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Post by htafcokay on Aug 8, 2023 10:23:35 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years.
He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season.
He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season
I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview.
He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams?
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Post by upthetown on Aug 8, 2023 11:28:14 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years. He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season. He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview. He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams? I was on work experience from high school at Town in the football in the community section. I remember seeing Horton one day and him looking really pissed off. Later found out he’d been sacked. Then met Jacko after he was appointed and he got the squad to sign a football for me. He was a totally different kind of manager to Warnock. He tried to change the style of play from direct to more passing based, with the introduction of players like Lee Makel. At the end of his first season we sold Booth and Jepson and replaced them with Stewart, Payton and Morrison, which, at the time, did feel pretty exciting as Marcus Stewart had been amazing at Bristol. |
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araucaria
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Post by araucaria on Aug 8, 2023 12:08:53 GMT 1
His teams couldn't win away. 'I don't understand it, the only difference about playing away is that the home team put the air in the ball', he once said.
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Post by themanfromatlantis on Aug 8, 2023 12:14:34 GMT 1
My memory isn’t great, but I seem to think he was OK, maybe a bit middling, but nothing like some of the poor Mgrs we’ve had over the years.
I’m sure someone will be along shortly to list those…
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Post by Bubbles on Aug 8, 2023 12:37:19 GMT 1
His first season I thought was great,taking the reins after Warnock left after promotion and finishing 8th in the Championship.
I remember us beating Barnsley 3-0 at home (Booth and Jepson both scored)and thinking it was one of the most complete performances I'd seen in a long time.
Boothy was sold and replaced with Stewart,Morrison and Payton.
96-97 however he suffered horrendous injury problems( Stewart and Morrison missed most of the season)and ended up using 35 players ( still got the video somewhere ..a team of 35.)
And if it hadn't been for the goals of the much maligned Andy Payton we'd have been relegated.
That form continued into the next season where Jacko and Yorath had to come to our rescue....
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Post by Teddington Ted on Aug 8, 2023 12:47:28 GMT 1
He took on the huge task of changing us from a ‘typical Warnock team’ to a passing, more technical one.
He replaced Darren Bullock with Lee Makel, which was pretty much his mantra condensed to a single position on the pitch.
He got us playing good football at times but we were lacking in character and guts - we all know how well that goes down with our fan base!!
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 8, 2023 12:54:52 GMT 1
I think sometimes he gets a bit forgotten because he was sandwiched between two very popular managers in Neil Warnock and Peter Jackson.
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Post by rockwall on Aug 8, 2023 13:16:31 GMT 1
Was it Horton who managed to bring Ben Thronley in on loan?
At the time it was a huge coup.
How did he manage that one as surely.lots of clubs would have been after him.
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Wingman
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Post by Wingman on Aug 8, 2023 13:17:07 GMT 1
Experienced manager at the wrong time. He tried to change a battling, winning team into a passing style team too fast. Admirable as much as it was to try and do, he brought in the wrong players such as Makel, bombed out the grafters such as Bully, and lost his way.
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Post by Porrohman on Aug 8, 2023 13:18:49 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years. He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season. He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview. He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams? Don't think Tommy Cowan has many good things to say about him. He near on accused him of being soft and feigning injury when Tom did his ACL. |
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Post by Oblong of Dreams on Aug 8, 2023 13:22:50 GMT 1
His record for us suggests it all went wrong when he was allowed to bring his own players in. That's an oversimplification, due to the injuries to Stewart and Morrison in their first season- but there was an element of trying to be Barcelona on a Barnsley budget with the likes of Makel being favoured over Bullock. Though Psycho's off-the-field antics didn't help his case.
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ambryboy
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Post by ambryboy on Aug 8, 2023 13:23:14 GMT 1
His tailor should have been sacked for the light brown suit Horton wore at times.
