Eric Winstanley (15 November 1944 – 20 May 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-back in the Football League for Barnsley and Chesterfield.
Early life Eric Winstanley was born on Wednesday, 15 November 1944 in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire.
Playing career Winstanley started his career with Barnsley after signing a professional contract in May 1962, where he later became captain. He made 410 league appearances for Barnsley and has been described as a "club legend". He joined Chesterfield in August 1973.
Winstanley made five appearances for the England national under-18 team from 1962 to 1963.
Coaching career Winstanley spent over 20 years on the coaching staff at Barnsley, but was sacked in June 2001, which ended a 34-year association with the club. He had two spells as caretaker manager during this time. He was given a testimonial match by the club in November 2001 against Manchester United, which Barnsley won 1–0.
Winstanley became technical director of the Saint Kitts and Nevis national team in 2001, before leaving in February 2004. He worked as youth-team coach at Doncaster Rovers during the 2004–05 season. Winstanley was brought into the Scarborough coaching staff as assistant manager in October 2005. He left the position in July 2006 following Mark Patterson's arrival onto the coaching staff and became the York City head of youth development in October. He worked in this role along with being Colin Walker's assistant since November 2007 until being appointed head coach following Neil Redfearn's arrival as youth-team coach in February 2008. He was dismissed as head coach alongside manager Walker on 21 November 2008.
He joined South African team SuperSport United as technical director of the club's development wing in October 2009.
Death Winstanley died on 20 May 2021 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, aged 76.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBarnsley1961–62Third Division200000201962–63Third Division45030405201963–64Third Division46360305531964–65Third Division26000202801966–67Fourth Division41150104711967–68Fourth Division45610104761968–69Third Division3612612144141969–70Third Division42340004631970–71Third Division43630104761971–72Third Division42032204721972–73Fourth Division4242020464Total4103533318146139Chesterfield1973–74Third Division40220404621974–75Third Division46330215141975–76Third Division12210001321976–77Third Division30000030Total101760611138Career total5114239324157846
Managerial statistics + Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordBarnsley (caretaker)8 November 19891 December 1989Barnsley (caretaker)19 April 199927 May 1999Barnsley (caretaker)19 December 20008 January 2001Total
Honours Individual Barnsley Player of the Season: 1972–73
References