Jack Milburn (footballer)


John "Jack" Milburn was an English footballer who played 408 games for Leeds United. He was also a football manager.

Biography

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, England, Milburn was a member of the famous Milburn footballing family. His cousin Jackie, known as Wor Jackie, played for Newcastle United. Other members of the Milburn family included brothers George, Jimmy and Stan, as well as his nephews Bobby and Jack Charlton.

Playing career

Jack Milburn was a left back who played a total of 423 league and cup games in a career that was interrupted for seven years by World War II. All but 15 of those were for Leeds United. In 2000, he was voted the 83rd greatest Leeds player by the club.
He finished his career at Bradford City where he played 14 league games.

Managerial career

Milburn had moved to Bradford City in October 1946. in the twilight of his playing career as player-coach to Jack Barker. Barker resigned in January 1947 after just eight months in charge leaving Milburn as the natural replacement becoming the club's first ever player-manager.
Milburn led the club to fifth in Division Three in his first six months in charge. The following season the club came just 14th and during the summer Milburn handed over to David Steele although he remained at the club as Steele's assistant.