Ted Vizard

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Edward 'Ted' Vizard (born Cogan, Penarth, Wales 7 June 1889 died Wolverhampton 25 December 1973) was a former Welsh footballer and manager.

[edit] Playing career

He played for Bolton Wanderers between 1910 and 1931, and was amongst the first eleven players to be placed in the Bolton Wanderers Hall of Fame in 2002. Ted signed for Bolton Wanderers in September 1910 from Barry Town, and he made his debut later that year. From here he never looked back making the outside left position his own for the next 18 seasons.Over those 18 seasons he made 512 appearances for the Trotters scoring 70 goals.During his time at Bolton he appeared in the 1923, 1926 and 1929 FA Cup Finals playing in the first ever Wembley final in 1923. Vizard also won 22 international caps for Wales.

[edit] Managerial career

Vizard retired in 1931 aged 41, becoming the oldest player to play for Bolton Wanderers a record only broken in 1995 by Peter Shilton.Vizard went into management after his playing days were over.He first managed the Bolton ‘A’ team.He then managed Swindon Town from 1933 to 1939.

After a playing career which saw him gain 22 international caps and two FA Cup winners medals, Vizard was offered the club manager's position after the board decided that 65 year old Sam Allen should be relieved of some of his responsibilities, and a full time team manager should be appointed. Prior to his arrival at Swindon, Vizard had been in charge of Bolton's youth team, and he joined the Town on a salary of £6 per week.

Vizard's first action was to release almost the entire first team squad, leaving only Arthur Briggs, Alec Lambie, Cyril Quinn and Harry Cousins - even the legendary Harry Morris was allowed to leave. To replace them, Vizard was allowed just £200 to spend in the transfer market, and with it he bought Tom Duckworth and Rollo Jack from his former club, Bolton.

After a promising first season, which saw the Town finish eighth in Division Three, performances began to slip. Two seasons later in 1935/1936, after a disastrous cup defeat to non-league Southall and a season finish of 19th, Vizard offered his resignation to the board. They persuaded him to stay.

They were rewarded with respectable mid-table positions for the following three seasons. Vizard also broke the four-figure transfer barrier for the first time - signing Ben Morton from Torquay United.

After the 1938/1939 season, Vizard left the club to take the reins at Q.P.R., no doubt attracted by the reported £1000 a year salary.

Just before the outbreak of World War II he succeeded Billy Birrell as manager of QPR.Because of the war he never had the chance to manage them in a competitive game.Despite this they were relatively successful in wartime football and in 1944 he replaced Major Frank Buckley as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club had received over one hundred applications for the position.Despite taking them to third place in the First Division in the first peacetime season in 1946/47 he was replaced by Stan Cullis in June 1948.

He later managed non-league Cradley Heath before leaving to run a pub in Wolverhampton.Vizard died in Wolverhampton on Christmas Day 1973, aged 84.

Preceded by Sam Allen	Swindon Manager 1933-1939	Succeeded by Neil Harris
Preceded by Billy Birrell	QPR Manager 1939-1944	Succeeded by Dave Mangnall
Preceded by Major Frank Buckley	Wolves Manager 1944-1948	Succeeded by Stan Cullis

[edit] References

• Macey, Gordon (1993). Queens Park Rangers - A Complete Record. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 1-873626-40-1.