember, but for all the wrong reasons. Plymouth Argyle were the opponents and the man Mike was marking was Wilf Carter, who bagged five goals. Mike, however, went on to make nearly 200 appearances for Charlton. Whilst at the Valley he made five appearances for his country at Under 23 level, and for the full England side he collected two caps - against the United States and Wales in 1964.

Sadly, that year he broke a leg, the interruption bringing an early end to his international career. Having recovered from his injury, Mike brought his Charlton side to Molineux in November, 1965. In a cracking match he was one of two Robins who excelled that day, the other being keeper Mike Rose whose acrobatics defied the Wolves forwards time and time again.

But Bailey's midfield prompting turned a half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead, the skipper getting one of the goals himself, and earning the chance to put the game even further out of Wolves' reach, but Fred Davis superbly saved his team-mate's spot kick after Bailey had been fouled. Later Wolves got the equaliser they deserved, but manager Ronnie Allen must have seen enough to convince him that Bailey was the man to lead the team back into the first division and he signed him for £40,000 in March, 1966.

Mike made his debut on March 12th in the home draw against Southampton and for the rest of the season and the following two he was only to miss two matches. He arrived a little too late in that first season to make any real impression and Wolves, although they obviously had the talent to get back into the First Division, lacked the consistency needed for promotion.

But the following campaign saw a different story. Only lapses in the final two away games cost Wolves the championship, and they returned to the top flight as runners-up to Coventry City. It was perhaps more than a coincidence that the only game Mike missed that season was the last one at Selhurst Park, in which Wolves were hammered 4-1 when victory would have given them the title.

They say that 'one man doesn't make a team', but Mike's leadership was such a driving inspiration that he was sorely missed in the Palace game. His qualities were recognised that year though when he was named as the Midland Footballer of the Year.

The next three seasons brought about a slow acclimatisation to the top flight before the team slipped into gear, starting the seventies with a highly creditable fourth place in the League, with the skipper holding silverware - the Texaco Trophy - up to the crowd for the first time in his career. The following season, after an 11 game unbeaten run, Mike received a bad injury in a cup-tie against Leicester.

At the time, in that particular game, Wolves were one up and dominating affairs. But the loss of Bailey that day seemed to have an immediate affect on his team, and Leicester took the tie to a replay which they won. Wolves won only six more League games that season, although they performed marvels in the UEFA Cup in which they were so unlucky to lose in the final.

The following 1972/73 season was a heartbreaking one for Bailey, the team and supporters, when the semi-final stage of both FA and League Cups were reached only for defeat to be tasted on both occasions. But, in March 1974, Wolves did make it to Wembley, and it was Bailey who threaded the ball through to Alan Sunderland whose cross was converted by John Richards for the winning goal in the League Cup Final against Manchester City.

At last the team had got some reward for the flowing football they played, and it showed in the captain's ear-to-ear grin as he lifted the trophy high into the Wembley air. The following two seasons brought about a decline in the club's fortunes, and they were relegated to the Second Division once again. It was to prove only a short stay, and it was also to be Mike Bailey's last season for Wolves.

After playing the first ten games, he travelled with the team to Blackpool on October 30th. At half-time he was replaced after suffering a re-occurrence of a thigh strain and that was to be the last that was seen in gold and black of the barrel-chested Bailey. After a successful testimonial Mike left the club the following summer and played for Minnesota Kicks in the North American Soccer League.

He returned to this country for a spell as player/manager of Hereford United. Since then he has managed Brighton and Hove Albion, and Fisher Athletic in the Vauxhall Conference League and was involved with the backroom staff at Portsmouth. He is currently involved with scouting work for Everton.

WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1965-1977
League Appearances 360(1) Goals 19
FA Cup Appearances 18(2) Goals 2
League Cup Appearances 29
European Games Appearances 9(1) Goals 2
Other Appearances 16 Goals 2
TOTAL APPEARANCES 432(4) GOALS 25
 


Uncle Spielberg

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1982 (23 years ago)

Top of the Pile: Liverpool lead Division One with 34 points followed by Manchester United and Aston Villa on 31 and Watford on 30. Queens Park Rangers lead Division Two by four points from Fulham and Wolves. Lincoln City lead Division Three.

