Womack Frank Image 4 Birmingham City 1922

Description

Stannington, Sheffield born full back Frank Womack began his football career with Lopham Street in 1906 before joining local Rotherham team Rawmarsh Albion in 1907. He signed for Second Division Birmingham City  in 1908 making his Football League debut that September at Gainsborough Trinity, and despite the interruption of the First World War he still holds The Blues’ all time League appearances record with 491 games (he never scored) through to 1928 during which time they won the Second Division Championship in 1921. Oddly he was only ever present once in 16 seasons, in 1911-12. He was Birmingham’s Club Captain for 16 years from 1912 to 1928. He still holds the League record for most games (536) by an outfield player without scoring a goal.

In 1928 he joined non league Worcester City as player-manager where he guided them to the Birmingham League title and to the first round of the FA Cup, and then returned to the Football League the following year as player-manager of Torquay United for whom he played a further 21 games in 1929-30. He managed Grimsby Town for 4 years from May 1932 and while manager guided them to their great period of success, with promotion back to the First Division as Second Division Champions in 1934, an all-time highest League placing of 5th in 1935 and a FA Cup semi final in 1936. He took over at Leicester City from October 1936 until the outbreak of World War Two winning the Second Division Championship in 1937. After the War he managed Oldham Athletic from February 1945 to April 1947 and briefly again Grimsby Town as caretaker manager in from January 1951 to the end of the season.