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Gil
Merrick |
Birmingham City FC
23 caps,
45 goals against
five clean sheets, three penalties conceded
P 23 W 11 D
7 L 5 F 57: A
45
63% successful
1951-54
disciplined: none
captaincies: none
minutes played: 2046 |
|
 |
|
Profile |
|
Full name |
Gilbert Harold Merrick |
|
Born |
26 January 1922 at 28 Shakespeare Street,
Sparkhill, Warwickshire [registered in
King's Norton, March 1922]. To Harold and Nellie (née)
Howle.
Attended Fenton Road School, Acocks Green, |
|
notes |
Appeared on Midland
Electoral Registers, particularly in 1945, where Gilbert H. and [Joan M.]
were living at 85 Fenton Road, in Acock's Green, Birmingham. In 1955, he
and Dorothy were living at 56 Brays Road in Sheldon. Also lived at 8 Bills
Lane, Solihull in 1961. |
|
Married |
twice, to Dorothy Jean Voce
[registered in Birmingham, December 1944]. Two children,
Jill and Neil. Jean died in May 1996. Then, to Ivy on 20 April 2007. |
|
Died |
3 February 2010, aged
88 years 8 days. |
|
Height/Weight |
6'
1", 13st.
0lbs [1951]. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & Ancestry.com |
|
Biographies |
I See It All -
Gil Merrick (Museum Press, London, 1954)
Gil Merrick - Keith
Dixon (Breedon Publishing, April 2009) |
| |
x.
- A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999). |
|
Club Career |
|
Club(s) |
Gil signed
professional forms for £10 with Birmingham FC, in August 1939, at the age
of 17, after being spotted by Walter Taylor in a trial game for Solihull
Town FC and Shirley Town FC. He had only signed amateur forms with
Solihull only weeks before. He had been playing for Fenton Rovers FC,
Shirley Juniors FC and Olton Sports FC. He remained with Birmingham City
FC until 1964. He debuted during the war, and then
after 485 league appearances, he hung up
his gloves in May 1960. |
|
Club honours |
Football League
South Champions 1945-46; Football League
Division Two winners 1947-48, 1954-55; FA
Cup runners-up 1955-56; |
|
Individual honours |
Football League
(eleven appearances) |
|
Distinctions |
Gil is the son of
a sheet metal worker who had played semi-professionally for Birmingham.
Gil´s grandfather had worked for the haulage firm which had helped to
build the St Andrew´s ground in 1906.
The Railway Stand at St. Andrews
was renamed the Gil Merrick Stand in April 2009.
Birmingham Walk of
Stars August 2009.
Birmingham City FC
Hall of Fame October 2009; |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
Management Career |
|
Club(s) |
He took
over the managerial reigns of Birmingham City FC in May 1960, a role he
kept until 29 April 1964, when the board of directors asked for Merrick's
resignation, which he duly gave. He became part-time manager of Bromsgove
Rovers FC in early 1967 and managed Atherstone Town FC in 1970. |
|
Club honours |
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runners-up 1960-61; League Cup
winners 1962-63; |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
710th
player to appear for England. 73rd goalkeepr to appear. |
|
Position(s) |
Goalkeeper |
|
First match |
No. 267, 14
November 1951,
England 2
Ireland
0, a British
Championship match at Villa
Park, Birmingham, aged 29 years
292 days. |
|
Last match |
No. 290, 26 June 1954,
Uruguay
4
England 2, a World Cup
Finals group match at
Sankt Jakob Stadium, Basel, aged
32 years 151 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
World Cup
Finals 1954;
British Championships 1951-52,
1952-53, 1953-54; |
|
Team honours |
British
Championships winners 1953-54. shared 1951-52, 1952-53; |
|
Individual honours |
None |
|
Distinctions |
Merrick's stats
were savaged by a final season in which he conceded thirty goals in ten
matches. He only conceded fifteen in his first thirteen matches. The first
twelve were without defeat. |
|
Beyond England |
|
He also worked for 35 years as personnel
manager for S&U, a financial services firm in Solihull.
Also a Physichal Education teacher at
Greenmoor College in Edgbaston. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.172/3./Obituary |
|
Gil Merrick - Career Statistics |
|
Squads |
Apps |
Comp
Apps |
Starts |
Sub on |
Sub
off |
Mins. |
GA |
GA Av.
