Norman Bodell (born 29 January 1938) is an English former professional footballer, coach, manager and scout. He played as a defender, making 224 appearances in the Football League for Rochdale, Crewe Alexandra and Halifax Town before moving into non-League football with Altrincham. He played for Rochdale in the final of the 1961–62 League Cup which they lost to Norwich City over two legs.[2]

Norman Bodell
Personal information
Full name Norman Bodell[1]
Date of birth (1938-01-29) 29 January 1938 (age 86)[1]
Place of birth Manchester,[1] England
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1963 Rochdale 79 (1)
1963–1967 Crewe Alexandra 109 (2)
1967–1968 Halifax Town 36 (0)
1968–1969 Altrincham
Managerial career
1969–1970 Barrow
1978 Blackburn Rovers (caretaker manager)
1982 Birmingham City (caretaker manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bodell left Altrincham, where his playing career ended because of knee ligament damage but where he had continued as coach, to become manager of Barrow in March 1969. He helped them avoid relegation that season, but was sacked the following February[3][4] with the team heading back down to the Fourth Division. He went on to coach the reserve team at Wolverhampton Wanderers[5] and the first team at Preston North End under Bobby Charlton's management[6] before becoming Jim Smith's assistant at Blackburn Rovers in July 1975. When Smith left Blackburn for Birmingham City in March 1978, Bodell acted as caretaker manager for eight games until Jim Iley was appointed, and then rejoined Smith at Birmingham.[7] This situation was repeated four years later when Smith's dismissal in February 1982 left Bodell as caretaker for two matches until the appointment of Ron Saunders.[8] Bodell remained at Birmingham as coach and as chief scout, a post he went on to hold at West Bromwich Albion.[7]

Honours

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Rochdale

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Norman Bodell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. ^ Fort, Didier (25 February 2001). "England – League Cup Finals 1961–2001". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Bodell keen to go". The Guardian. 26 February 1969. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bodell not talkative". The Guardian. 12 February 1970. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Harrison, Gerry (20 October 1971). "Dougan and Wagstaffe should play". The Times. p. 10.
  6. ^ "The Big Interview: Mike Elwiss". Lancashire Evening Post. 15 December 2003. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  7. ^ a b Jackman, Mike (1994). Blackburn Rovers: the official encyclopaedia. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 28. ISBN 1-873626-70-3.
  8. ^ Jones, Stuart (19 February 1982). "Villa's loss becomes Birmingham's gain". The Times. p. 20. Norman Bodell, acting as manager since Jim Smith was suddenly dismissed on Monday, will be in charge of the side for the local derby.
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