When Shorts Were Short - David Dent (Former Carlisle and Coventry Chairman, and Football League Secretary)

With guest David Dent.

When Shorts Were Short concerns itself solely with what was actually a very narrow window in football history when teams wore, well, short shorts. The podcast takes 1954 as its starting point, when Umbro made their first England kit with shorter shorts, to 1992, when short shorts were all but finished as Umbro's baggy shorts for Tottenham's new kit, ahead of the '91 FA Cup Final, quickly caught on.

If the shorts weren't short, we just don't talk about it.

This week’s guest is one of the most experienced administrators the English club game has seen. David Dent was appointed the first full time secretary of his home club Carlisle United in 1960, a post he would hold for eighteen years, taking in their brief but unforgettable single season stay in the old First Division in the mid-70s.

In 1978, David became club secretary at Jimmy Hill’s forward thinking Coventry City, a six-year period he looks back on fondly as the pioneer supreme Hill continued to innovate. Unfortunately for the sky Blues and their charismatic chairman, an investment in NASL clubs Detroit Express and later the Washington Diplomats brought financial difficulties for both parties, leading to a painful parting of the ways for Coventry and Hill.

In 1984, David moved to the Football League, progressing to become the last ever Football League secretary to preside over a 92-club league.

Running Time: 00:57:45

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Show Notes

Chelsea v Carlisle, Div 1, 1974-75 (Starts @ 4:56)

Wolves v Carlisle

Carlisle learn they've been promoted to the old First Division

Civic Reception 1974 as Carlisle celebrate promotion

Jimmy Hill's Coventry years

NASL shootout, Detroit Express against Chicago Sting

Trevor Francis and Detroit Express against Dallas Tornado

Saint and Greavsie Rumbelows Cup draw 1991, with David Dent and Donald Trump.

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