| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Adamson | ||
| Date of birth | (1929-04-04)4 April 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Ashington,Northumberland, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 November 2011(2011-11-08) (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Nelson,Lancashire, England | ||
| Position | Right-half | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1964 | Burnley | 426 | (17) |
| International career | |||
| 1953 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1970–1976 | Burnley | ||
| 1976 | Sparta Rotterdam | ||
| 1976–1978 | Sunderland | ||
| 1978–1980 | Leeds United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
James Adamson (4 April 1929 – 8 November 2011)[1] was an English professionalfootballer andfootball manager. He was born inAshington,Northumberland.[2] He made 486 appearances forBurnley, ranking him sixth in their all-time appearance list.[2]
Adamson, a right-half, joinedBurnley in January 1947 after playing non-league football in his native Ashington and working as aminer. His early career was interrupted bynational service, which he completed with theRoyal Air Force, meaning his debut had to wait until February 1951, when Burnley played away toBolton Wanderers. He played once for theEngland B team, but never made the full England side.
He was an ever-present as Burnley won theFirst Division in1959–60 and captained the side to the1962 FA Cup Final which they lost againstTottenham Hotspur. He was also namedFootballer of the Year in 1962.[2]
Adamson formed a midfield partnership with inside-forwardJimmy McIlroy, around which much of Burnley's creative play was centred.
He retired in 1964, having played 426 league games, and joined the Burnley coaching staff. He had previously coached the England team in the1962 World Cup inChile and wasthe Football Association's preferred choice of manager ahead ofAlf Ramsey but declined the offer.[2]
In February 1970, when Burnley managerHarry Potts was made general manager, Adamson stepped up to become team manager. Burnley were relegated at the end his first full season in charge, but returned to the top-flight in 1973, winning theSecond Division title.[2]
Burnley were relegated again in 1976, although Adamson had already left that January. In May 1976 he was appointed as manager of Dutch sideSparta Rotterdam, but left the following month. In November 1976 he was made manager ofSunderland, but was unable to prevent them from relegation from the First Division.[2]
He left Sunderland in October 1978, taking over fromJock Stein as manager ofLeeds United. Adamson guided Leeds to 5th place in the First Division and a League Cup semi-final in his first season. However, his reign saw the departure of popular players likeTony Currie andFrank Gray and Leeds could only finish 11th in1979–80. Amidst growing fan criticism, Adamson resigned in October 1980.[2] He then took no further part in professional football and spent the rest of his life in Burnley.[3]
Adamson died on 8 November 2011, aged 82.[2]
On 1 August 2013, his biography, written by Dave Thomas, was published.[4]
Burnley
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