Bryan Griffiths

Bryan Griffiths (born 21 November 1938) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender in the Football League and later had an extensive career as manager of Non-League football clubs.

Playing career

As a schoolboy Griffiths played as a centre forward, playing for the Forefield Lane Junior School team in Crosby, Merseyside. He moved up to Crosby County Secondary School, playing for their intermediate team before going to Bootle Technical College aged 12. Whilst there he played for Bootle Schoolboys, and during this spell he transferred from centre forward to full back, the position he would make his own for the rest of his career. He was so impressive playing there that he was picked for the Lancashire County Schoolboys side, where he was spotted by Everton scouts who drafted him into their Youth squad in May 1954.

Signing professional forms at 17, and following tours in Ireland and Holland, he made his first team debut against Preston North End at Deepdale aged 19. Everton lost 3–2, and the following week were thrashed 6–1 by Arsenal.

Soon afterwards Everton let Griffiths go and in June 1960 Southport's player-manager, ex-Evertonian Wally Fielding, signed him to the Fourth Division club. Nicknamed 'Yogi' during his time with the Sandgrounders thanks to his ultra-short crewcut, Griffiths played 97 consecutive games, racking up 117 appearances and one goal but the habit waned as he aged and the strength of his squad increased. Nonetheless he is remembered as being a very fit and participative manager in training even late in his Formby tenure at the turn of the 1980s.

Burscough

Griffiths left Formby in October 1980. His next managerial role was at Burscough, taking them to the inaugural North West Counties Football League title in 1982–83.

South Liverpool

From there he graduated to Northern Premier League side South Liverpool, winning a treble of the Lancashire Junior Cup, the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup and most impressively the Liverpool Senior Cup in 1983–84.

Southport

In December 1984 Griffiths returned to Southport, now in the Northern Premier League, as manager, a move long desired by fans. He appointed as his assistant a man starting out on his managerial career, Dave Jones, who would go on to be boss of Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday. They took Southport to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy and the First Round Proper of the FA Cup.

Mossley

In November 1987 the duo left Haig Avenue, taking up identical roles in October 1988 at Mossley, who were then bottom of the Northern Premier League. Thirteen months and four trophies later, Griffiths had stabilised them in mid-table when he was asked to halve his wages. Witton Albion, Chorley, Kendal Town, Congleton Town and Rossendale United before retiring from the game.