Frank Cornwell
Manager Profile

Biography

Cornwell joined Stevenage in August 1982 as their reserve team manager, taking over from Gordon Allinson who had been in post for three years.

Living in Collenswood Road in Stevenage, Cornwell had previously been with Birmingham City as a professional in the 1950s and came to Boro after several seasons coaching juniors in local football, having moved to Stevenage around 1975.

On 11 January 1983, the then 44-year-old was elevated to temporary charge of Boro after Derek Montgomery's resignation. At the time, chairman George Clarke told the Comet he could "see Frank in charge for several weeks and to the end of the season if necessary". Boro had tried and failed to sign Ware manager Colin Anderson, who lived in Stevenage at the time.

Among his first acts as manager were to re-sign former assistant Paul Peterson - as part of a new three-man coaching set-up, joined by recently retired Delvin Stevens - and to appoint a new club captain in Andy Hughes.

While still in temporary charge, Cornwell told the Comet he wanted the team by the end of the season to "have a record that will stand comparison with anyone". He spoke of the importance of restoring the players' belief in themselves, and said the players were "100 per cent" behind the new management team.

After a promising start - three wins and two draws from his first six games - Cornwell asked the Boro executive committee to decide whether they wanted to appoint him on a permanent basis - and, fortunately for him, they did.

He resigned as manager in September 1987, but was back two months later to help the club with scouting and commercial activities. Cornwell told the Comet: "I would always be happy to help Boro, my heart is still very much with the club. It was good of them to ask me."

Player photo credit: Stevenage Borough FC matchday programme