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Post by westislandterrier on Aug 8, 2023 13:29:12 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years. He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season. He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview. He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams? I remember him (from the English Footy on Irish TV) being at Luton Town around the time that I started supporting Town (1980) - I think they might have gotten promotion to the then Division 1 and something jumping out at me is The Luton manager David Pleat running the whole length of The Main Road pitch skipping and jauntily dancing and I’m not sure if it was Brian Horton that he jumped on and hugged - Possibly ! I think this was as they escaped relegation on possibly the final day of the season v Manchester City... I remember him taking on the Town job after Neil left and he seemed to do quite well in the first season but then it was all downhill from the next season onwards for him at HTAFC and he didn’t seem to be that high profile a guy in comparison to others... So aye, htafcokay - If your interviewing Brian, feel free to tell him that I seen him on TV from Ireland (it was all we had - no Scottish) in his playing days for Luton Town in the back sticks on rural and remote Scotland in The Whisky Isle (Islay) and these are some of my memories of him - And thanks to him for that decent season at Town following in the footsteps of a successful Neil Warnock - No easy task - and hopefully they’ll be a new Brian Horton following in the footsteps of a successful Neil Warnock HTAFC next season although I’d class that in this most unforgiving of League’s as probably around 16th or 17th place given the highlights of Saturday’s match that I’ve just watched a little while ago ! |
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Post by Porrohman on Aug 8, 2023 13:32:06 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years. He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season. He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview. He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams? I remember him (from the English Footy on Irish TV) being at Luton Town around the time that I started supporting Town (1980) - I think they might have gotten promotion to the then Division 1 and something jumping out at me is The Luton manager David Pleat running the whole length of The Main Road pitch skipping and jauntily dancing and I’m not sure if it was Brian Horton that he jumped on and hugged - Possibly ! I think this was as they escaped relegation on possibly the final day of the season v Manchester City... I remember him taking on the Town job after Neil left and he seemed to do quite well in the first season but then it was all downhill from the next season onwards for him at HTAFC and he didn’t seem to be that high profile a guy in comparison to others... So aye, htafcokay - If your interviewing Brian, feel free to tell him that I seen him on TV from Ireland (it was all we had - no Scottish) in his playing days for Luton Town in the back sticks on rural and remote Scotland in The Whisky Isle (Islay) and these are some of my memories of him - And thanks to him for that decent season at Town following in the footsteps of a successful Neil Warnock - No easy task - and hopefully they’ll be a new Brian Horton following in the footsteps of a successful Neil Warnock HTAFC next season although I’d class that in this most unforgiving of League’s as probably around 16th or 17th place given the highlights of Saturday’s match that I’ve just watched a little while ago ! He was Luton captain, David Moss was left wing and came as his assistant. The game with the kerb crawler skipping saw Luton stay up and City go down. |
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Post by dugnet on Aug 8, 2023 13:44:35 GMT 1
I remember him and I have to be honest I never warmed to him, but that was just my personal perspective.
1st season was ok, had a sniff of the play offs at one point (I seem to remember we were beaten 3-2 at Derby and that was the end of challenge) but 2nd season was indifferent. It's true that there were injuries, I was told that Morrison shouldn't have passed his medical (he was a decent player but struggled with injury) when he signed and Payton played for Payton. Stewart was outstanding however.
It was some of his fringe signings that were very hit and miss. On the hit side I think he got Steve Jenkins on the miss there was David Beresford and Lee Makel (possibly one of the softest footballers I have ever seen, shame as he wasn't without technical ability). I think he brought in Paul Dalton but then discarded him and it wasn't until Jacko took over we saw the best of him.
Overall by no means terrible i.e. Fotheringham or Ritchie, but not great either. Personally I found him uninspiring and dull, his interviews on Radio Leeds were a cure for insomnia.
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Post by Essex Terrier on Aug 8, 2023 13:48:37 GMT 1
Played for Luton at the time the Hatters made it to the First Division - wonder if he will be watching them this season? Decent player, if I recall correctly.
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Post by Solihull Terrier on Aug 8, 2023 13:52:03 GMT 1
He took on the huge task of changing us from a ‘typical Warnock team’ to a passing, more technical one. He replaced Darren Bullock with Lee Makel, which was pretty much his mantra condensed to a single position on the pitch. He got us playing good football at times but we were lacking in character and guts - we all know how well that goes down with our fan base!! My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. |
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paulsg
Iain Dunn Terrier
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Post by paulsg on Aug 8, 2023 13:57:53 GMT 1
I'd be interested in what Brian made of Andy Morrison, both on and off the pitch, and his move to Manchester City.
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Post by gledholt terrier on Aug 8, 2023 14:00:41 GMT 1
An effective, if vanilla, manager for the 2 seasons after Warnock with his side playing some decent stuff but it all started going awry towards the end of 96/97.
First game of the season in 97 at Oxford saw us put in an abject, bloodless and disastrously risk averse performance for a 2-0 defeat. Beginning of (a fairly swift) end to his reign.
Didn’t seem like a bad bloke, very experienced but struggled to impose whatever personality he had on fans.
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Post by Oblong of Dreams on Aug 8, 2023 14:02:32 GMT 1
He took on the huge task of changing us from a ‘typical Warnock team’ to a passing, more technical one. He replaced Darren Bullock with Lee Makel, which was pretty much his mantra condensed to a single position on the pitch. He got us playing good football at times but we were lacking in character and guts - we all know how well that goes down with our fan base!! My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. Still think that Lee Makel's best performance at the Mac was for the Football League select XI against an Italian league XI... and I'm pretty sure Makel was only included to keep the interest in the game among locals after Boothy got selected for England U21s so couldn't appear. |
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Post by Teddington Ted on Aug 8, 2023 14:05:00 GMT 1
Seemed a similar character to Mark Robins. Quiet and seemingly lacking in personality but well thought of within the game.
