Bernard Oxley
Bernard "Bunny" Oxley (16 June 1907 – 7 January 1975) was an English footballer who played as a forward, before becoming a coach and manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Oxley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 June 1907[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Whitwell, Derbyshire, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 7 January 1975 (aged 67)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Worksop, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Whitwell Old Boys | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1925–1928 | Chesterfield | ||
| 1928–1934 | Sheffield United | 116 | (11) |
| 1934–1935 | Sheffield Wednesday | ||
| 1935–1936 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
| 1936–1938 | Stockport County | ||
| 1938 | Worksop Town | ||
| 1938–1939 | Scunthorpe and Lindsey United | ||
| 1946 | Wombwell Athletic | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1938 | Worksop Town (player manager) | ||
| 1939–1940 | HVV Den Haag (head coach) | ||
| 1946–1947 | Denaby United (coach) | ||
| 1947 | Worksop Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Career
Having played for his village team Whitwell Old Boys, Oxley signed amateur terms with Chesterfield as an eighteen-year-old in October 1925.[1] Turning professional the following December, Oxley made his Football League debut at the end of the 1925–26 season he spent two seasons as a first-team player before attracting the attention of Sheffield United.[1] The Blades signed Oxley in May 1928 for £1,350 and initially employed him on the right wing but later selected him in a number of attacking positions. He initially formed a strong partnership with Jack Pickering at the start of the 1929–30 season but an operation for appendicitis saw Oxley miss a large number of games. Eventually returning to the first team Oxley's form was inconsistent and he eventually lost his place in 1932.[1]
Oxley remained at United for two more seasons, mainly playing in the reserves, and was eventually sold to cross-town rivals Sheffield Wednesday for £1,000 in May 1934. Unable to find a regular starting place with his new club Oxley moved again to Plymouth Argyle for £600 in September 1935 and again to Stockport County in June 1936.[1]
Oxley's career was revived at County and he featured regularly, helping the side win the Third Division (North) title in 1936–37 season.[1] Dropping into non-league in 1938, Oxley spent a brief time as player-manager with Worksop Town before signing as player-coach with Scunthorpe and Lindley United in November 1938.[1] In 1939 Oxley moved to The Netherlands to coach football and cricket and was appointed coach at HVV Den Haag but was forced to flee in 1940 following the German invasion.[1]
Returning to England Oxley spent some time playing with Wombwell Athletic before being appointed manager of Worksop Town in 1947 after which he acted as a scout for Leyton Orient.[1]
Personal life
Born in Whitwell, Derbyshire, Oxley was the younger brother of Chesterfield and Liverpool player Cyril Oxley.[1] Returning to England during World War II Oxley worked for the Worksop Fire Service and continued in the role after the end of war.[1]
References
- Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.