{{Short description|English footballer and trainer (1911–1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use British English|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ralph Hann | image = | fullname = | height = 5 ft 9+1/2 in<ref name="ec_15mar1932"/> | birth_date = {{birth date|1911|7|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Whitburn, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1990|7|17|1911|7|4|df=y}} | death_place = Derby, England | position = Wing-half | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Marsden Colliery | youthyears2 = 1929–1930 | youthclubs2 = Sunderland | years1 = 1930 | clubs1 = Sunderland | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1930–1932 | clubs2 = Newcastle United | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1932–1939 | clubs3 = Derby County | caps3 = 115 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = | clubs4 = → Notts County (wartime guest) | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 1947 | clubs5 = Crystal Palace | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 }} '''Ralph Hann''' (4 July 1911 – 17 July 1990)<ref name=mortimer>{{cite book |last=Mortimer |first=Gerald |author-link= |date=2006 |title=Derby County: The Complete Record |url= |location= |publisher=nreedonbook |page=153 |isbn=1859835171}}</ref> was an English professional footballer and trainer. As a player, he played as wing-half and after retirement, worked as a trainer at various clubs but the majority of his playing and training career were served at Derby County.
==Playing career== ===Early career=== Hann was born in Whitburn, near Sunderland and began his junior career playing with Whitburn St Mary's, then members of the Sunderland J.O.C. League and then <ref name="ec_15mar1932">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-chronicle/162096162/ |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |title=Whitburn product |page=14 |date=15 March 1932}}</ref> he moved to Marsden Colliery as a left half.<ref name="fp_30oct1965">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/football-post/156995292/ |newspaper=Football Post |title=Ralph Hann is all for game and Rams |page=3 |date=30 October 1965}}</ref> In 1929, he signed as an amateur with Sunderland and in December that year, signed professional with the club after showing promise with the reserve team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-chronicle/160475727/ |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |title=Signs for Sunderland |page=16 |date=18 December 1929}}</ref> He was released by the club at the end of the season and shortly after was offered a trial with fellow North East club Newcastle United, who offered him a contract<ref name="fp_30oct1965"/> where he played with the reserve team for two seasons.<ref name="et_15mar1932">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/160475470/ |newspaper=Evening Telegraph |location=Derby |title=News players for the Rams: Hutchison and Hann |page=8 |date=15 March 1932}}</ref>
===Derby County=== In March 1932, Hann joined Derby County<ref name="et_15mar1932"/> along with Duncan Hutchison for £3,100<ref name="journal_02jun1992">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal/161365881/ |newspaper=The Journal |title=Judith looks back to Georgie roots |page=17 |date=2 June 1992}}</ref> and made his first team debut a year later on 11 March 1933 against Huddersfield Town. Derby were mainstays in the top half of the First Division during Hann's time with the club and he struggled to hold down a regular place in the team.<ref name=WF>{{Cite web |title=Ralph Hann » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe723417/ralph-hann/club-matches/ |access-date=30 December 2023 |publisher=World Football}}</ref> He had few playing opportunities until the 1934–35 season, although had already showed his worth by covering various defensive positions in the seasons prior.<ref name="fp_30oct1965"/> The best league placement Derby achieved in this spell was a runners-up spot to Hann's former club Sunderland in the 1935–36 league championship,<ref name=mortimer/> earning Hann a runners-up medal.<ref name="journal_02jun1992"/>
In the 1938–39 season, Hann was an ever-present in the Derby side playing all 42 league matches and one FA Cup tie. The following season was cut short due to World War II and Hann's professional league career ended due to the hiatus the war caused to professional football in England.<ref name=mortimer/> He also played for Notts County as a wartime guest. In total, he played around 160 senior games for Derby,<ref name="fp_30oct1965"/> 115 of these in the league.<ref name=WF/>
==Trainer career== After the war ended and professional football resumed, Hann became a trainer, working as a trainer at Crystal Palace from September 1946, where he also registered as a player in April 1947. He then became trainer-masseur at Luton Town in April 1947.<ref name=mortimer/><ref name="fp_30oct1965"/>
In November 1953, he rejoined former club Derby County as head trainer when former teammate Jack Barker was appointed first team manager and retained this role under subsequent managers Harry Storer and Tim Ward. Hann was relieved of his duties in May 1967, when new Derby manager Brian Clough replaced Hann with Peter Taylor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ralph Hann, Derby County footballer 1932-39|url=https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/2022323/107C11C6F70E32DF4A93F16271FFFF8A7E7424DC |access-date=30 December 2023 |publisher=World Football}}</ref> Hann described his dismissal as a "body blow" and was reportedly shocked by the announcement, which came despite the players speaking in support of him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/160484070/ |newspaper=Evening Telegraph |title=Ralph Hann - A new face to get back his old job |page=19 |date=6 May 1967}}</ref> In later life, he offered physiotherapy to local footballers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/160486028/ |newspaper=Derby Evening Telegraph |title=Urgency has gone out of the game |page=28 |date=17 September 1977}}</ref>
==Personal life== Hann was the son of a miner.<ref name="journal_02jun1992"/> He had a daughter, Judith who became longest-serving presenter of Tomorrow's World on the BBC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eastleach.org/judith-hann/|title=Judith Hann|newspaper=Eastleach Village|date=20 January 2019|access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref>
==Death== Hann, died on 17 July 1990, in Derby aged 79.<ref name=mortimer/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/162095047/ |newspaper=Derby Evening Telegraph |title=Former Rams trainer dies |page=48 |date=18 July 1990}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hann, Ralph}} Category:1911 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Footballers from Whitburn, Tyne and Wear Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football wing halves Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players Category:Newcastle United F.C. players Category:Derby County F.C. players Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Crystal Palace F.C. non-playing staff Category:Luton Town F.C. non-playing staff Category:Derby County F.C. non-playing staff Category:20th-century English sportsmen