Again, easy for fans to miss the attributes they bring and simply yearn for the raw emotion of a Warnock/Jacko figure.
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 8, 2023 14:07:05 GMT 1
My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. Still think that Lee Makel's best performance at the Mac was for the Football League select XI against an Italian league XI... and I'm pretty sure Makel was only included to keep the interest in the game among locals after Boothy got selected for England U21s so couldn't appear. Horton took charge of that game, of course. |
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TTCMatt
Iain Dunn Terrier
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Post by TTCMatt on Aug 8, 2023 14:14:06 GMT 1
My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. Still think that Lee Makel's best performance at the Mac was for the Football League select XI against an Italian league XI... and I'm pretty sure Makel was only included to keep the interest in the game among locals after Boothy got selected for England U21s so couldn't appear. Makel was outstanding v Palace when we beat them 3-0 on Thornley's debut. Him and Bullock were quite a good duo for a short period - Bully showed under Horton that he could play a bit as well and wasn't just a kick it and run type of player. |
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Post by workshyfop on Aug 8, 2023 14:28:29 GMT 1
I’m pretty sure Bullock and Makel played together for a spell despite what other posters are saying and they were good together. Makel underrated by Town fans because he could play and had a footballing brain, but was deemed to be soft and not getting stuck in (he actually won his fair share of tackles by simply nicking the ball away from opponents when they overran or miscontrolled it).
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Post by sabailand on Aug 8, 2023 14:58:43 GMT 1
His teams couldn't win away. 'I don't understand it, the only difference about playing away is that the home team put the air in the ball', he once said. Yes his first season i think we only won three away games all season, because our home form was really good we still managed to finish 8th, for the sake of 3 more wins we'd have made the playoffs.Second season was a damp squib and although we didnt look like relegation fodder it was still a bit too close for comfort come the end. I didnt mind Brian Horton at all but in all fairness it was right to get rid when we did. |
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Tinpot
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Post by Tinpot on Aug 8, 2023 15:02:31 GMT 1
Brian Horton was appointed as Neil Warnock's successor in June 1995 and managed the club for just over two years. He achieved the club's highest finish since 1972 in his first season but narrowly avoided relegation in his second season. He was sacked months into the Great Escape having failed to win a game all season I'm speaking to him in the near future for an interview. He was a bit before my time, so does anyone have any memories of him or of his teams? Don't think Tommy Cowan has many good things to say about him. He near on accused him of being soft and feigning injury when Tom did his ACL. First I've heard of that, but if so... WTaF? TC had the heart of a lion in what was otherwise an utterly powderpuff squad. |
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Post by PellonTerrier on Aug 8, 2023 15:04:44 GMT 1
He took on the huge task of changing us from a ‘typical Warnock team’ to a passing, more technical one. He replaced Darren Bullock with Lee Makel, which was pretty much his mantra condensed to a single position on the pitch. He got us playing good football at times but we were lacking in character and guts - we all know how well that goes down with our fan base!! My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. Bullock wasnt bombed out under Horton. He was one of 1st player picked until we had to sell due to him being banned from huddersfield town centre |
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Post by htafcokay on Aug 8, 2023 15:06:40 GMT 1
My memory is of Bully playing alongside Makel and them making a great pairing during Hortons first season until Bully just went too far with his off pitch antics and Makel's form really dived in his second season. Bullock wasnt bombed out under Horton. He was one of 1st player picked until we had to sell due to him being banned from huddersfield town centre Horton even made him captain at one point. He had to leave the club because he was a fucking idiot off the pitch. |
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Tinpot
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Post by Tinpot on Aug 8, 2023 15:06:51 GMT 1
I'd be interested in his take on the Glynn Hurst - Chris Hurst debacle.
Did he genuinely rate Chris Hurst or was he tricked into accidentally signing the wrong brother?
TBF I think an interview with then Emley manager Ronnie Glavin might be an eye opener.
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Post by PellonTerrier on Aug 8, 2023 15:10:24 GMT 1
Don't think Tommy Cowan has many good things to say about him. He near on accused him of being soft and feigning injury when Tom did his ACL. First I've heard of that, but if so... WTaF? TC had the heart of a lion in what was otherwise an utterly powderpuff squad. Tommy was pencilled in to be left wing back once he came back from injury but Rob Edwards conversion and good form left him with no choice but to leave |
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