Wilfred James Mannion (16 May 1918 – 14 April 2000) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward,[1] making over 350 senior appearances for Middlesbrough. He also played international football for England. With his blonde hair, he was nicknamed "The Golden Boy".[2][3]
![]() Statue outside the Riverside Stadium of Middlesbrough F.C. | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Wilfred James Mannion | ||
Date of birth | (1918-05-16)16 May 1918 | ||
Place of birth | South Bank, Middlesbrough, England | ||
Date of death | 14 April 2000(2000-04-14) (aged 81) | ||
Place of death | Teesside, England | ||
Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1936–1954 | Middlesbrough | 341 | (99) |
1954–1956 | Hull City | 16 | (1) |
1956 | Poole Town | ||
1956–1958 | Cambridge United | ||
– | Earlestown (player/manager) | ||
National team | |||
1939–1946 | → England wartime team | 4 | (0) |
1948 | England B | 1 | (0) |
1946–1951 | England | 26 | (11) |
1947 | United Kingdom | 1 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Mannion was born on 16 May 1918 in South Bank, the son of Irish immigrants Tommy and Mary Mannion, and one of ten children.[3]
Mannion joined his local team Middlesbrough F.C. in 1936 and went on to make 341 Football League appearances for them, scoring on 99 occasions.[4] He scored 110 goals in all competitions for Middlesbrough.[5]
Mannion fought in France and Italy during World War II,[6][1] and in Italy his commanding officer was the England cricketer Hedley Verity.[6]
At the end of the 1947–48 season he wanted a transfer, but Middlesbrough refused. In protest he did not play for them for much of the following season but he eventually backed down and started playing for Middlesbrough again.[7]
After initially retiring as a player in 1954, Mannion subsequently joined Hull City. However, the Football League suspended him for articles he had written,[8] He then played non-league football with Poole Town and Cambridge United.[9]
Mannion was capped on 26 occasions by the England national team between 1946 and 1951, and his final appearance came on 3 October 1951.[10] He was a member of the England squad for the 1950 FIFA World Cup.[8] Along with Middlesbrough and England teammate George Hardwick, he was also part of the Great Britain football team that beat the Rest of Europe 6–1 in 1947.[11]
He remains the only Middlesbrough player to score for England at the World Cup.
Mannion was eventually awarded a testimonial match by Middlesbrough in 1983, alongside former Boro and England colleague George Hardwick.[3]
Mannion died on 14 April 2000 at the age of 81.[7] After his passing, Middlesbrough FC erected a statue of Mannion outside the Riverside Stadium.[3]
In 2004 it was announced he was being inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum.[12]
England squad – 1950 FIFA World Cup | ||
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National libraries | |
Other |