Ivor Verdun Powell, MBE (5 July 1916 – 6 November 2012) was a Welsh football player and manager.
His career was interrupted by World War II, though he returned to QPR to help them to the Third Division South title in 1947–48.
He did find success at Carlisle United following his appointment in 1960, leading the club to promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1961–62.
He was inducted to the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 alongside snooker player Terry Griffiths and cricketer Tony Lewis.
[4] To his delight, in August 1936 he was invited to London to have a trial with Queens Park Rangers, making him "so happy to leave that wretched [coal] pit".
[citation needed] During the war, he guested for Bradford City and Blackpool whilst working as an RAF physical trainer.
At Blackpool, he struck up a friendship with Stanley Matthews, who later became Powell's best man at his wedding to Joan Browell in 1943.
[6] On 15 December 1948, the tough tackler commanded a £17,500 transfer fee; this was a record for a half back and for both the buying and selling clubs when he moved to Aston Villa.
As a manager, he tried to 'rule by fear' and was not well-liked by the players; with the club bottom of the Third Division South, his contract was terminated in November 1951.
[9] Powell stated that all of the club's funds had been spent on completing Vale Park but that "I thought if I increased the fitness of the squad and worked on their diet I could knock them into shape".
[4] Injuries affected the squad and top-scorer Cliff Pinchbeck "disappeared for the first weeks of the season".
He had been a tremendous player, although I remember him coming unstuck in one training session on the pitch when he was trying to coach our winger, Mick Hulligan.
"Powell moved to Barry Town before being appointed the new Bradford City manager, again as player-manager, before the start of the 1952–53 season.
City's form also struggled, and Powell left in February 1955 after a run of seven straight defeats and just two wins from 19 games without his presence on the field.
[4] He instilled discipline at Brunton Park, and signed players such as Peter McConnell, Reg Davies, Terry Caldwell, and Jack Marsden.
[18] He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours for his services to sport and was presented with his award by Queen Elizabeth II on 25 June 2008, a few days short of his 92nd birthday.