Wightman Harry Image 3 Derby County 1922

Description

Sutton-in-Ashfield born centre half Harry Wightman joined hometown junior club Sutton Town in 1911 and also played for Eastwood Rangers in 1912 before joining Midland League Chesterfield Town in 1913. The First World War interrupted his career but after the War he joined First Division Derby County making his Football League debut against Manchester United in August 1919, and being ever present during Derby’s first post-war season. He was a regular in the first team until 1926, when he helped The Rams to promotion to the First Division as Second Division runners up, but back in the First Division he hardly featured and he re-joined Chesterfield in 1929 after 9 goals in 189 appearances.

A single season at Chesterfield saw 2 goals in 43 appearances as they finished fourth in the Third Division (North), and he finished his playing career with Notts County in 1930-31, although he didn’t make their first eleven. In June 1931 he became manager of Luton Town and was at the helm until October 1935, guiding The Hatters to a fourth place finish in Division Three (South) in 1934-35. He joined Mansfield Town as manager in January 1936 but stayed only five months, and later that summer became manager at Second Division Nottingham Forest. They struggled throughout his three seasons at The City Ground, and he left in March 1939.