Middlesbrough FC

26 appearances, 11 goals (3 on debut), one penalty missed

P 26 W 18 D 4 L 4 F 84: A 31
77% successful
1946-51

captain: none
minutes played: 2261

When Mannion left school at 14, he became an apprentice welder at Smith's Dock and then worked in a rolling mill. He had become a regular with Smith's Dock's FC (Teesside League) before moving on to South Bank St Peters FC. Wilf then signed amateur forms, then professional forms with Middlesbrough FC in September 1936. He continued to play for the team in the early years of the war while serving in the Auxiliary Fire Service before being called up, he appeared as a guest for both Tottenham Hotspur FC and AFC Bournemouth. He also appeared with the South African club Peninsular of Johannesburg whilst serving in that country.  After returning from the war, Mannion clashed with Boro in 1948 over the contract system which he said chained players to their clubs, often for a pittance. Despite Arsenal FC wanting him, he demanded a move to Oldham Athletic FC, but bosses at the Teesside club put a record £25,000 price tag on him. So Mannion went on strike. He returned to the Middlesbrough side six months later. Wilf announced his retirement from football on 27 June 1954, having played 341 league matches, scoring 99 times. In December that year he returned to the game when he signed for Hull City AFC who paid Middlesbrough, who still held his registration, the then considerable sum of £4,500. He played sixteen league matches, scoring once. After some hard-hitting articles that Mannion wrote in his Sunday newspaper columns,  he was suspended by the Football League who sought to make an example of him but, undeterred, Mannion took his talents into non league football with Poole Town FC in the summer of 1955. He later joined Cambridge United FC (Eastern Counties League) where his presence doubled attendances and before moving on to serve Kings Lynn FC and Haverhill Rovers FC.