Eric Webber
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Victor Webber | ||
| Date of birth | 22 December 1919 | ||
| Place of birth | Shoreham-by-Sea, England | ||
| Date of death | 10 December 1996 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Southampton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) |
Centre-half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Fareham Town | |||
| Gosport Borough | |||
| Norwich City | |||
| 1937–1938 | Southampton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1938–1951 | Southampton | 182 | (0) |
| 1951–1956 | Torquay United | 149 | (2) |
| Total | 331 | (2) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1951–1965 | Torquay United | ||
| 1965–1970 | Poole Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Eric Victor Webber (22 December 1919 – 10 December 1996) was an English
Playing career
Early days
Although he was born at Shoreham in West Sussex, Webber's family moved into Hampshire when he was a child and he played for Fareham Senior School, before joining Fareham Town and then Gosport Borough. He had an unsuccessful trial with Portsmouth before Jim Angell recommended him to Tom Parker, the manager of Norwich City.[1] In 1937, he followed Parker to Southampton where he was initially a member of the club's nursery side, playing in the Hampshire League.
Southampton
Webber was quickly promoted to the Reserves where his efforts were rewarded by a professional contract in March 1939. He made one appearance in the first team on 15 April 1939 when he took the place of Stan Cutting at right-half for the match at Blackburn Rovers; the match was lost 3–0, and Ray Parkin took over at right-half for the next match.[2] Before he had the chance to establish himself in the first team, normal football was suspended following the outbreak of World War II.
During the war, he served in the RAF but also managed to play wartime football for Mansfield Town and Derby County.
He returned to
In March 1948, Webber came up against George Lowrie in consecutive matches against different clubs. On 6 March, Saints won 1–0 at Coventry City; during the week Lowrie moved to Newcastle United (becoming their most expensive signing in the process), and on 13 March, Saints defeated Newcastle at The Dell 4–2. In both games, Webber marked Lowrie out of the game. Lowrie was to have "revenge" at the end of the season, however, as Newcastle took the second promotion place ahead of The Saints.[3]
According to Holley & Chalk's The Alphabet of the Saints, Webber was "an effective blocker of anything that came his way".[4] He became team captain in 1950, succeeding Bill Rochford, and his leadership qualities were soon to stand him in good stead, when he moved to Torquay as their player-manager.
He played 182 league games for Southampton, plus 10 in the FA Cup.
Torquay United
In October 1951 Webber left Southampton to become player-manager at Torquay United. He continued as a player until 1955, making 149 league appearances for the Gulls.
Managerial career
Torquay United
In January 1955 Webber managed the club to an historic 4–0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup.
In the
Poole Town
After spending 14 years as manager at Plainmoor, Webber spent another five years as manager at Poole Town, before retiring from football in 1970.
After football
In August 1970, Webber returned to Southampton, where he ran the Manor House pub in Woolston until retiring in April 1984.
References
- ^ Bull, David (28 November 2012). "Where Angell Dared". The Southampton Matchday Programme: Southampton Vs Norwich City.
- ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
- ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
- ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.