Sydney Beaumont (8 October 1884 – May 1939) was an English professional footballer and football manager, runner and cricketer. He played at both half back and

left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

during his football career and won many trophies for middle-distance running.

Early life and playing career

Beaumont was born in Wrestlingworth, Bedfordshire, and began his career with Colchester Town. He moved on to Lincoln City, making his league debut in the 1904–05 season. However, he made just five league appearances for the Imps before joining Bedfordshire side Biggleswade & District. He joined

Watford Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a smal ...

in 1909, playing in the Southern League. He played 25 times for Watford before joining

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional association football club in Preston, Lancashire, England. They currently play in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English footbal ...

in 1911, but made just one league appearance before joining Merthyr Town in the 1912 close season. He also played for Merthy Town Cricket Club. He spent just one season with Merthyr, making fifteen appearances, before joining Troedyrhiw in the summer of 1913. He later finished his playing career with

Llanelli ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is on the estuary of the River Loughor and is the largest town in the Principal areas of Wales, ...

Managerial career

After steering Barry Town to their first ever league championship in 1921, the summer of 1923 saw Beaumont appointed as manager of Third Division South side Aberdare Athletic. Aberdare finished 9th in the 1925–26 season, but a combination of circumstances, including industrial action amongst the local mining community which affected attendances and the burning down of a wooden grandstand, meant that Aberdare's poor financial situation deteriorated. At the end of the 1926–27 season, Aberdare failed to gain re-election to the league and were replaced by

Torquay United Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...

. Beaumont left that summer, but was soon appointed as manager of

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

, another club with severe financial problems at that time. He took over from Frank Buckley and immediately began to dismantle the team and bring in big-money names. His outlook was different from that of his predecessor, and his overhaul of tactics resulted in problems. The team struggled, losing five of their first six league games (a draw at

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

on the opening day being the exception to the rule). One tactic that did work, however, was his moving Billy Tremelling from

centre-forward In the sport of association football, a forward (attacker or striker) is an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position which primarily plays further up the pitch than Midfielder, midfielders and Defender (association football), d ...

back to half back, which resulted in a fruitful partnership with

Jimmy Hampson James Hampson (23 March 1906 – 10 January 1938) was an English professional footballer. He spent eleven seasons at Blackpool, where he remains record goalscorer with 252 goals in 373 games, and is still regarded as one of the best centre forwa ...

(a player Beaumont had brought to the seaside). Being a former Preston North End player hardly endeared Beaumont to the Blackpool faithful. As ''the Seasiders'' struggled in Division Two, criticism of Beaumont grew. Eventually, in May 1928, with the team in the bottom three, he resigned — at the time becoming the club's shortest-serving manager with 42 League games to his name.Calley, Roy. ''Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992'', 1992. Two months later, he took over as secretary-manager of Bangor City. He joined the ground staff of Chester Football Club in 1933 and served as their assistant trainer from 1936 until his death in 1939.

Death

Beaumont died in May 1939, leaving his widow Elizabeth Beaumont and five children. His son, Robert, was a footballer and cricketer.

Gallery

File:Sydney Beaumont Preston North End.jpg, Beaumont at Preston North End. Bottom row, third from right File:Sydney Merthyr Town.jpg, Beaumont at Merthyr Town Cricket Club File:Sydney Beaumont Llanelly.jpg, Beaumont at Llanelly FC

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beaumont, Syd 1884 births 1939 deaths English men's footballers People from Wrestlingworth Footballers from Bedfordshire Men's association football midfielders Colchester Town F.C. players Lincoln City F.C. players Biggleswade Town F.C. players Watford F.C. players Preston North End F.C. players Merthyr Town F.C. players Troedyrhiw F.C. players Llanelli Town A.F.C. players English football managers Barry Town United F.C. managers Aberdare Athletic F.C. managers Blackpool F.C. managers Bangor City F.C. managers Southern Football League players