WHEN THE TRAINER HAD MORE MEDALS THAN THE PLAYERS

by Iain McCartney

In the not too distant past, players could more or less be guaranteed to win a medal or two when playing for Manchester United, but there have been numerous lean years, particularly if you venture way back in history when silverware around the club was simply little more than cutlery. However, there is one name from that distant past who won countless medals, not to mention some considerable sums of money, but neither the medals nor the money came from kicking a ball. Step forward Mr. F. E. Bacon.

Fred was born in Boxted, Essex around 1871 and I could type out everything I have on the man, but to save time, I will begin his story with an extract from the ‘Sporting Chronicle’ of March 2nd 1907, which gives you a clear insight into the man who was the Manchester United trainer when the club won the First Division and F.A. Cup for the first time.

From Soldier to Champion - The Story of F. E. Bacon A Phenomenal Career.

In perusing the carefully-compiled list of Fred E. Bacon’s complete athletic performances, one can appreciate the phenomenal career of one of the greatest runners of all time. His compilation occupies some sixteen pages of type-written foolscap, and it make one sigh for the time when the path will have such another ornament and such a brilliant exponent as the subject of this sketch. The reference can only be quite casual here to the many performances accomplished. His path history ran into so many years, and his feats were so numerous, that it requires a book to tell the tale properly. The early athletic days of the soldier athlete are interesting. At the age of 19 he had become a member of Her Majesty’s forces, and was a private in an infantry regiment. In regimental races and contests it was soon recognised that he was a runner of more than ordinary merit by the easy manner he overcame all his opponents. From this early recognition of his talent came an equally ready desire on the part of his officers that he should take his part in the everyday world of athletics. In this respect he was perhaps fortunate, for he had full opportunity to display those talents and the same time perform his military duties. Contrary to general belief, Bacon completed his full time in the army - twelve years, and did not purchase his discharge.

Performances Detailed

One would require to be a statistician to analyse the whole of these performance. They vary from a 600 yard handicap to a 10 miles crosscountry, a 15 miles path event, and a one hour’s attempt at record. The exact figures of his wins would be interesting. As an amateur he won a few prizes short of two hundred, and this does not include all the championships he won - club and otherwise. In what might be termed real championships, vix: English and county championships, Bacon I make it out won over twenty, but when one includes club and similar championships, the record is more than doubled. Perhaps the most coveted performance of a runner is to hold the one-mile record. Bacon had this honour accorded him in winning the one-mile championship of the A.A.A. in 1895, and on more than one occasion prior to this he was credited with having tied with the record in competition. For three years, 1893-4-5, he held the A.A.A. one-mile championship; in 1895 he held the tenmiles championship of England, and I believe he is still the holder of the Scottish 1,000 years and the one mile record made in 1895.

His Best Distances

Although the distances Bacon ran were various, like most men he had one which he favoured most. Taking a line through his list of successes this stands out prominently as the mile, and perhaps next in order comes the four miles. He had more than a moderate fancy for the steeplechase, and of course he won renown as a cross-country runner. In between he ran at all distances successfully, and as proof that he was a stayer it should only be necessary to quote his famous feat soon after he joined the professional ranks, when he beat the long-existing record of Deerfoot’s for one hour. As an amateur he took full advantage of the opportunities affording him of travelling, and his list shows that he ran in almost every county in England, and in the chief cities of the United Kingdom. As a professional, his career in England was very successful, and before his running days were over he made a profitable tour on the Continent of Europe, running and winning in Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Brussels and many other cities. Extending the trip to North Africa, he ran in Algiers and beat some of the famous Arab runners.

At the Present Day.

After all, the glamour of such a life, full of restraint as well as glory, has a limit, and it can be said that Bacon retired before the ordinary limit was reached. There was many a good race left in Bacon when he left the world of pedestrianism for his present occupation---trainer to the Manchester United Football Club. That he possesses more than the necessary skill in this department is evidence by the fact that he has been with the club five seasons and he helped in no slight degree to lift the club from the Second to the First Division of the League.

An Interesting Chat.

