Clarence Hilditch, Manchester United manager

Lal Hilditch was player-manager of Manchester United for thirty-one matches in 1926-1927. He was the club’s first (and, to date, only) player-manager.

By 1926, Hilditch had been at the club for seven years, playing as a left-half. When John Chapman was suspended, the Board invited Hilditch to become player-manager. The change of role was demanding. He was a popular player, but managers had to make unpopular decisions. Hilditch wasn’t given any money to spend on new players. The club had being doing better financially, but the directors chose to use available funds to buy the land on which Old Trafford stood and to pay-off rent that was owed. In the long run, it was probably a wise decision, although it didn’t help Hilditch. His less-than-successful reign culminated in four successive defeats in March 1927, after which the club appointed Herbert Bamlett as his successor. Hilditch remained at the club as a player for a further five seasons.