Bertie Mee
Bertee Mee
Bertie Mee's feat in taking Arsenal to the League and FA Cup Double in 1971 made him one of the most famous names in the club's history.But his reign began in unusually modest fashion.He even asked for a "get-out" clause in his contract if he did not succeed.Mee was born at Bulwell in Nottinghamshire, in December, 1918, and realised his ambition to become a professional footballer with Derby County. But the winger's career was cut short by injury.
After six years service as a sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he qualified as a physiotherapist. He joined Arsenal in August 1960 as a trainer and then assumed the duties of physio.
Although the appointment of Bertie Mee was acclaimed retrospectively, the man himself requested that if his first 12 months should turn out to be a failure, he would be allowed to go back to his post as physio.
Though Arsenal reached the League Cup Final in 1968 and 1969, they had spent 17 years without a trophy when they won the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1970. They overcame a 3-1 first leg deficit to beat Anderlecht.
And in 1971, they emulated the feat of their great north London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, becoming only the second club of the century to do the Double.At one stage, Arsenal had trailed Leeds United by seven points and with Leeds finishing on 64 points, Arsenal were still one point behind when they played their last League match, against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
