Charles Griffiths (footballer) explained

Charles Griffiths
Birth Place:Rugby, England
Death Date:15 May 1936
Death Place:Rugby, England
Position:Inside-forward
Clubs1:Oswestry Olympics
Clubs2:Chirk
Clubs3:Oswestry United
Clubs4:St Helens Town
Clubs5:Barnsley
Clubs7:Coventry City
Years9:1907
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:1907
Caps10:1
Goals10:0
Clubs11:Wellington Town
Manageryears1:1910–1911
Managerclubs1:Karlsruher FV
Manageryears2:1911–1912
Managerclubs2:Bayern Munich
Manageryears3:1912–1914
Managerclubs3:Stuttgarter Kickers
Manageryears4:1920
Managerclubs4:Belgium
Manageryears5:1920–1922
Managerclubs5:Vitesse Arnhem
Manageryears6:1922
Managerclubs6:Be Quick 1887
Manageryears7:1922–1923
Managerclubs7:Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Manageryears8:1923
Managerclubs8:Lille
Manageryears9:1924
Managerclubs9:France Olympic
Manageryears10:1925
Managerclubs10:Berchem Sport
Manageryears11:1933
Managerclubs11:Excelsior AC Roubaix
Manageryears12:1933–1935
Managerclubs12:Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Charles Griffiths (died 15 May 1936) was an English football player and manager. He played in England, and coached in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands in the early 20th century.

Playing career

Griffiths was born in Rugby[1] and played as an inside-forward for Luton Town and Barrow before joining Preston North End in 1907.[2] He then made one appearance in the Football League for Lincoln City in 1907.[3] He also played for Oswestry Olympics, Chirk, Oswestry United, St Helens Town, Barnsley, Coventry City, Wellington Town and Wrexham.

Coaching career

In 1910, he worked for Karlsruher FV, during his time with the club, they won the Southern German championship.

In August 1911, he was appointed as the first full-time manager of Bayern Munich, however his time at the club was to last only seven months at the Bavarian club and was dismissed on 6 April 1912. He had however convinced the Bayern board members that a full-time coach was beneficial to the club.[4]

He would go on to manage Stuttgarter Kickers, he won the Southern German championship during his first season with the club and his second season was curtailed due to the breakout of World War I.[1]

Griffiths was part of the coaching staff for the Belgium national team in 1920 when they won the Olympic Games Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics football tournament.[5]

The same article also suggested that he won a Belgian championship with Royale Union Saint Gilloise in 1923.

He managed Dutch club side Vitesse Arnhem between 1920 and 1922[6] and Be Quick in the 1922 Championship play-off.[7]

In September 1923, he joined Olympique Lillois.

In February 1924, he was appointed as the head coach for the France national team.[5] He was in what was described as a 'federal' position and the team was selected by committee.

He was appointed as manager at Belgian club side Berchem Sport in 1925.[8]

He won the Coupe de France in 1933 whilst manager at Excelsior AC Roubaix, but he soon moved on, returning to his former club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. During his second spell at Union SG, he won the league in three consecutive seasons 1933–1935.[9]

Griffiths died in a hospital in Rugby on 15 May 1936.[10]

Honours

Karlsruhe FV

Stuttgart Kickers

RU Saint-Gilloise

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charles Griffiths. The Kicker Archives. 5 October 2013.
  2. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . 2004 . Tony Brown. Nottingham . 1-899468-67-6. 108.
  3. Web site: Profile. 5 September 2013. Lincoln City Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722083944/http://www.redimps.com/archive3/index.mv?cat=players&drop=playerdetsdrop&play=grif01. 22 July 2012. dead.
  4. Web site: Klinsmann of 1911. Spiegel. 4 October 2013. de. 2008.
  5. Web site: Griffiths est dans nos murs. Le Ballon Rond (Le Figaro). 4 October 2013. fr. 23 February 1924.
  6. Web site: Vitesse-trainers vanaf 1914. https://web.archive.org/web/20100620043620/http://vitesse.org/historie/trainers.html. dead. 20 June 2010. nl. Vitesse.
  7. https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMGAZS02:001084008:00001 Page 7 In verband met de trainer-kwestie
  8. Web site: Geschiedenis. Berchem Sport. 4 October 2013. nl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130731232016/http://berchem-sport.com/geschiedenis.html. 31 July 2013.
  9. Web site: Brève(s). 27 July 2011. dhnet.be. 4 October 2013. fr. 27 July 2011.
  10. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4765208p/f5.item
  11. Web site: Charles Griffiths: Bayern Munich's first full-time manager. 15 September 2019 . Bavarian Football Works.
  12. Web site: Union Saint-Gilloise was Anderlecht before the war . 12 March 2021 . RTBF . fr .