Charles Griffiths

In the early part of the 20th century, Charles Griffiths was a journeyman footballer and played for many clubs including Luton Town, Coventry City, Barrow, Preston North End and Lincoln City, as well as for many more smaller clubs. Despite this, Griffiths played just one game in the Football League, in a second division game for Lincoln City against Leicester Fosse (now Leicester City) on 30 November 1907.

After moving from Wellington Town to Wrexham in March 1909, Griffiths then wound up his playing career with the Welsh side. He went into coaching, and like so many British coaches at that time, made the journey to the continent to ply his trade. In 1911 he became coach at the German club Karlsruher SV and soon established himself by helping them win their third consecutive Southern German Championship in 1912. The following season he created history by becoming the first full-time manager of Bayern München. He only lasted seven months but had laid the foundations for greater things to come for the Bavarian club. Griffith then joined Stuttgarter Kickers and immediately led them to the Southern German title.

After World War I, Griffiths was part of the gold-medal winning Belgian squad at the 1920 Olympics. After the Games he joined the Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for two seasons before moving to Belgium as coach of Union Saint-Gilloise (Union SG), helping them win the Belgian League in 1923. Griffiths was then appointed coach to the French national side and also held coaching jobs at various French club sides. He returned to Union SG and helped them win three consecutive League titles 1933-35, before ending his managerial career at Valenciennes FC in France. He died back in England shortly afterwards, when only in his early-50s.