Ernie Machin

Position
Midfielder
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Walkden, Lancashire
Date Of Birth
April 26, 1944
Date Of Death
July 22, 2012 (68)
Games Played
289
-
Per Game
Games Started
287
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
25486
88.2
Per Game
Goals
39
0.1
Per Game
Assists
9
0.03
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

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

Football League First Division (England)
1972-1973
Coventry City
11
11
970′
1
1971-1972
Coventry City
15
15
1237′
3
1 (0)
2
1970-1971
Coventry City
24
24
2070′
2
1
1969-1970
Coventry City
16
15
1
1410′
1 (0)
2
1968-1969
Coventry City
41
41
3623′
2
5 (0)
2
1967-1968
Coventry City
40
40
3600′
4 (0)
1
147
146
1
12910′
7
1
0
11 (0)
8
0
League Cup (England)
1972-1973
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1970-1971
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1 (0)
1969-1970
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1968-1969
Coventry City
4
4
360′
1
1967-1968
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1 (0)
1966-1967
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1965-1966
Coventry City
3
3
270′
2 (0)
1964-1965
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1963-1964
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1 (0)
16
16
0
1440′
0
0
0
5 (0)
1
0
The Texaco Cup (England)
1972-1973
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1
1
0
90′
0
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
FA Cup (England)
1971-1972
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1970-1971
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1969-1970
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1968-1969
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1
1 (0)
1967-1968
Coventry City
3
3
270′
1
1966-1967
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1965-1966
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1964-1965
Coventry City
1
1
90′
13
13
0
1170′
2
0
0
1 (0)
0
0
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (Europe)
1970-1971
Coventry City
2
2
180′
2
2
0
180′
0
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
Football League Second Division (England)
1966-1967
Coventry City
34
34
3013′
11 (0)
1965-1966
Coventry City
39
38
1
3353′
4 (0)
1964-1965
Coventry City
14
14
1260′
4 (0)
87
86
1
7626′
0
0
0
19 (0)
0
0
Football League Third Division (England)
1963-1964
Coventry City
17
17
1530′
3 (0)
1962-1963
Coventry City
6
6
540′
23
23
0
2070′
0
0
0
3 (0)
0
0
Totals:
289
287
2
25486′
9
1
0
39 (0)
9
0
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Football League First Division 1972-1973
Football League First Division 1972-1973
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
W 0:2
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 1:0
70`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 2:1
90`
League Cup 1972-1973
League Cup 1972-1973
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Hartlepool
H
W 1:0
90`
The Texaco Cup 1972-1973
The Texaco Cup 1972-1973
Coventry City
Motherwell
A
L 1:0
Coventry City
Motherwell
H
D 3:3
90`
Football League First Division 1971-1972
Football League First Division 1971-1972
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
W 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
D 1:1
76`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 1:0
60`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
D 2:2
56`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 3:1
55`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
D 1:1
90`
FA Cup 1971-1972
FA Cup 1971-1972
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 1:2
90`
Football League First Division 1970-1971
Football League First Division 1970-1971
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 0:1
83`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Blackpool
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 0:1
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
D 0:0
77`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 3:4
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 1:0
20`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
W 0:2
90`
FA Cup 1970-1971
FA Cup 1970-1971
Coventry City
Rochdale
A
L 2:1
90`
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970-71
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970-71
Coventry City
Bayern Munich
A
L 6:1
90`
Coventry City
Trakia Plovdiv
A
W 1:4
90`
League Cup 1970-1971
League Cup 1970-1971
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Football League First Division 1969-1970
Football League First Division 1969-1970
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 3:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 0:1
72`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 0:0
78`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 0:1
FA Cup 1969-1970
FA Cup 1969-1970
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 1:1
90`
League Cup 1969-1970
League Cup 1969-1970
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1968-1969
Football League First Division 1968-1969
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 5:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
W 5:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
W 0:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 1:1
23`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 6:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
L 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
W 4:2
90`
1
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
A
L 3:0
90`
FA Cup 1968-1969
FA Cup 1968-1969
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Blackpool
H
W 3:1
90`
1
League Cup 1968-1969
League Cup 1968-1969
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Football League First Division 1967-1968
Football League First Division 1967-1968
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Fulham
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 1:4
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Fulham
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
L 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
W 4:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
D 3:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Burnley
A
L 2:1
90`
FA Cup 1967-1968
FA Cup 1967-1968
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
W 3:0
90`
League Cup 1967-1968
League Cup 1967-1968
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 1:2
90`
1
Football League Second Division 1966-1967
Football League Second Division 1966-1967
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Northampton Town
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bury
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 5:0
43`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 3:2
Coventry City
Bury
H
W 3:0
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
W 1:0
FA Cup 1966-1967
FA Cup 1966-1967
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 3:4
90`
League Cup 1966-1967
League Cup 1966-1967
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
L 1:3
90`
Football League Second Division 1965-1966
Football League Second Division 1965-1966
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 4:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Cardiff City
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
H
D 2:2
62`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
W 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
L 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
W 3:2
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
W 1:2
6`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
D 0:0
45`
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Bury
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Rotherham United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Bury
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 2:1
90`
FA Cup 1965-1966
FA Cup 1965-1966
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
W 1:2
90`
League Cup 1965-1966
League Cup 1965-1966
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 6:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
W 0:3
90`
1
FA Cup 1964-1965
FA Cup 1964-1965
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 3:0
90`
Football League Second Division 1964-1965
Football League Second Division 1964-1965
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 2:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
W 3:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
W 2:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Bury
A
L 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
L 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Swansea Town
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 4:1
90`
League Cup 1964-1965
League Cup 1964-1965
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 4:1
90`
Football League Third Division 1963-1964
Football League Third Division 1963-1964
Coventry City
Oldham Athletic
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
H
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
W 8:1
90`
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Wrexham
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Brentford
A
W 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Reading
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Walsall
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 5:1
90`
1
League Cup 1963-1964
League Cup 1963-1964
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 3:4
90`
1
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
H
W 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 2:0
90`
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
Fri, 01 Dec, 1972
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
Fri, 01 Dec, 1972
Nelson
Coventry City
Thu, 01 Mar, 1962
Nelson
Coventry City
Thu, 01 Mar, 1962