Adam Scott Mattheson Duncan played a key role in establishing Ipswich Town’s status in the professional game. He was the manager who, with the help of the influential Cobbold family, secured the Suffolk club’s election to the Football League in 1938. He stayed at Ipswich for 18 years, taking them to the Second Division in 1953/54.
Born in Dumbarton in November 1888, Duncan enjoyed a successful playing career as a speedy winger in the Scottish and English leagues. In between three spells with his hometown club, he played for Newcastle United, Glasgow Rangers and Cowdenbeath.
Duncan began his managerial career with Hamilton Academical in 1923, moving on to Cowdenbeath in 1925. He joined Manchester United in July 1932, shortly after the club had been saved from bankruptcy. Under Duncan, the Old Trafford club flirted with relegation to the Third Division but were eventually promoted to the First Division in 1935/36. Their relegation back to the second tier the following season prompted Duncan to accept an offer to take over at Portman Road.
Town had only turned professional in 1936 and were then playing in the Southern League. However, they were a well-supported club backed by ambitious, well-connected owners. Rumour has it that a case of finest port was sent to Duncan’s house to tempt him away from Old Trafford. The huge salary must also have helped – a rumoured £2,000 per year (though the club minute books state a more modest £1,500) with bonuses on entry to the Football League and subsequent promotion.
This made Duncan the highest paid individual in British football. With the experienced Duncan as figurehead, and the active canvassing of key supporters such as Arsenal chairman Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, Ipswich Town were elected to the Football League in June 1938.
A wily negotiator who was cautious in the transfer market, Duncan established Ipswich as consistent performers in the Third Division South. He was the archetypal secretary-manager; more administrator than master tactician. Duncan was always dressed spotlessly. With his smart suit and homburg hat, Stanley Matthews recalled, he ‘could easily have been a bank manager’.
Duncan steered Ipswich to the Third Division South championship in 1953/54 but after relegation the following season, he chose to step down from his managerial role. He was replaced by future England manager Alf Ramsey but stayed on as secretary until 1958. He died in October 1975 but is still remembered as the manager who put in the groundwork for Ipswich Town’s subsequent rise to the peak of English football.