Howard Kendall's achievements as a manager.

Blackburn Rovers

Football League Third Division runner-up: 1979–80

Everton

Football League First Division 

1984–85, 1986–87

FA Cup: 1983–84

FA Charity Shield 1984, 1985, 1986 (shared)

European Cup Winners' Cup 1984–85

Notts County

Anglo-Italian Cup: 1994–95

Individual

English Manager of the Year: 1984–85, 1986–87

Premier League Manager of the Month: January 1998

The 1990s was a strange time to be a Notts fan. The ground was being modernised, and managers were coming and going. Neil Warnock brought back some pride, but he was sacked after rejecting Chelsea. Howard Kendall, the manager, was targeted by fans with chants about his drinking habits. There was no sympathy or well-wishing, which was disappointing. The sketch by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner is funny even today, but it still seems harsh to mock someone struggling.

To see Notts in what is now the Championship would be like a dream come true, and we had that in the 1990s. I wonder if we ever took a moment to appreciate it.

I used to love watching Skinner and Baddiel brilliant stuff.

I agree with @True Magpie that the fans treatment of Howard was dissapointing.

I was pleased with his appointment due to the record that he had as a manager.

The fact that Notts had a manager that was inducted into the league managers association's hall of fame is a good thing.

After leaving Notts he joined Sheffield United as their manager & did well, saving them from relegation, then got them to the final of the playoffs.

Sorry @Robbie Kendall's off field antics at #Notts were an utter disgrace.

As I have said many times before, Russell Slade was the most instrumental in winning the Anglo Italian Cup for #Notts. 

22 hours ago, True Magpie said:

Howard Kendall, the manager, was targeted by fans with chants about his drinking habits. There was no sympathy or well-wishing, which was disappointing. The sketch by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner is funny even today, but it still seems harsh to mock someone struggling.

 

I agree.

There needs to be more compassion from others where people often have struggles such as this.

21 hours ago, Piethagoram said:

Sorry @Robbie Kendall's off field antics at #Notts were an utter disgrace.

As I have said many times before, Russell Slade was the most instrumental in winning the Anglo Italian Cup for #Notts. 

I need to make it clear that I sympathise with Howard Kendall because something made him fall into the drinking habit. These days, there's more understanding and compassion for people with problems, and without making excuses, I think it reflects badly that Notts fans would mock Kendall's drinking habit. I don't know much about his time at the club or his behaviour, but I assume Derek Pavis knew about his habits. It's a situation where the blame is shared, not just placed on the person with the problem.

7 hours ago, Robbie said:

I agree.

There needs to be more compassion from others where people often have struggles such as this.

The 90s had a drinking culture that came from decades before, with George Best being ironically linked to a drinking problem. Best gains a lot of sympathy due to his calibre as a player, but it's a striking contrast for a manager like Howard Kendall. His managerial career might not stand out as successful, and I think there's an element of people enjoying seeing someone fail. At least to a degree, certain people are jumped on for their problems. Brian Clough allegedly had a drinking issue, especially towards the end of his time, but fewer people mock him for it.

Here are two brilliant reads about Howard Kendall.

Kendall relights the fire

WWW.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK

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FA Cup fourth round: A famous finalist of the past returns to plot a giant-killing as an old England striker homes in on hope

Howard Kendall

TOFFEEWEB.COM

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Dr Everton in tribute to a legendary Everton player and the club's most successful manager, Howard Kendall.

@True MagpieThe very serious allegations against Kendall were of an even more concerning nature, than just the drink. Bringing the club into disrepute

4 hours ago, Piethagoram said:

@True MagpieThe very serious allegations against Kendall were of an even more concerning nature, than just the drink. Bringing the club into disrepute

I am unfamiliar with any allegations, but a bit of digging found this. Whilst I would not condone such behaviour, parts of the reports don't seem to be backed up by staff. I am not saying it didn't happen, but people fuelled by alcohol do tend to be aggressive. Is this acceptable? No, but he was probably much different off the stuff. I would hope people are better supported these days.

Kendall in `bar-room bust-up'. - Free Online Library

WWW.THEFREELIBRARY.COM

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Free Online Library: Kendall in `bar-room bust-up'.(Sport) by "The People (London, England)"; News, opinion and commentary General interest

@True Magpie I could not open the file.

The record shows Howard left our club and did a good job at Sheffield United. 

Is overall record as a player and manager speaks for itself. The vast majority of football fans like myself will remember him in a positive way.

Only a very tiny minority will feel differently.

"3 essentials for a pre-season tour... A football pitch, a pub, and a brothel Tony Cottee on pre-season tour with Howard Kendall."

@True Magpie A helpful hint allegedly

On 18/01/2025 at 13:52, True Magpie said:

The 1990s was a strange time to be a Notts fan. The ground was being modernised, and managers were coming and going. Neil Warnock brought back some pride, but he was sacked after rejecting Chelsea. Howard Kendall, the manager, was targeted by fans with chants about his drinking habits. There was no sympathy or well-wishing, which was disappointing. The sketch by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner is funny even today, but it still seems harsh to mock someone struggling.

To see Notts in what is now the Championship would be like a dream come true, and we had that in the 1990s. I wonder if we ever took a moment to appreciate it.

It was very much a different world, with "lad culture" very much prevelant and drinking till your head spins an accepted form of team bonding. That culture did a lot of harm to many people in football, and Howard Kendall was tragically one of them.

The Championship was also a very different beast - a crowd of 6,000 in the second tier was still pretty normal. It was a long way away from the miniature Premier League we know now.