Gladys Dutton on Jimmy Seed

I have just finished reading Neil Carter's book The Football Manager: a History and I found it a good read, not least because of the Charlton content. It includes some reminiscences about Jimmy Seed by his daughter, Gladys Dutton.

She was sent to Brooklands County Preparatory School and from there to Bromley County School for Girls. 'Seed and his family lived in a detached house on an estate opposite a golf course in Bromley ... His house was fitted with consumer durables such as a washing machine and telephone, and they later owned a television. Seed had owned a car since the 1920s when he was a player.'

'Unsurprisingly Seed's home life took a back seat to the job and its demands. Even during the summer he was away on club tours to Sweden and the U.S.A. Gladys and her mother usually stayed with relatives in the north-east ... Christmas was also a difficult period for family gatherings as matches were played on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.'

'Furthermore, Seed hardly ever sat down with his family for meals or helped his wife with the housework. He never discussed football at home although Gladys did attend Charlton home games. Seed's interests outside of football seem to have included golf, gardening, bridge and sketching and he could also play the piano.'