Harold Potts was an English football player and manager.
19 Facts About Harry Potts
1.
2.
Harry Potts joined Burnley, who had one of the first youth-development systems in football; however, his own development was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, which came before he could make his debut for the club.
3.
Harry Potts served for the [RAF] mainly in India as a PT instructor.
4.
Harry Potts took time to return to the form that saw him regarded as a promising youngster, but he eventually became a success as a Burnley player.
5.
Harry Potts made his Burnley first-team debut on 31 August 1946, in a position then referred to as "inside-left", which would now be considered one of the striker positions.
6.
Harry Potts wore the number 10 shirt associated with that position, and played in all but two of Burnley's 42 games in Division Two that season, becoming the club's leading goalscorer with fifteen goals.
7.
Burnley finished third, and Harry Potts scored 14 goals in the 38-game season.
8.
Burnley settled into a mid-table position over the next few years, and Harry Potts added to his tally of goals.
9.
Harry Potts eventually got 47 from 165 matches, before moving to Everton in October 1950.
10.
Harry Potts ended his career as a player at Everton in 1956, having scored 15 in 59 League games for the club.
11.
Harry Potts spent just over half a season at the Shropshire club before Burnley lured him back to become their manager in February 1958.
12.
Harry Potts made his first cash signing for the club, left back Alex Elder.
13.
Harry Potts moved into a more executive position of general manager.
14.
In December 1972, Harry Potts became manager of Division Two side Blackpool.
15.
Harry Potts guided the Seasiders to a seventh-placed finish in the league, while his former club, Burnley, won the championship.
16.
Harry Potts bought wisely but expensively, most notably on players such as John Evanson, Wyn Davies and Paul Hart.
17.
The club demanded an instant return of results, and Harry Potts walked a tightrope for the remainder of his Bloomfield Road career.
18.
Harry Potts was re-hired by Burnley, becoming their chief scout in 1976.
19.
Harry Potts died on 16 January 1996, aged 75, after a long illness.