Dave Sexton

Son of former professional boxer Archie Sexton, he started his professional career with Luton Town in 1951, following spells with non-league clubs Newmarket Town and Chelmsford City. Playing mainly at inside-forward, he would finish his career with time at West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Crystal Palace. His biggest success came at Brighton, where he won the Third Division (South) Title in 1957–58.

Sexton started off as a coach at Chelsea, before leaving to begin his managerial career at Leyton Orient in 1965. In January 1966 he was appointed as coach at Fulham, replacing Ron Burgess, where in five months he saved the club from certain relegation. He left at the end of the season, much to the club's disappointment and he was appointed by Arsenal manager Bertie Mee as the Gunners' first-team coach in August 1966, but a year later returned to Chelsea to become manager following the departure of Tommy Docherty. He led the club to FA Cup success in 1970 and the European Cup Winners' Cup a year later. Chelsea also reached the League Cup final in 1972, but lost to Stoke City. However, Sexton fell out with several players, including Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson, who were subsequently sold. This, combined with other problems at the club, ensured that Sexton did not come close to repeating his earlier success and early in the 1974–75 season – which ended in Chelsea's relegation – he was dismissed. A few weeks later in October 1974 he was appointed manager of Queens Park Rangers as successor to Gordon Jago. With a team containing the likes of Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis, as well as players recruited from ex-club Chelsea, John Hollins and David Webb, Sexton took Rangers to within a point of the League title in 1975–76. The 3–2 defeat at Norwich City in their final away game of that season marked the end of a 14-match unbeaten run which had produced a spectacular 13 wins and one…

Player

Leyton Orient

Football League Third Division South: 1954–55 Brighton & Hove Albion

Football League Third Division South: 1957–58

Manager

Chelsea

FA Cup: 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1970–71 Football League Cup runner-up: 1971–72 Manchester United

FA Charity Shield: 1977 (shared) FA Cup runner-up: 1978–79 England U21

UEFA U21 Championship: 1982, 1984

Individual

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to football: 2005