Football in Sparth

Football in Sparth

St Albans Football Team played during the 1930's and 40's from a club at the top of Mandale Park. They produced some major talent, and some went on to professional football.

Ian Greaves (born in Oldham, Lancashire, on 26 May 1932 is a former football player and manager. He won a League Championship medal and an FA Cup runners-up medal while playing fullback for Manchester United between 1953 and 1960 . But for injury, he would have probably been involved in the Munich air disaster. He later played for Lincoln City and Oldham Athletic.

He then went on to manage Huddersfield Town in 1968 and led them to the Football League Second Division championship in 1969-1970.

After leaving Huddersfield in 1974 he joined Bolton Wanderers as assistant to Jimmy Armfield and when Armfield took over the vacant manager's position at Leeds United he was promoted to the top job, taking over a squad that included Sam Allardyce and Peter Reid. In his time there he again won promotion to the top division and also reached the League Cup semi-final while the club were still in the second division.