Entrances and Departures: Mike Bailey is dismissed at Brighton manager, a victim, according to Chairman Mike Bamber, of the 'modern style of play, which was too negative for the spectators'. Bamber says: "We will be looking for a manager who can equip our team to play entertaining match-winning football." Meanwhile, this week George Graham, QPR coach, is confirmed as Millwall's new manager and watches the Lions scrape through to the semi finals of the Football League Trophy beating Bradford City 4-2 on penalties.

Bolton Wanderers are in financial crisis this week after their bankers refuse to extend their overdraft beyond £500,000. They are losing £10,000 a week and need a minimum of 6,000 supporters to guarantee the club £2 a week for a year. Terry Edge, chairman, launches the scheme called The Burnden Lifeline Society. Asked to say what might happen if the scheme fails he says: "I refuse to think about this in a negative way."

Irving Scholar, the man behind this week' million pound takeover of Tottenham Hotspur, reveals that he stepped in because of concerns about the club's financial situation following the opening of a new £5m stand. However, Scholar, who pays £1,000 for White Hart Lane's most expensive season ticket, refuses to take a seat on the board due to 'business commitments'.
 


Everest

Me
Jul 5, 2003
20,741
Southwick
Uncle Spielberg said:
Whatever happened to Mike Bailey ???
Uncle Spielberg said:
He is currently involved with scouting work for Everton.
Talking to yourself AND answering your own questions!

Bored?
No racing today?
Traffic wardens in Southwick Square?
 


Uncle Spielberg

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:p
 




D

Deleted User X18H

Guest
I remember he scaled the East Terrace to avoid Vinnicombe who had been tipped off he was about to be sacked and was waiting in New Town Road.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Uncle Spielberg said:
.

Entrances and Departures: Mike Bailey is dismissed at Brighton manager, a victim, according to Chairman Mike Bamber, of the 'modern style of play, which was too negative for the spectators'. Bamber says: "We will be looking for a manager who can equip our team to play entertaining match-winning football." .

Proof that unless we are playing good football and near the top of the table we will struggle to half fill Falmer after the novelty has worn off. The division is pretty irrelevant imo.

I remember those days of Bailey well, he was the victim of the post Ward/Mellor era of fantastic football. We were dire but successful, not good enough for Sussex fans :(
 
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Ernest

Stupid IDIOT
Nov 8, 2003
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Mike Bailey was the victim of the whingers and moaners who not being able to criticise the team for winning then decided to moan about the style of play.
Thus from going to places like Anfield, White Hart Lane and The Dell when Keegan was playing and winning we started to lose to teams like Luton 5-0.
If Mike Bailey had been allowed to continue his policy of building from the back and grinding out 1-0 wins then we would never have been relegated in 1983 and might never have got into financial strife all those years later.
 




sten

sister ray
Jul 14, 2003
943
eastside
Ernest said:
Mike Bailey was the victim of the whingers and moaners who not being able to criticise the team for winning then decided to moan about the style of play.
Thus from going to places like Anfield, White Hart Lane and The Dell when Keegan was playing and winning we started to lose to teams like Luton 5-0.
If Mike Bailey had been allowed to continue his policy of building from the back and grinding out 1-0 wins then we would never have been relegated in 1983 and might never have got into financial strife all those years later.


Spot on similiar to the Cattlin charade.:)
 


Uncle Spielberg

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DIVISION ONE
Pos Name Pld W D L GF GA Pts
1 Liverpool 42 26 9 7 80 32 87
2 Ipswich Town 42 26 5 11 75 53 83
3 Manchester United 42 22 12 8 59 29 78
4 Arsenal 42 20 11 11 48 37 71
5 Swansea City 42 21 6 15 58 51 69
6 Tottenham Hotspur 42 19 11 12 65 50 68
7 Southampton 42 19 9 14 72 67 66
8 Everton 42 17 13 12 56 50 64
9 West Ham United 42 14 16 12 66 57 58
10 Manchester City 42 15 13 14 49 50 58
11 Aston Villa 42 15 12 15 55 53 57
12 Nottingham Forest 42 15 12 15 42 48 47
13 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 13 13 16 43 52 52
14 Coventry City 42 13 11 18 56 62 50
15 Notts County 42 13 8 21 61 69 47
16 Birmingham City 42 10 14 18 53 61 44
17 West Bromwich Albion 42 11 11 20 46 57 44
18 Stoke City 42 12 8 22 44 63 44
19 Sunderland 42 11 11 20 38 58 44
20 Middlesbrough 42 9 15 18 36 50 42
21 Leeds United 42 10 12 20 39 61 42
22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 10 10 22 32 63 40
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
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sten said:
Spot on similiar to the Cattlin charade.:)

