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George Roughton

1909 – 1989

English footballer and manager

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About George Roughton

Lived 1909 – 1989 (aged 80). George Roughton was a British association football player and association football coach.

William George Roughton (11 December 1909 – 7 June 1989) was a professional footballer who played for Huddersfield Town and Manchester United in the 1930s and was subsequently manager of Exeter City and Southampton.

Club career Roughton was born in Manchester and played for his local team Droylsden in the Manchester League. He started his professional career at Huddersfield Town, then in Division 1, in 1927 and was a regular member of the team, playing at full-back.

Roughton was a member of the FA Touring party that visited Canada in the summer of 1931 and featured in international trials in 1931 and 1934. He went on to win league honours turning out for the Football league versus the Irish League in September 1934 helping the Football league to a 6–1 victory in Belfast.

In September 1936, he moved back to his native Manchester, joining Manchester United, who were relegated to Division 2 at the end of his first season with them, although they were promoted straight back up as runners-up in 1937–38.

Managerial career After World War II, he joined Exeter City as manager. He kept the Grecians on an even keel but did not achieve any real success, generally finishing mid-table in the Third Division (South). He was unable to regain Southampton's place in Division 2, and in September 1955, he was asked to resign, to be replaced by the man who would change Southampton's history, Ted Bates.

After leaving Southampton, he worked part-time for the Hampshire F.A.

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Important facts

People in George Roughton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Roughton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was George Roughton?

English footballer and manager (1909-1989)

When was George Roughton born?

George Roughton was born on 11 May 1909 in Manchester.

When did George Roughton die?

George Roughton died on 7 June 1989 in Southampton.

What was George Roughton's occupation?

George Roughton was an association football player and association football coach.

What nationality was George Roughton?

George Roughton was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Roughton

· Wikidata: Q5544071

· DBpedia: George Roughton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Roughton. https://biography.guide/george-roughton/

MLA: "George Roughton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-roughton/.

Chicago: "George Roughton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-roughton/.

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