Dave Bassett:As a player Bassett was a defensive midfielder, mostly at at semi-professional level, he started out playing for St Albans City in the 1967/68 season, moving on to Harrow Borough, Hayes, Wycombe Wanderers, Walton & Hersham (where he was part of the side that won the FA Amateur Cup in 1973), and most notably at Wimbledon.
'Harry' as he is nicknamed, was part of the Wimbledon team who, in the 1975 FA Cup, famously beat First Division Burnley away in the 3rd round then forced a draw in the 4th round at reigning League Champions Leeds United, before losing narrowly 1-0 (the goal being a wide shot that deflected in off Bassett's knee) in the replay.
He retired from playing, due to injury and business commitments, soon after Wimbledon won election to the Football League in 1977, having made just 35 Football League appearances.
He was then appointed by the club as team coach, under the management of Dario Gradi.
When Dario Gradi left Wimbledon to move on to Crystal Palace in 1981, Bassett was promoted to manager and took the club on a meteoric rise up through the Football League, which saw them reach the top flight (old First Division) after just nine seasons after becoming a League club.
In his career he has also managed Watford, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Leicester City and Southampton ... as well as spells as assistant manager to both Harry Redknapp at Southampton and Dennis Wise at Leeds United.
Of course, in 1989/90 he famously took Sheffield United back into the First Division for the first time since the 1970's.
Some 20 years after leaving Wimbledon, Reynolds Gate housing development (on the site of Wimbledon's old Plough Lane ground (which sadly closed in 1991), included an apartment block called Bassett House, named in honour of Dave Bassett.
