Joe Mercer

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Lore & Background

Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. When Mercer was 12 his father died following health problems resulting from a gas attack during the First World War. Mercer, a left-half, first played for Ellesmere Port Town. He joined Everton in September 1932 and claimed a regular first team place in the 1935–36 season. He made 186 appearances for Everton, scoring two goals and winning a League championship medal in the 1938–39 season. While playing for Everton, he gained five England caps between 1938 and 1939. He lost out on six seasons of football due to the Second World War, becoming a sergeant-major and playing in 26 wartime internationals, many as captain. After a dispute with Everton manager Theo Kelly over a cartilage injury, Mercer moved to Arsenal in late 1946 for £9,000. He made his Arsenal debut on 30 November 1946 and soon became club captain. As captain, he led Arsenal to win the League championship in 1947–48, the FA Cup in 1950, and another League title in 1952–53. He was voted FWA Footballer of the Year in 1950. He retired in 1955 after breaking his leg in 1954. After his playing career, he spent a year working as a journalist and a grocer. He became manager of Sheffield United in August 1955, but his first season ended in relegation. He resigned in December 1958 and moved to Aston Villa, who were bottom of the First Division. He led them to the FA Cup semi-finals but was relegated again. He moulded a young side known as the 'Mercer Minors' and won the inaugural League Cup in 1961. He suffered a stroke in 1964 and was sacked by the Aston Villa board upon his recovery. He then managed Manchester City between 1965 and 1971. In his first season at Maine Road, the club won the 1966 Second Division title. Two seasons later, he led City to the 1967–68 First Division championship, and went on to win the 1969 FA Cup, the 1970 League Cup, and the 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1970–71 season, Mercer had a dispute with his assistant Malcolm Allison after the two became embroiled in Manchester City's takeover battle. Mercer supported the existing board, led by Albert Alexander Sr., while Allison supported the rival group led by Peter Swales. The takeover succeeded, and Mercer was shocked to discover his car parking space and office were removed. This led to Mer

In Their Own Story

The 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final was the pinnacle of Joe Mercer's Manchester City reign. City faced Górnik Zabrze of Poland in Vienna, and the match was a tense, gruelling affair played on a rain-soaked pitch. The only goal came from a Neil Young strike, and City held on to win 2–1 after extra time. For Mercer, it was the culmination of a five-year project that had seen him transform a Second Division side into European champions. The trophy was the club's first European honour, and it cemented Mercer's place in City folklore. But the triumph was bittersweet: the following season, the takeover battle with Malcolm Allison fractured the partnership that had built the golden era. Mercer was moved upstairs to general manager in October 1971, and left the club at the end of the season. His legacy, however, was already secure. The road Joe Mercer Way at the City of Manchester Stadium is named after him, and two mosaics by Manchester artist Mark Kennedy show his smiling face lifting the League Championship trophy and a famous photograph of Mercer looking out over the Maine Road pitch towards the Kippax Stand. The Kippax tribute still sung at the City of Manchester Stadium to the tune of Auld Lang Syne remembers the journey: 'The Stretford End cried out aloud: "It's the end of you Sky Blues." Joe Mercer came. We played the game. We went to Rotherham United, we won 1–0 and we were back into Division One. We've won the League, we've won the Cup, we've been to Europe too.'

Reader's Guide

Joe Mercer is commemorated by Manchester City with the road Joe Mercer Way at the City of Manchester Stadium. A corporate suite, the Joe Mercer Suite, was opened at Maine Road by his widow Norah in 1993. A similar facility existed at Goodison Park. His biography 'Football with a Smile' was written by Gary James in 1993. Mercer was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame on 4 July 2009 for his managerial success.

Did You Know?

• Mercer played 26 wartime internationals for England, many as captain.
• He paid for his own cartilage surgery after Everton refused to believe he was injured.
• Mercer's father died when he was 12 due to health problems from a gas attack in World War I.
• He was a subject of the television programme 'This Is Your Life' in March 1970.
• Mercer was an active freemason, attending Rivacre Lodge No. 5805 at Ellesmere Port.