Bert Tann
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bertram James Tann | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Plaistow, England | ||
| Date of death | 7 July 1972 (aged 58) | ||
| Place of death | Bristol, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Wing-half | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1931–1932 | Clapton Orient | 0 | (0) |
| 1932–1933 | Romford | ||
| 1933–1939 | Charlton Athletic | 19 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1945– | Erith & Belvedere | ||
| 1947 | Fredrikstad | ||
| 1950–1968 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bertram James Tann (4 May 1914 – 7 July 1972)[2] was a professional footballer and later football manager, who is best known for managing Bristol Rovers for a spell of 18 years from 1950 to 1968. He is the longest-serving post-war manager of Bristol Rovers, and their second-longest-serving of all time behind Alfred Homer.
His playing and management careers were split by the Second World War. As a player he spent time with Clapton FC and Romford before ending his official playing days with Charlton Athletic in 1939, although he did go on to make a number of guest appearances for other clubs after this date in unofficial wartime friendlies. After the hostilities ended he returned to football firstly as a coach and later as manager of Erith & Belvedere, then after a brief spell in Norway where he spent a season at the helm of Fredrikstad he took over as Bristol Rovers' boss in 1950.
Tann was born in Plaistow, now part of Greater London, in May 1914,[2] one of eleven children brought up in the family home. His father earned a living working as a ship painter in London's Docklands area. He showed an aptitude for sport throughout his childhood, and as well as playing football for London Boys, West Ham Boys and the Essex County F.A. he was also an accomplished cricketer and athlete.[3]