Biography
Harry Chapman was an experienced forward of high repute when he joined the Tigers in April 1911, his playing career was ended in September 1912 when he sustained a broken knee cap. He remained on the Hull City administrative staff and in April 1913 succeeded Ambrose Langley as City’s manager. Chapman managed the side throughout the 1913/14 season, guiding the Tigers to the top of the table in January 1914 and a seventh place finish at the end of the season. However Chapman had to resign in October 1914 ahead of the new season due to ill health, an event that started a spiral of decline for Chapman. His wife Miranda died in childbirth in in November 1915 and just ten months later tuberculosis claimed Harry’s life in September 1916.
Henry “Harry” Chapman was born in Kiveton Park, a mining settlement east of Sheffield, his father was a coal miner. His playing career began at Worksop Town in 1897, between 1900 and 1911 he spent eleven seasons playing for Division One side The Wednesday (latterly Sheffield Wednesday). His career at Hillsborough featured 101 senior goals in 299 appearances, winning two League titles in the 1902/03 and 1903/04 seasons and also claiming an FA Cup winners’ medal in the 1906/07 season. He was considered one of the finest forwards in the game, second only to Derby County and England goal machine Steve Bloomer.
Harry was the younger brother of legendary football manager Herbert Chapman. While Herbert had a less decorated playing career he was a far superior manager, winning the Division One title four times (1923/24 and 1924/25 with Huddersfield Town, 1930/31 and 1932/33 with Arsenal), and the FA Cup twice (1921/22 with Huddersfield Town and 1929/30 with Arsenal) before dying suddenly of pneumonia in 1934.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 23 February 1880, Kiveton Park, England
Date/Place of Death: 29 September 1916, Leeds, England; 36 years, 219 days old
Appointed by Hull City: 7 April 1913; 33 years, 43 days old
Left Hull City: 6 October 1914; 34 years, 225 days old
Tenure: 547 days
Clubs Managed
Hull City (1913-1914)
Hull City Record
Playing Record: Played 44, Won 20, Drawn 10, Lost 14, Goals For 64, Goals Against 39
Achievements: 7th in Division Two, 1913/14 season