12 Facts About Tony Waddington

Anthony Waddington was an English football player and manager.

Tony Waddington had a seven-year playing career with Crewe Alexandra before becoming a coach at Stoke City.

Tony Waddington progressed to assistant manager to Frank Taylor and took his position in June 1960.

Tony Waddington set about staving off the threat of relegation before bringing back club legend Stanley Matthews in an effort to rekindle the club's supporter base.

Tony Waddington later had a two-year spell at Crewe Alexandra before becoming associate director of Stoke in 1991 until his death in 1994.

Manchester born Tony Waddington was an amateur with Manchester United before joining Crewe Alexandra just after the end of World War II.

Tony Waddington played at wing-half for the "Alex" playing in seven seasons in the Football League Third Division North making 193 appearances scoring eight goals.

Tony Waddington joined Stoke City as a coach in 1952 and did well enough to be promoted to assistant manager to Frank Taylor and when Taylor was sacked in 1960 Waddington was given his position.

Tony Waddington brought in a defensive tactic to adverse Stoke's slide which became known as 'Waddington's Wall'.

Tony Waddington brought in John Ritchie from non-league Kettering Town he would go on to become the club's record goalscorer.

Tony Waddington had spent 25 years at the Victoria Ground as manager, assistant and coach and is considered to be the club's greatest manager having helped them win their first major trophy in 1972.

Tony Waddington then spent two years out of the game before having had a two-year spell in charge of Crewe Alexandra from 1979 to 1981.