On the 9 August 1914, English footballer and manager, Joe Mercer OBE , was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer.

Joe Mercer first played for Ellesmere Port Town as a left-half, before joining Everton at the age of 18 [1932-1946 – 186 appearances]. While playing for Everton he won five England caps [1938-1939]. 

Like many players of his generation, Mercer lost 7 seasons of football due to the World War II. During the war he became a sergeant-major and played 26 wartime internationals, many of them as captain, and in 1942 guested for Chester City, making his debut in a 4–1 win over Halifax Town in 1942.

Mercer moved to Arsenal in late 1946[ 1946-1955 – 247 appearances] for £9,000, and continued to commute from Liverpool. It is said the Everton manager brought Mercer’s boots to the transfer negotiations to prevent Mercer having a reason to go back out, or say goodbye to the other players at Everton. He made his Arsenal debut against Bolton Wanderers in 1946, and soon after became club captain. In 1950 Mercer led Arsenal to win the FA Cup, and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year the same year. He also led Arsenal to the Cup final in 1952, which they lost 1–0 to Newcastle United.

Mercer called time on his playing career 1955, and spent a little over a year working as a journalist and a grocer. His wife’s family had encouraged him to become involved in a grocery business during his time at Everton and, while still Arsenal’s captain, he ran his grocery business from Brighton Street in Wallasey.

In 1955 he returned to football and became the manager of Sheffield United [1955-1958],  two days before their first game of the season against Newcastle United. His career as a manager began inauspiciously and his first season ended in relegation. In 1958 he resigned and moved to Aston Villa [1958- 1964] , who at the time were bottom of the First Division. And although he led them to the FA Cup semi-finals, they were relegated to Division Two. He moulded a talented side at Villa which became known as the ‘Mercer Minors’, and in 1961 led them to victory in the inaugural League Cup. Three years later he suffered a stroke, and was sacked by the Villa board upon his recovery. 

His health improved and he went on to enjoy great success as a manager with Manchester City [1965-1971]. In his first season at Maine Road, the club won the 1966 Second Division title to regain top-flight status. Two seasons later Mercer led Manchester City to the 1967–68 First Division championship, and went on to win the 1969 FA Cup, the 1970 League Cup, and the 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

In 1970–71, Mercer had a dispute with his assistant Malcolm Allison, after the two men became embroiled in a Manchester City takeover battle. Mercer supported the existing board, led by the respected Albert Alexander, while Allison supported the rival group led by Peter Swales after being promised that he would be manager in his own right. The takeover succeeded, and Mercer was shocked to discover his car parking space and office were removed. This led to Mercer’s departure to become manager of Coventry City [1972-1974]. He also served as the England caretaker manager in 1974 for a brief period in 1974 after Sir Alf Ramsey’s resignation.

After quitting as Coventry City boss, he served as a director of the club from 1975 to his retirement in 1981. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to football in 1976.

In 1970 he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews, when he was a subject of the television programme This Is Your Life.

Mercer was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum in Preston on 4 July 2009

In later life he suffered with Alzheimer’s disease and died in 1990, sitting in his favourite armchair, on his 76th birthday.

9 August, 2019