The ‘Father figure’ Coach
Ashton-Under-Lyne-born Bert Whalley began his football career with local sides Droylsden and Stalybridge Celtic, before moving to Manchester United at the end of the 1933/34 season. In the midst of their yo-yo years, the ‘Reds’ had come close to relegation to the Third Division and were looking for fresh talent. Whalley made his United debut in 1935 and would make over 30 appearances for the first team before the outbreak of the Second World War. During the war, Whalley made almost 200 appearances for the ‘Reds’ as well as guest appearances at Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers.
The resumption of peacetime football allowed Whalley to make another seven first team appearances, although most of his time was spent in the reserves. In late-1947 Whalley injured his eye whilst running a coaching session for a schoolboy side. Hospitalised, the worried player came to realise that the issues he was experiencing with his sight meant that his footballing career was over. On Christmas Eve, Matt Busby visited the hospital, and promised that whatever happened, there would be a place for Whalley at Old Trafford. The injured man would always maintain it was the finest Christmas gift he had received. Having already trained as a coach, Whalley joined the training staff at Old Trafford.
Working predominantly with youth sides, Whalley became a knowledgeable father figure to a generation of United footballers, offering a contrast to the more tempestuous approach of Jimmy Murphy. Known as a friendly, welcoming figure who specialised in picking players up after they’d had a bad game, his presence helped to make the club feel like a family.
Expecting a lot from the young men he trained, Whalley would have them focus on improving their weaknesses. After Murphy officially became Assistant Manager in 1955, Whalley stepped into the role of Chief Coach, the role he held when travelling to Belgrade.