English footballer, ex-Wolves manager Sammy Chung dies at 90

Cyril Chung, better known as Sammy Chung, was an English football player and former manager of the Wolves. He passed away at the age of 90.

Chung passed away in a nursing facility on August 28. According to a statement from Wolves, Chung passed away quietly in his sleep on Sunday after a protracted illness.

Chung was born to an English mother and a Chinese father in Abingdon-on-Thames. He started out with a local team, Abingdon Town, before moving on to Headington United of the Southern League. In 1953, he enlisted in Reading of the Third Division South, but he did not sign any professional documents until his national service was over. At the close of the 1953–54 season, he had a solid beginning to his professional career, achieving four goals in five games. On January 1, 1955, he transferred to Norwich City after tallying eight goals in the first 17 games of 1954–1955. In 1955–56 and 1956–57, he participated in 16 and 11 games, respectively, as the Canaries finished last in the Third Division South.





For the 1957–1958 season, Chung moved to Watford, where, under Neil McBain, the team was demoted to the Fourth Division. The Hornets just missed promotions to the second division in 1960-61 and 1963-64, but they did secure a return to the third division in 1959-60. Twenty-four goals were scored by Chung in 242 games for Watford.

While still a player at Watford, Chung worked as a coach for the first time under manager Bill McGarry. Chung went with McGarry when he departed to take over as manager of Ipswich Town. In 1968, they were crowned champions at Ipswich and were promoted to the First Division.

He briefly served as the manager of the Swedish team IFK Väster before returning to Wolverhampton Wanderers as Bill McGarry's deputy. They participated in the management group that led Wolves to the 1974 League Cup triumph. In 1976, the team was demoted, McGarry resigned, and Chung was named manager.

As the Second Division champion in his first season, he earned a promotion back to the top tier. In 1977–78, he guided the team to a 15th-place finish, but the following year, after a stretch of 11 consecutive losses, he was fired after fan protests.

He spent some time coaching in the United Arab Emirates before returning to England in 1985 to work as Mick Mills' assistant manager at Stoke City. He stayed there for five years until joining the backroom staff at Blackburn Rovers in 1991–1992.

Before being named manager of Doncaster Rovers in July 1994, a position he maintained until August 1996, he managed non-league club Tamworth from January 1992 to January 1993. During his time at Doncaster, the team had two promising seasons, but promotion hopes eventually faded into mid-table performances.

He was named the director of football in Barbados in 1999. He joined Minehead's coaching staff in 2005.

After his football career was over, Chung worked in a children's home. Later, he resided near the shore of Somerset.