Sammy Chapman


Samuel Edward Campbell Chapman was a Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager.

Career

Chapman joined Shamrock Rovers in July 1956 from Glenavon F.C..
In October 1956 he moved to Mansfield Town without having played a game for the Hoops. He moved to Portsmouth in February 1958. He re-joined Mansfield Town in December 1961. Having last played professionally in 1963, Chapman was banned from football following a bribes scandal two years later.
The ban signalled the end of Chapman's playing career, although he played a few games for South African club East Rand United. He eventually returned to the game as a coach with Portsmouth and then Crewe Alexandra. He then served Wolverhampton Wanderers as chief scout, becoming interim manager following the dismissal of Tommy Docherty on 4 July 1985 after a second successive relegation saw Wolves fall into the Third Division. He remained in charge of the first team until Bill McGarry returned to manage the club on 4 September 1985. However, McGarry's return as manager lasted just 61 days and he quit on 4 November and Chapman was restored to the manager's seat. However, he was unable to prevent Wolves from suffering a third successive relegation which dragged them into the Fourth Division for the first time in their history. He left on 15 August 1986, just before the start of the 1985-86 season.
Chapman was a member of Northern Ireland's 1958 FIFA World Cup squad.