min |
Comp GA |
Clean
Sheets |
Cln
Sht Av |
Capt. |
Disc. |
|
24 |
23 |
11 |
23 |
0 |
0 |
2046 |
45 |
47 min |
19 |
5 |
63% |
None |
None |
|
Due to the fact that
many matches rarely stuck to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time
for injuries, errors and substitutions. The minutes here
given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only
an approximation. |
|
Gil Merrick
- Match Record - All Matches |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts
% |
W/L |
|
Home |
8 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
26 |
17 |
+9 |
0 |
2 |
3.25 |
2.125 |
68.8 |
+3 |
|
Away |
13 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
25 |
20 |
+5 |
2 |
3 |
1.923 |
1.538 |
65.4 |
+3 |
|
Neutral |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
4.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
| All |
23 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
57 |
45 |
+12 |
2 |
5 |
2.478 |
1.957 |
63.0 |
+6 |
|
Gil Merrick
- Match Record - By Type of Match |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCP
|
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
0 |
0 |
3.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
WCF |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
=0 |
0 |
1 |
2.667 |
2.667 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| World Cup |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
12 |
+7 |
0 |
1 |
3.167 |
2.00 |
75.0 |
+3 |
|
British Championship |
8 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
24 |
11 |
+13 |
0 |
1 |
3.00 |
1.375 |
87.5 |
+6 |
|
Note that the 1953-54
records of the World Cup Preliminaries and British Championships are
duplicated, and one set is therefore deducted from the grand total. |
| Friendly |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
25 |
26 |
-1 |
2 |
3 |
2.083 |
2.167 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| All |
23 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
57 |
45 |
+12 |
2 |
5 |
2.478 |
1.957 |
63.0 |
+6 |
|
Gil Merrick
- Match Record - Tournament Matches |
|
World Cup Preliminary Tournaments |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCP/BC 1953-54 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
0 |
0 |
3.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
All |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
0 |
0 |
3.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
World Cup Final Tournaments |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCF 1954 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
=0 |
0 |
1 |
2.667 |
2.667 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
All |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
8 |
=0 |
0 |
1 |
2.667 |
2.667 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
World Cup Preliminary and Final Tournaments |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WC 1952-54 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
12 |
+7 |
0 |
1 |
3.167 |
2.00 |
75.0 |
+3 |
|
All |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
12 |
+7 |
0 |
1 |
3.167 |
2.00 |
75.0 |
+3 |
|
British Championship |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| BC 1951-52 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
2.00 |
0.50 |
100.0 |
+2 |
| BC 1952-53 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
6 |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
66.7 |
+1 |
| BC/WCP
1953-54 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
0 |
0 |
3.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
All |
8 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
24 |
11 |
+13 |
0 |
1 |
3.00 |
1.375 |
87.5 |
+6 |
|
All
Tournaments |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| WC |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
12 |
+7 |
0 |
1 |
3.167 |
2.00 |
75.0 |
+3 |
| BC |
8 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
24 |
11 |
+13 |
0 |
1 |
3.00 |
1.375 |
87.5 |
+6 |
|
Note that the 1953-54
records of the World Cup Preliminaries and British Championships are
duplicated, and one set is therefore deducted from the grand total. |
|
All |
11 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
32 |
19 |
+13 |
0 |
2 |
2.909 |
1.727 |
77.3 |
+6 |
|
Gil Merrick
- Match History |
|
Club: Birmingham
City F.C. - 23 full caps |
Coach: Walter
Winterbottom - 23
full capsx
|
|
|
Age 29 |
|
1 |
267 |
14 November 1951 -
England 2
Ireland
0,
Villa
Park, Birmingham |
BC |
HW |
Start |
1 |
|
2 |
268 |
28 November 1951 - England 2
Austria
2,
Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
Fr |
HD |
Start |
1 |
|
Age 30 |
|
3 |
269 |
5 April 1952 -
Scotland 1 England 2,
Hampden
Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow |
BC |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
4 |
270 |
18 May 1952 -
Italy
1
England
1,
Stadio
Comunale di Firenze, Firenze |
Tour |
AD |
Start |
1 |
|
5 |
271 |
25 May 1952 -
Austria
2 England 3,
Praterstadion, Wien |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
6 |
272 |
28 May 1952 -
Switzerland
0
England 3,
Hardturm
Sportplatz, Zürich |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
7 |
273 |
4 October 1952 -
Ireland
2
England 2,
Windsor Park, Belfast |
BC |
AD |
Start |
1 |
|
8 |
274 |
12 November 1952 -
England 5
Wales
2,
Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
BC |
HW |
Start |
1 |
|
9 |
275 |
26 November 1952 -
England
5
Belgium
0,
Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
1 |
|
Age 31 |
|
10 |
276 |
18 April 1953 -
England 2
Scotland
2,
Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
BC |
HD |
Start |
1 |
|
11 |
277 |
17 May 1953 - Argentina
0
England 0, Estadio Monumental, Nuñez,
Buenos Aires - abandoned 36 mins. |
Tour |
AabD |
Start |
1 |
|
12 |
278 |
24 May 1953 -
Chile
1
England 2,
Estadio Nacional
de Chile, Ñuñoa,
Santiago |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
13 |
279 |
31 May 1953 -
Uruguay 2
England 1,
Estadio
Centenario, Montevideo |
AL |
Start |
1 |
|
- |
280 |
8 June 1953 -
USA
3 England 6,
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York |
AW |
squad member |
|
14 |
281 |
10 October 1953 -
Wales
1 England 4,
Ninian Park, Sloper Road, Cardiff |
BC/
WCP |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
15 |
282 |
21
October 1953 -
England 4
Rest of
the World 4,
Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
Fr |
HD |
Start |
1 |
|
16 |
283 |
11 November 1953 - England 3
Ireland
1,
Goodison
Park, Liverpool |
BC/
WCP |
HW |
Start |
1 |
|
17 |
284 |
25 November 1953 -
England 3
Hungary
6, Empire Stadium, Wembley, London |
Fr |
HL |
Start |
1 |
|
Age 32 |
|
18 |
285 |
3 April 1954 -
Scotland 2 England
4,
Hampden
Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow |
BC/
WCP |
AW |
Start |
1 |
|
19 |
286 |
16 May 1954 -
Yugoslavia
1 England 0,
Stadion Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija,
Beograd |
Tour |
AL |
Start |
1 |
|
20 |
287 |
23 May 1954 -
Hungary 7
England 1,
Népstadion,
Budapest |
AL |
Start |
1 |
|
21 |
288 |
17 June 1954 -
Belgium
4
England 4,
Sankt Jakob Stadium, Basel |
WCF |
ND |
Start |
1 |
|
22 |
289 |
20 June 1954 -
England 2 Switzerland
0,
Wankdorfstadion, Bern |
AW |
Start |
|
23 |
290 |
26 June 1954 -
Uruguay
4
England 2,
Sankt Jakob Stadium, Basel |
NL |
Start |
Notes
____________________
CG
|
|
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