Basil Hayward

Carl Basil Hayward (7 April 1928 – 9 December 1989) was an English footballer and manager. He was the younger brother of Doug and Eric Hayward.

He scored 55 goals in 349 league games for local league side Port Vale from 1946 to 1957, a key period in the club's history. He won the Third Division North title with Port Vale in 1953–54 and also played in the FA Cup semi-finals. He then spent two years with Portsmouth before becoming player-manager at Yeovil Town from 1960 to 1964. After a spell managing non-League Bedford Town, he spent five years in charge of Gillingham before finishing his management career with Telford United.

Playing career Hayward joined Port Vale in May 1946, having recently turned 16. He made his debut on 12 October of that year, in a 4–0 home defeat by Cardiff City, and finished the 1946–47 season with two Third Division South appearances to his name. Another teammate Graham Barnett also recalled how Hayward would break opposition players' noses with his sharp elbows.

Managerial career Yeovil Town Hayward was appointed manager of Yeovil Town in April 1960. The "Glovers" finished third in the Southern League in 1960–61 and reached the first round of the FA Cup, where they beat Walsall, before losing to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the second round. They reached the third round of the FA Cup the next season after beating Southend United and Crystal Palace, where they lost out to Bury. However, Hayward left Huish in February 1964, to manage Bedford Town, despite the fact that Yeovil were on course for the league title in 1963–64. The "Gills" finished sixth in the Third Division in 1965–66. They dropped to eleventh in 1966–67 and 1967–68, before dropping to 20th in 1968–69 and 1969–70. Following two narrow escapes, relegation came in 1970–71 when Gillingham finished bottom of the division. Hayward then departed Priestfield Stadium on 25 May 1971.

He was later appointed manager of Telford United, holding the post until 1974. He went onto become chief scout at Norwich City; he then returned to Gillingham as a scout. making 22 Minor Counties Championship appearances between 1951 and 1959.

Personal life Hayward was in a relationship with Jill Beckett, sister to Roy Beckett.

Career statistics Playing statistics

Managerial statistics + Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordGillingham1 January 196631 May 1971

Honours Port Vale Football League Third Division North: 1953–54