Stan Seymour

Early career

Seymour was born in Kelloe. After originally being rejected by Newcastle United as a teenager (the local pit worker was told to "come back when you grow up"), he played some non-league football for Shildon Athletic and Coxhoe before joining Bradford City in 1911 for a short spell, making only one competitive appearance. He then joined Scottish side Greenock Morton. He developed as a player at Morton, becoming popular with the locals who called him "the little Englishman". Unlike in England, a fairly normal league season was played throughout the First World War in Scotland, and in all of Seymour's time in Greenock, Morton never finished outside the top four of what was a highly competitive league. The moment he had gone, they slipped dramatically down the table. His performances were noticed back in England and he was eventually offered a transfer to Newcastle, the club who originally rejected him, in 1920 for a fee of £2,500.

Newcastle United

It did not take long for Seymour to become a crowd favourite at St. James' Park. His performances helped Newcastle reach the 1924 FA Cup final, with goals against Portsmouth, Derby County, Liverpool, and Manchester City, before scoring a thunderous 20-yard half volley to secure the win over Aston Villa. He was also part of the Newcastle team that were crowned Division One champions in 1926–27. Such displays also earned him a call-up to the England squad on a tour to Australia. In 1929, he left the club…

Seymour was married to his wife Charlotte, a native of Benton, Tyne and Wear. The couple had two children, both of whom were associated with Newcastle United. Their eldest son, Stan Seymour Jr., was born in Scotland while Seymour was playing for Greenock Morton. He later joined Newcastle's board of directors and became chairman of the club from 1981 to 1988. Their other son, Colin Seymour, played wartime football for Newcastle, but was killed in action during the Second World War.

Jackie Milburn was once quoted saying "There is a great debt owed by Newcastle United to Stan Seymour for all of his services to the club". The North Eastern League Cup (in which teams from the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division compete in) was renamed the Stan Seymour League Cup in his honour.

Player

Greenock Morton

Scottish Football League runner-up: 1916–17 Great War Shield: 1914–15 Newcastle United

Football League First Division: 1926–27 FA Cup: 1923–24

Manager

Newcastle United

FA Cup: 1950–51, 1951–52