Ex Files - Mick Docherty
Tuesday, 31st Jul 2007 17:33

Bit different this one as we look back at former manager Mick Docherty's career and times with Dale.

Manager Profile: Mick Docherty

As the son of former Preston and Scottish International wing half turned high profile manager Tommy Mick Docherty's backroom career was always going to be closely watched. However, unlike his infamous father who took charge of almost a dozen league and non-league clubs plus a enjoyed a spell in charge of his national side Mick's only posting as a team boss was at Spotland. Before his appointment in January 1995 his most high profile job had been as caretaker manager of Sunderland during the early 1980s. He was given the job following Ken Knighton's dismissal towards the end of the 1980-81 campaign. The Makems were clinging on to their top flight status by the skin of their teeth and needed to win at of all place Anfield to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Remarkable and against all odds they pulled off a victory courtesy of a Stan Cummins goal.

The last gap heroics worked. In the two league games which followed results were kind to The Rokermen and they survived. Docherty was not considered for the full time post which went at Alan Durban. Although The Black Cats' reputation had taken a severe battering since their relegation from the top flight at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. The work Docherty and others carried out behind the scenes proved vital in ensuring the club slipped no further down than the Second Division and then regained their place amongst the elite three seasons later. Consecutive relegation was a fate that had befallen a number of clubs once they dropped out of the First Division and the trend has continued since.

Despite his heritage he opted not to follow in his father's footsteps when youth caps were offered. Born in Preston he opted to play for England's juniors. Such recognition came after his signing for Burnley late in 1967.Within 18 months the player who could play full back on either flank had made the first team but during his seven and a bit seasons at Turf Moor he failed to cement a regular berth in the side making 153 outings including four as a substitute. He came in direct and close competition with his Dad geographically if not on the field during the closing weeks of the 1975-76 campaign by signing for Manchester City. Over at Old Trafford Tommy Docherty had been team manager since 1972 and while Docherty senior led out his side in the FA Cup Final when the season closed his offspring had no such luck and became a peripheral figure at Maine Road until Sunderland brought him to Roker Park in December 1976. Up in the North East he at last found the adulation from both management and fans that he had struggled to find all his career. Although just when fate appeared to be smiling on him injury cut short his career at the age of 27. In his time with Sunderland he remained a regular until hanging up his boots and even managed to score his first senior goal details

Spotting his talent for training and coaching Jimmy Adamson made him a member of his coaching staff. A post he held under successive managers until his services were dispensed with. He remained a coach at various levels of the game until linking up with Dale in the early 1990s as one of Dave Sutton's lieutenants and assistant boss. Serving for just over three years before cceding to the hotseat. Dale had been without a team boss for almost two months between Sutton's departure and his deputy being named as permanent successor once the board had chewed over their options. He wasted no time in expressing his own ideas about the side he had inherited signing John Deary from his former club Burnley for £25,000 within weeks of taking charge and following up that purchase with a number of others over the next few months.

However, fresh faces didn't bring fresh fortune although one highlight of his time at Spotland has to be taking Dale to the 3rd round of the 1995-96 FA Cup. York had bounced Dale out of the League Cup at the first hurdle so hopes of achieving a place in the velvet bag when the big boys entered the competition were understandably remote. But after victories over Rotherham and Darlington in the opening two rounds reward came in the shape of a plumb draw pairing Rochdale with Liverpool. The tie at Anfield scene of his greatest hour in club management remained deadlocked until just around the half hour mark with Docherty's men holding the Mersey giants at bay with some aplomb. Unfortunately, once opened The Reds' account more goals soon followed. Liverpool ran out 7-0 victors with Peter Valentine adding to their tally via an own goal.

However, this day was one of the few and by the end of the season his time as Rochdale's manager was at an end. Despite slight improvements in results especially away the general trend showed no signs of improvement. In fact at home Dale hadn't endured such a torrid spell since the 1987-88 campaign when just five games were won. Seven home league ties ended in victory this term and while there were no wallopings on the scale of the cup clash with Liverpool 29 points from a possible 69 was a return more worthy of candidates for the trapdoor to The Conference.