Bertie Mee dies at the age of 82

Bertie Mee, who was manager of the Arsenal double winning side in 1970/71,
died last week at the age of 82. He was appointed Arsenal manager in 1967,
after seven years as the club physio, and remained manager until 1976. He
later became assistant manager and then general manager at Watford before
retiring in 1992. What is less well known is that his entire football
league career as a player was at Mansfield Town.

Mee was born in Bulwell and joined the Stags in 1939 at the age of 18,
after a year at Derby County without a first team appearance. He made his
league debut on 4th February 1939 and scored in a 2-2 draw against Queens
Park Rangers at Field Mill. The Mansfield Reporter and Sutton-in-Ashfield
Times described Mee's goal, which was the first goal of the game: "After 12
minutes, Turner got across a centre and Mee, running in, scored with a
right foot drive, a smart and quickly taken opening." Later the report told
us "Mee, on the home left, made a fairly good start and showed sufficient
to prove that he will add to the value of the left wing."

Mee went on to play a total of 13 league games for the Stags before an
injury the same season finished his playing career while still only 18.

Mee was awarded the OBE in 1972.

Compiled by Martin Shaw