Former Doncaster Rovers boss Maurice Setters who oversaw Liverpool cup classic dies

Maurice Setters, who was in charge at Belle Vue between 1971 and 1974, has died at the age of 83 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

Setters was in charge of the Rovers team that held football giants and reigning league champions Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield, nearly producing one of the club’s greatest upsets.

At the time of the clash in January 1974, Rovers were at the bottom of the Football League and when Doncaster born Kevin Keegan scored against his hometown club after just four minutes, the result looked a formality.

But Rovers hit back through Peter Kitchen and then Brendan O’Callaghan cancelled out a second Keegan strike to earn Doncaster a 2-2 side and a replay at Belle Vue a few days later, when the Merseysiders proved too strong and secured a 2-0 win.

Brought in as a replacement for Lawrie McMenemy, who was sacked in 1971, the former Manchester United left wing half endured a lean spell in charge of Rovers, with dwindling crowds and tight finances the order of the day against a backdrop of nationwide industrial unrest.

He was shown the door in 1974 and later linked up with long-time friend Jack Charlton at Sheffield Wednesday as assistant manager to the England 1966 World Cup winner.

His death, which was announced today, comes after a six-year battle with Alzheimers and just a few months after Charlton.

Devon-born Setters came through the ranks at local side Exeter City before making his name in the top flight with West Brom.

He later signed for Manchester United for £30,000, with Matt Busby looking for a replacement for Wilf McGuinness who had recently broken his leg, and his feisty and combative style made him a key player during a transitional period for the club.

He was Charlton’s right-hand man for many years outside of South Yorkshire, but it was his time in Sheffield that will be most fondly remembered by Wednesdayites after he played his part in resuscitating the Owls in the 1970s.

Setters spent more than half a decade with the Owls as he joined alongside Charlton in 1977 to begin the orchestration of their climb back up the Football League, and even took over – very briefly – as caretaker following Charlton’s exit in 1983.

During his time in Sheffield he was Charlton’s trusted advisor for promotion back to Division Two, for the Boxing Day Massacre and the marathon FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

During his career, he also played for Stoke City, the Cleveland Stokers in the USA, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic.

As a managerial assitant, he later linked up with Jack Charlton again from 1986 to 1995 as assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland senior squad.

His death comes also comes just a few months after the death of Rovers’ captain Archie Irvine, who was in charge for the Liverpool game under Setters.