Thomas Mitchell (football manager)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Thomas Mitchell

| fullname = Thomas Brown Mitchell

| birth_date = c. 1843

| birth_place = Dumfries, Scotland

| death_date = August 1921

| manageryears1 = 1887–1896

| manageryears2 = 1897–1898

| managerclubs1 = Blackburn Rovers

| managerclubs2 = Woolwich Arsenal

}}

Thomas Brown Mitchell (c. 1843 in Dumfries – August 1921) was a two-time FA Cup winning Scottish football manager.

Early years

Thomas Mitchell was born in Dumfries but moved south of the border c.1867.[http://qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=613 "Thomas Mitchell" full career profile on www.qosfc.com]

Blackburn Rovers

Mitchell became secretary-manager of Blackburn Rovers in 1887.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thearsenalhistory.com/?p=14829|title=ARSENAL MANAGER HASN'T WON AS MANY FA CUPS AS BELIEVED|last=Kelly|first=Andy|date=4 October 2017|website=The Arsenal History|access-date=4 October 2017}} The club then went on to win two FA Cups in 1890 and 1891. The final win in 1891 was against the Notts County side featuring David Calderhead.[http://www.qosfc.com/new_legendsview.aspx?playerid=1058 Connections between Dumfries and Blackburn Rovers in the Queen of the South profile on Jackie Oakes]

Mitchell left Blackburn after 9 years as manager in 1896.

Arsenal

Mitchell joined Woolwich Arsenal, after the club decided to appoint a professional manager following their defeat at the hands of Millwall in the FA Cup. There is some doubt over whether he was Arsenal's first- or second-ever manager; Sam Hollis is credited on the club's official website as being the club's first manager,{{Cite web| url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/the-managers | title=Arsenal Managers | work=Arsenal.com }} other historical sources claim Hollis was only the club's trainer{{Cite book|

author=Joy, Bernard |

title=Forward Arsenal! |

publisher=Phoenix House |

year=1952 | quote=Arsenal's trainer, Hollis, however, was true to the nineteenth century pattern. | page=11 }} and thus Mitchell was the club's first manager – a view reinforced by the club's own official history, amongst other sources.{{Cite book|author1=Soar, Phil |author2=Tyler, Martin |name-list-style=amp |

title=The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal |

publisher=Hamlyn |

year=2005 |

isbn=0-600-61344-5 | quote=A disastrous FA Cup defeat by non-League Millwall (2–4 away) on 16 January 1896 proved one turning point for the committee. They decided to appoint a secretary-manager, one T.B. Mitchell from Blackburn,... | page=30 }}

{{Cite book|

author=Roper, Alan |

title=The Real Arsenal Story: In the Days of Gog |

publisher=Wherry |

year=2004 |

isbn=0-9546259-1-9 | quote=After their humiliating defeat the Arsenal FC directors decided to appoint their first professional manager, and the first to be signed was Thomas Brown Mitchell, a Scot. | page=120 }}

{{Cite book|

author=Joy |

title=Forward Arsenal! |

year=1952 | page=12 | quote=The first manager was T.B. Mitchell, from Blackburn Rovers and he was succeeded after a few months by G. Elcoat of Stockton. }}

Regardless of whether Hollis was properly in charge of the club during his time there, Mitchell is nevertheless credited as being Arsenal's first professional manager. However, he only lasted less than a season in the job, and although the club would reach fifth in the Second Division in 1897–98, neither he nor most of his signings stayed long with the club. Mitchell resigned as Arsenal manager on 10 March 1898.