
Jimmy Hill spotted Ernie playing for Lancashire League side Nelson in March 1962 and he was always described as Hill’s “blue eyed boy” probably because JH persisted with him in his early career when the fans gave him some stick after a dip in form.
Playing as a scheming inside-forward Ernie was on the verge on England Under 23 honours when he suffered a serious knee injury against Watford in 1963. He ended up having several operations and it was eighteen months before he was fully recovered. He returned to play a pivotal role in the club’s charge to the Second Division title in 1967 and netted eleven goals including many memorable late goals to draw or win games.
When skipper George Curtis broke his leg in the club’s second game in Division One there was only one candidate for the captaincy and Ernie was proud to lead the team out. He missed only three games in those first two years of struggle and was a regular, when fit, right up to the time of his departure. A bad car accident put him out for three months in 1970 and his knee continued to trouble him.
In 1972 he became the first English football player to successfully challenge a fine and suspension by the Football Association in the courts. He was sent off in a game at Newcastle for allegedly kicking an opponent, however TV evidence showed that he was innocent; nevertheless the FA noticed something else which he had done and upheld the disciplinary action on the basis of that without allowing him to present a defence. The courts ruled against the FA, and the PFA subsequently established the rights of players to legal representation in disciplinary cases.
Ernie was sold to Plymouth Argyle for £35,000 in October 1972 by new bosses Joe Mercer and Gordon Milne keen to raise money to buy Tommy Hutchison and Colin Stein. He had ten great years at Highfield Road making 284 appearances and scoring 39 goals and but for injury would have reached the 400 mark.
After eighteen happy months at Plymouth where he helped them to promotion and became a cult hero he had two years at Brighton. In 1977 he was persuaded by Jimmy Hill, now chairman, to return to Coventry as youth team coach. It didn’t work out however and he left football and worked for Car Bodies and Massey Ferguson.
He lived in Coventry and had a famous son, Stewart who was a horse racing commentator on television.
Free kick goals (3)
1967-68
16 December 1967 v Burnley H
1968-69
4 January 1969 v Blackpool H, rolled to him by Willie Carr
14 March 1969 v West Ham United A (deflected)
Red cards (1)
1970-71
26 September 1970 v Newcastle United A, two bookings













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































