Today's Object of the Week is a plaque which recognises the incredible achievements of a County Durham footballer who is forgotten by many.
More than a century ago John Richard Greenwell, known as Jack, left County Durham for a successful playing and coaching career in Europe and South America.
The miner's son who changed the game of football forever as coach of the mighty Barcelona, had humble beginnings in Crook.
Born in 1884, Jack Greenwell became a miner himself after leaving school and started his illustrious career as a wing half for at his home town club, Crook Town, at the age of 17.
He later guested for nearby West Auckland when they won the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy (dubbed the "first World Cup") in 1909.
Greenwell then moved his life and career to Spain, making his debut for Barcelona FC in September 1912. He eventually played 88 games for Barcelona, scoring 10 goals.
After retiring as a player, Greenwell was appointed manager of Barcelona by the club president, Joan Gamper, marking the start of a formidable stint which spanned 492 games.
Here, Greenwell led Barcelona through their first "golden age", where he was noted for his innovative approach to tactics.
He guided the club to four Campionats de Catalunya and two Copas del Rey, demonstrating his tactical acumen focussing on developing a passing game and building attacks from the back, instead of relying on out-dribbling opponents.
After 10 years with Barcelona he spent the next eight years with several other Spanish clubs, before returning to Barcelona in 1931 and guiding the club to a fifth Campionat de Catalunya. To this day, he is still Barcelona's longest serving manager.
Greenwell and his wife Doris fled the Spanish Civil War, after which he proved his mettle managing teams in South America.
He led Peruvian Club Universitario de Deportes to the national championships and guided Peru's national team to the South American Championship in 1939 - still the only Englishman to manage a team to win the title.
He continued to manage club sides in South America until his untimely death of a heart attack whilst driving home from a training session in 1942, Aged 58, he was survived by his wife and their daughter, Carmen.
Read about previous Objects of the Week here:
- What's the story behind County Durham's wobbly bridge - and its tragic history?
- How this County Durham village got its name (and it's got nothing to do with bears)
- The incredible story behind the ship left abandoned on the banks of the River Wear
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The plaque commemorating Greenwell's remarkable achievements is fixed to Royal Corner, in Crook town centre, along with a memorial bench overlooking his childhood home at Greenfield Cottages.
They were installed thanks to the determination of football fan Harold Stephenson, who felt Greenwood needed greater recognition in Crook.
Greenwood's Canadian granddaughter Doris Hahn, and great granddaughter Anita, visited Crook in 2016 for a memorial mass and to see the plaque unveiled in his honour.
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