Football's Pioneers: Arthur Rowe
In 1961, Tottenham Hotspur won the first ‘double’ of the 20th century. Under manager, Bill Nicholson, they were renowned for their style of play, which was based on a short passing game. However, the seeds of Spurs’ success had been sown in the 1950s under Arthur Rowe (1906-93).
Rowe was one of those rare breed in early post-war English football: a thinker.
Originally a thoughtful centre-back, he played for Spurs and won one England cap before he was forced to retire due to injury in 1939. He then briefly coached in Hungary but returned to England when war was declared.
During the war he was a physical training instructor in the army and was also assistant to Matt Busby when he coached the British Army football team, which included players such as Joe Mercer, Frank Swift and Tommy Lawton.
After the war, Rowe was appointed manager of Southern League Chelmsford Town before taking over at Spurs in 1949/50. Spurs won promotion from the Second Division that season and then, the following year, won the First Division title for the first time in their history, playing a brand of football, coined ‘push and run’, that distinguished them from the vast majority of clubs.
Post-war English football had been characterised by the W/M formation, which was popularised by Arsenal during the 1930s under Herbert Chapman. By contrast ‘Push and Run’ was aesthetically pleasing and placed an emphasis on entertainment and Spurs attracted record attendances.
As the term suggests, it was built on movement and depended on a short, fluid and quick passing game with the player passing the ball to a team-mate then moving into space to give him the option to receive a return pass.
‘Push and Run’ became the Spurs hallmark. It helped that Rowe inherited a fine group of players, which included Alf Ramey, Ronnie Burgess, Ted Ditchburn, and future management team, Bill Nicholson and Eddie Baily, yet it also required Rowe’s managerial skills to impress his tactics on the team.
Rowe actually disliked the term ‘push and run’ and preferred the maxim, ‘make it simple, make it quick’, which he used in a telegram to give advice to Vic Buckingham, manager of amateur team, Pegasus.
Rowe’s tactical strategy also reflected the changing role of the manager in the post-war era. Whereas previously they were largely secretarial figures, increasingly they now attempted to ‘organise victory’. But Spurs under Rowe were unable to repeat their success.
After finishing second in 1951/52, Spurs went into decline. Rowe’s health deteriorated. Following another collapse in form in 1955, his contract was not renewed but not before signing Danny Blanchflower, a key figure in Spurs’ double team.
He later managed Crystal Palace (1960-62) before returning to Selhurst Park as a director.