I have known Fred Bacon well since he ran in 1894 at the Manchester Wheelers’ July Meet at Fallowfield. I that day announced him as making an attempt to beat the one-mile record in a handicap specially framed by the late T. R. Sutton. Bacon failed owing to the state of the track, which was dried up, and not fit for such an attempt, but he was a great attraction, and as one of the first items of the meet, which might be termed novel and out of the common, he might claim his share in building up the biggest race-meet in the kingdom. A few days ago I renewed my acquaintance with him by asking him if he would favour me with his methods of training as a runner.

But like numerous excellent performers in a variety of fields, the genius had a flaw and the man who ran his first race at Macclesfield, at the age of twenty, on August 23rd 1890, finishing third, blotted his copybook more than once.

The summer of 1896 saw him suspended by the Amateur Athletic Association for breaching the rules, forcing him into the world of professionalism, while some five years later, he found himself up in court, charged with assaulting a policeman and also damaging his uniform “to the extent of 15s”, pleading guilty to both charges.

Apparently under the influence of drink, he had assaulted his wife and was also reported as having said he was going to get a gun

How He Trained.

He confessed he never had a special diet, but lived on plain wholesome fare, with as much fruit as he could get. He was an early riser, and believed in getting eight to nine hours’ sleep. He would have a walk before breakfast, which was substantial, and when possible he would have a run every day. Although not always able, he had a spin when possible with the barriers on Saturdays. When he was at his best he weighed 9st 6lb, and his height was 5ft 9in.

He has a strong objection to smoking, and himself abstained when racing.

and blow the policeman’s brains out. He was ordered to pay the damages and also 14s.9d costs, due to him being a first offender.

Bacon’s wife was from Carlisle and not only was she assaulted by him in the summer of 1901, she had him charged with desertion as the year drew to a close.

Having taken up a post as trainer at Alloa [not the football club], he had only sent his wife £1 over the course of five and a half weeks, which had left her and the couple’s child destitute. He did not appear in court, but had sent his wife £1, as he said it was all he could afford as he only earned ten shillings a week.

Perhaps he was being poorly paid, but over the previous years, he must have earned a

Stimulants in moderation in his opinion do a man no harm, a glass of beer to dinner being beneficial. Water he abstained from altogether as a beverage. He has little belief in massage, he never used embrocation, one a little olive oil, and never had a breakdown in his life. When the muscles are tired through overexertion he oftimes found bathing in hot water and soda very good. His methods in training varied much, according to the distance of his race; for a ten mile race he would run at top speed four or five miles three or four times a week; for shorter races he would run all out for a quarter of a mile, after doing preliminary work. His opinion is, a good mile runner with training ought to be able to run ten miles, although he is an advocate now of one man one distance. For a young runner who wishes to become a stayer he would recommend three times a week a spin of three or four miles, and if on a track put a hurdle in for a jump every quarter-mile. He would use dumbbells for developing the chest, and is a firm believer in the skipping rope; the latter exercise, if properly carried out, brings into play every muscle in the body, but care must be taken that the exercise is taken under proper advice. Like all others who have won fame as runners, he would have all men who wish to be stayers spend most of their spare time walking, whether it be on a track or a day’s hard tramp on Saturday or Sunday in the country.

F. W. H.

considerable sum, as many of his professional races saw £100, or even £200, being up for grabs. Not only that, it is quite possible that he made a few shillings adding his name to adverts for Andrews Liver Salts.

Fred Bacon was appointed Manchester United trainer in January 1903, with a newspaper of the day saying: “Bacon should prove the right man in the right place, as the United players have lately shown a decided lack of stamina.” Another added that he united officials had been dissatisfied with the physical condition of the men, and the fact that the players have generally failed to stay the course of a hard game has justified them seeking another trainer.

With United going on to lift both the First Division and the FA Cup not too long following his appointment says much about Bacon’s ability, but it is his ability as a runner that will always see him remembered, with a list of his achievements on the back of his business card proving this.

Bacon left United at the end of the 1911-12 season and he moved into the world of massages and chiropody, taking up a post in Cleethorpes where he died in 1954.

Certainly not a big name in United’s history and as I mentioned earlier, not one that many would know, but a unique sportsman in his own right and someone of a character.