This Is Your Life: Joe Mercer

Joe MERCER (1914-1990)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Joe Mercer, football manager, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while having a meal at the Hilton Hotel in London.

Joe, who was born in Ellesmere Port, began his playing career for the town's youth team before joining Everton in 1932, where he soon emerged as a star player. He moved to Arsenal in 1946, where, as club captain, he led the team through a period of success into the 1950s before retiring in 1954.

His management career began with Sheffield United in 1955, followed by several seasons with Aston Villa. In 1965 he joined Manchester City, where he achieved great success, leading the team to the 1967-8 First Division championship, winning the FA Cup in 1969, and winning the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1970.

"You rogue, you rogue, you terrible rogue!"

programme details...

Edition No: 274
Subject No: 276
Broadcast live: Wed 25 Mar 1970
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Venue: Euston Road Studios
Series: 10
Edition: 18

on the guest list...

Norah - wife
members of Manchester City FC team
Francis Lee
Colin Bell
Mike Summerbee
Alan Oakes
Alan Percival
David - son
Joan - daughter-in-law
Arthur - brother
Stan Cullis
Billy Dixie Dean
Jim Morris
Charles Palmer
Matt Busby
Frank Soo
Walley Barnes
Maurice Edelston
Bernard Joy
Roy White
George Hardwick
Raich Carter
Neil Franklin
Stanley Matthews
Malcolm Allison
Susan - granddaughter
Albert Dyson - father-in-law

production team...

Researcher: unknown
Writer: unknown
Director: Margery Baker
Producer: Robert Tyrrell

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

with thanks to Susan and David Lea for their contribution to this page

related pages...

Match of the Day

tackling football's top names

Matt Busby

Frances Lee

Stanley Matthews

Photographs of Joe Mercer This Is Your Life

Gary James recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Football With A Smile, reproduced here with kind permission of the author...

This had been an extremely busy time for the Blues. Over a 21 day period City had played five League games, both semi-final legs and found time to work with television to honour their manager. On Wednesday 25 March – a week before the first leg of the ECWC semi-final - Joe was the subject of a This Is Your Life show.

This Is Your Life was viewed at the time as significant recognition for a lifetime's achievement. Only major stars and personalities were featured in those days, and the main idea would be that the subject of the programme would be surprised by the sudden appearance of presenter Eamonn Andrews and his 'big red book'. The subject would then be whisked away to a studio or other location where a variety of figures from the person's life would be brought out to tell anecdotes and the like. The main part of the show would be broadcast live.

On 25 March 1970 Joe Mercer was staying at the Hilton Hotel in London. He had been due to fly, with Malcolm Allison, to the continent to watch ECWC semi-final opponents Schalke but he had received a message to say the game was off. It was all a ruse of course. That night television viewers watched as Eamonn Andrews surprised Joe at the hotel reception desk: "Joe Mercer, former England playing star, now manager of Cup winning Manchester City, tonight. This Is Your Life!"

During the show the City team appeared, but Malcolm Allison was nowhere to be seen. He had been staying with Joe at the hotel and the City manager explained: "I'm a great sleeper you see, and subconsciously I heard Malcolm getting up and I thought, oh, he's going to the bathroom. I thought, well, he hasn't come back, so he must be having a bath, and then I went back to sleep. I woke about ten and Malcolm had gone, but occasionally this happens - Malcolm disappears!"

Andrews explained that Allison had left early to watch the match which was still on. Joe was flabbergasted: "He's left all his clothes! I've had to pack his bag as well!"

During the course of the show, Andrews informed Joe that Alf Ramsey had named the squad he was to take to the 1970 World Cup: "I know you haven't had a chance to hear the news, but I'm going to tell it to you now, that two of your boys have been named by Alf for the World Cup – Francis Lee and Colin Bell. And two more in the twelve reserves – Mike Summerbee and Alan Oakes. Congratulations lads, and to the whole of the Manchester City."

Joe was overjoyed.

Series 10 subjects