| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Mather[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1888 | ||
| Place of birth | Chorley, England | ||
| Date of death | 1957 (aged 68–69)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Stoke-on-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1915–1919 | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| 1920–1921 | Southend United | ||
| 1923–1935 | Stoke City | ||
| 1935–1939 | Newcastle United | ||
| 1945–1946 | Leicester City | ||
| 1947–1948 | Kilmarnock | ||
Thomas Mather (1888–1957), was an Englishfootball manager who managed inthe Football League forBolton Wanderers,Leicester City,Newcastle United,Stoke City andSouthend United.[1]
Mather was assistant secretary of bothManchester City andBolton Wanderers before taking the manager's job at Bolton at the beginning of theFirst World War, remaining at the club until 1915 when he was called up by theRoyal Navy.[1] He remained as manager, in name only, until July 1919, his duties being taken on, and then over, by his assistantCharles Foweraker.[1] After his national service he moved toSouthend United as secretary-manager.[1] He spent three years at the "Shrimpers" before joiningStoke City in October 1923.[1] Stoke had just been relegated from the First Division and had to get over the shock of seeingJock Rutherford quit the club after just four weeks in charge. Mather'sfirst season in charge saw Stoke finish in 6th position and he decided to move on a number of players at the end of the season. This did not go down well with some of the released players who smashed up the offices at theVictoria Ground and caused a considerable amount of damage.[1]
Things did not improve quickly and Stoke suffered relegation to theThird Division North in1925–26 season.[1] But Mather spent his transfer budget well and Stoke gained an instant return to the second tier. The goals ofCharlie Wilson proved invaluable as Stoke began to start pushing for a return to the First Division.[1] Mather gaveStanley Matthews his debut in February 1932. After a number a failed attempts ,Stoke finished as Second Division champions in1932–33.[1] Mather remained in charge of Stoke for two more seasons beforeBob McGrory took over and Mather left in 1935 to joinNewcastle United. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Mather attempted to encourage Matthews to join him at Newcastle, but Matthews declined.[1]
He spent four years in charge ofNewcastle United until the start ofWorld War II.[1] He spent a season in charge ofLeicester City in1945–46 and then a year at Scottish clubKilmarnock. He then returned toStoke-on-Trent to work for a catering company.[1]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Bolton Wanderers | 1 August 1915 | 31 May 1919 | 144 | 61 | 21 | 62 | 042.4 |
| Southend United | August 1920 | May 1921 | 45 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 035.6 |
| Stoke City | October 1923 | June 1935 | 523 | 222 | 122 | 179 | 042.4 |
| Newcastle United | June 1935 | September 1939 | 179 | 78 | 32 | 69 | 043.6 |
| Leicester City | June 1945 | June 1946 | 44 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 018.2 |
| Kilmarnock | June 1946 | June 1947 | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 026.3 |
| Total[2] | 973 | 395 | 200 | 378 | 040.6 | ||