Jack Tinn
English football manager
About Jack Tinn
Lived 1878 – 1971 (aged 93). Jack Tinn was an association football player and association football coach.
John William Tinn (20 January 1878 - 13 March 1971) was an English football manager. He managed South Shields in the early 1920s and Portsmouth from 1927 until 1947.
Career In 1919, the year South Shields were selected for the Football League Second Division, Tinn was named manager of the team. After several seasons of the club finishing in the top half of the table, he joined Portsmouth in 1927. Under Tinn's stewardship Portsmouth won the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 at Wembley in 1939. Although Tinn departed in 1947 he is still credited with creating the great Pompey side which went on to win back-to-back league championships in 1949 and 1950. He also guided Pompey to the 1929 and 1934 cup finals.
Tinn famously credited the 1939 cup success to his 'lucky spats' which he wore in every round. He wore spats at all Cup ties and stored them in a safe in between.
Tinn reportedly stored the FA cup under his bed during WWII, along with other unusual storage locations.
In 1955 Tinn, as former chief scout, attended the funeral of F.H. Normansell, chairman of Aston Villa F.C..
Honours won As a manager Portsmouth FA Cup winner 1939 FA Cup runner-up 1929 and 1934
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Important facts
People in Jack Tinn's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jack Tinn's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jack Tinn?
English football manager (1878-1971)
When was Jack Tinn born?
Jack Tinn was born on 20 January 1878.
When did Jack Tinn die?
Jack Tinn died on 13 March 1971.
What was Jack Tinn's occupation?
Jack Tinn was an association football player and association football coach.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack Tinn. https://biography.guide/jack-tinn/
MLA: "Jack Tinn." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-tinn/.
Chicago: "Jack Tinn." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-tinn/.
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