Charles Griffiths (footballer)

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.

Charles Griffiths
Personal information
Place of birth Rugby, England
Date of death 15 May 1936
Place of death Rugby, England
Position(s) Inside-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Oswestry Olympics
Chirk
Oswestry United
St Helens Town
Barnsley
Luton Town
Coventry City
Barrow
1907 Preston North End 0 (0)
1907 Lincoln City 1 (0)
Wellington Town
Wrexham
Teams managed
1910–1911 Karlsruher FV
1911–1912 Bayern Munich
1912–1914 Stuttgarter Kickers
1920 Belgium
1920–1922 Vitesse Arnhem
1922 Be Quick 1887
1922–1923 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
1923 Lille
1924 France (Olympic)
1925 Berchem Sport
1933 Excelsior AC Roubaix
1933–1935 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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[7] and Be Quick in the 1922 Championship play-off.[8]

In September 1923, he joined Olympique Lillois.

In February 1924, he was appointed as the head coach for the France national team.[6] 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.[9]

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.[10]

Griffiths died in a hospital in Rugby on 15 May 1936.[11]

References
  1. "Charles Griffiths". The Kicker Archives. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 108. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  3. "Profile". Lincoln City Archive. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. Charles Griffiths at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. "Klinsmann of 1911" (in German). Spiegel. 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  6. "Griffiths est dans nos murs" (in French). Le Ballon Rond (Le Figaro). 23 February 1924. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. "Vitesse-trainers vanaf 1914" (in Dutch). Vitesse.
  8. Page 7 In verband met de trainer-kwestie
  9. "Geschiedenis" (in Dutch). Berchem Sport. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  10. "Brève(s)" (27 July 2011) (in French). dhnet.be. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  11. Le Grand echo du Nord de la France 19 May 1936, Charles Griffiths est mort!
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