His sacking was the most short sighted f***ed up managerial decision that any Albion board, except for Stanley and his asset strippers, have ever made imo.

We finished 6th I think and he made some comment about what a failure it would be if we didn't get promoted the next season and then got sacked. I still have no idea why, does anyone know the true story?
 




Uncle Spielberg

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As a matter of interest look who was bottom of the entire 4 leagues.

DIVISION FOUR
Pos Name Pld W D L GF GA Pts
1 Sheffield United 46 27 15 4 94 41 96
2 Bradford City 46 26 13 7 88 45 91
3 Wigan Athletic 46 26 13 7 80 46 91
4 A F C Bournemouth 46 23 19 4 62 30 88
5 Peterborough United 46 24 10 12 71 57 82
6 Colchester United 46 20 12 14 82 57 72
7 Port Vale 46 18 16 12 56 49 70
8 Hull City 46 19 12 15 70 61 69
9 Bury 46 17 17 12 80 59 68
10 Hereford United 46 16 19 11 64 58 67
11 Tranmere Rovers 46 14 18 14 51 56 60
12 Blackpool 46 15 13 18 66 60 58
13 Darlington 46 15 13 18 61 62 58
14 Hartlepool United 46 13 16 17 73 84 55
15 Torquay United 46 14 13 19 47 59 55
16 Aldershot 46 13 15 18 57 68 54
17 York City 46 14 8 24 69 91 50
18 Stockport County 46 12 13 21 48 67 49
19 Halifax Town 46 9 22 15 51 72 49
20 Mansfield Town 46 13 10 23 63 81 47 *
21 Rochdale 46 10 16 20 50 62 46
22 Northampton Town 46 11 9 26 57 84 42
23 Scunthorpe United 46 9 15 22 43 79 42
24 Crewe Alexandra 46 6 9 31 29 84 27
 


Uncle Spielberg

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Didn;t Cattlin tell the board to f*** off as he wanted more investment as we were saw close to going back to the top flight and they said no.
 


Ernest

Stupid IDIOT
Nov 8, 2003
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Uncle Spielberg said:
Didn;t Cattlin tell the board to f*** off as he wanted more investment as we were saw close to going back to the top flight and they said no.

Cattlin was Bambers man and when Bedson and co ousted Bamber they wanted their own lap dog in. So Cattlin booted out, Mullery back but all the time the long term plan was Barry Lloyd and as soon as they could Mullers was AXED and Bazza given the gig.
 








Parson Henry

New member
Jan 6, 2004
10,207
Victor Bhanerjee's notebook
Gaffer said:
Bailey and Cattlin are 2 unsung heros of the Albion. Bailey especially was treated abysmally by not only the board but by the fans

I remember as a young klad listening to the old crew moaning about the way we played. FFS we went and done Southampton 2-0 at the Dell with KK and Alan ball playing for them.

These are the same old gits who whine at the Withdean

The dyas of Archie macaulaye and all that bollocks. Arguable the decsion to sack Bailey was the worst ever made by the board!!!

As you can tell this has hit a very scratchy spot with me. We were damn dificult to beat in those days.

:angry:
 


Uncle Spielberg

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4 defeats in 23 games in the top flight says it all really.
 




Icy Gull

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Jul 5, 2003
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Perry Milkins said:
I remember as a young klad listening to the old crew moaning about the way we played. FFS we went and done Southampton 2-0 at the Dell with KK and Alan ball playing for them.

:

edited, talking about a totally different game :blush:
 
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