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Alan Gordon (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Gordon was a Scottish
football
player who is notable for playing for the two senior sides of both Edinburgh
and Dundee
, and is thought to be the only player to do so.
-playing George Heriot's School
, Gordon nurtured his early footballing prowess by appearing for youth side Edinburgh Athletic. He earned a professional contract with Hearts
aged 17, although he persisted with his studies. Gordon gained a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh
, where he also studied Moral Philosophy and Spanish Literature. He made his senior debut a couple of months later, playing in a League Cup
final in only his second match. By the 1964-65 season
he had developed into a first team regular, scoring 23 times as the Maroons narrowly missed out on the League title.
in 1967 and 1968, where he played for Durban United and worked as a company representative for Beare Brothers, Gordon left Tynecastle
permanently in 1969 when Jerry Kerr
paid £8,000 to take him to Dundee United
. While with the Tannadice
club he remained Edinburgh-based as he was now studying towards his professional Chartered Accountancy
qualification, training twice a week with the Terrors. When Jim McLean
was appointed manager a policy requiring all United players to live in Tayside
was instigated, however. Gordon's conflict of interests led to him being transfer-listed.
paid £12,000 to take Gordon back to Edinburgh, but this time with Hibernian
. It was with the Easter Road side that he enjoyed his career highlights. In 1972-73
he helped Hibs to victory in the League Cup
and Drybrough Cup
, while the following season they retained the Drybrough Cup. He also featured in one of the most celebrated matches in Hibs' history, the 7-0 victory over rivals Hearts in the 1 January 1973 derby
, a match in which he scored the second and seventh goals.
for £13,000 in 1974, earning the unique distinction of having represented both of Dundee and Edinburgh's senior sides. His spell with the Dark Blues was less successful, however. Following their last-day relegation in 1976
, due to a goal difference
inferior to his former side United, Gordon retired from football aged 32.
. He was a sports pundit for Radio Forth
during the 1980s, as well as a three year spell as Rector's Assessor at Edinburgh University, and subsequently worked as a match host for Hibs at Easter Road.
Gordon died in February 2010, having suffered from cancer
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who is notable for playing for the two senior sides of both Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, and is thought to be the only player to do so.
Hearts
Despite attending the rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
-playing George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. It was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital, by bequest of the royal goldsmith George...
, Gordon nurtured his early footballing prowess by appearing for youth side Edinburgh Athletic. He earned a professional contract with Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
aged 17, although he persisted with his studies. Gordon gained a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he also studied Moral Philosophy and Spanish Literature. He made his senior debut a couple of months later, playing in a League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
final in only his second match. By the 1964-65 season
1964-65 in Scottish football
The 1964–65 season was the 68th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:In one of the closest finishes ever seen in a league competition in Britain, Hearts faced Kilmarnock on the last day of the season with...
he had developed into a first team regular, scoring 23 times as the Maroons narrowly missed out on the League title.
Dundee United
Following a spell in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1967 and 1968, where he played for Durban United and worked as a company representative for Beare Brothers, Gordon left Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
permanently in 1969 when Jerry Kerr
Jerry Kerr
Jasper Jerald 'Jerry' Kerr was a Scottish football player and manager, best known as manager of Dundee United from 1959 to 1971...
paid £8,000 to take him to Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. While with the Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
club he remained Edinburgh-based as he was now studying towards his professional Chartered Accountancy
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland is the Scottish professional body of Chartered Accountants . It is a regulator, educator and influencer.ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professional business community...
qualification, training twice a week with the Terrors. When Jim McLean
Jim McLean
James Yuill McLean is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of Dundee United; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions...
was appointed manager a policy requiring all United players to live in Tayside
Tayside
Tayside Region was a local government region of Scotland from 15 May 1975 to 31 March 1996. It was created by the 1973 Act following recommendations made by the 1969 Wheatley Report which attempted to replace the mishmash of counties, cities, burghs and districts, with a uniform two-tier system...
was instigated, however. Gordon's conflict of interests led to him being transfer-listed.
Hibernian
Eddie TurnbullEddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
paid £12,000 to take Gordon back to Edinburgh, but this time with Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. It was with the Easter Road side that he enjoyed his career highlights. In 1972-73
1972-73 in Scottish football
The 1972–73 season was the 76th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Clyde, Dunfermline Athletic...
he helped Hibs to victory in the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and Drybrough Cup
Drybrough Cup
The Drybrough Cup was a Scottish annual football tournament. It was held from 1971 until 1974, and was revived from 1979 to 1980. It was open to the four highest-scoring teams from Division 1, and the four highest-scoring teams from Division 2. The format allowed the tournament to have three...
, while the following season they retained the Drybrough Cup. He also featured in one of the most celebrated matches in Hibs' history, the 7-0 victory over rivals Hearts in the 1 January 1973 derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
, a match in which he scored the second and seventh goals.
Dundee
Despite this success, Gordon was sold to DundeeDundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
for £13,000 in 1974, earning the unique distinction of having represented both of Dundee and Edinburgh's senior sides. His spell with the Dark Blues was less successful, however. Following their last-day relegation in 1976
1975-76 in Scottish football
The 1975–76 season was the 79th season of Scottish league football. It was the first season in the new, three-tier setup. Division One was no longer the top division in Scottish football, although all three divisions are still part of the Scottish Football League.The Premier Division...
, due to a goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
inferior to his former side United, Gordon retired from football aged 32.
After football
After ending his playing career, Gordon continued to work in the accountancy profession, with his clients including Irvine WelshIrvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh is a contemporary Scottish novelist, best known for his novel Trainspotting. His work is characterised by raw Scottish dialect, and brutal depiction of the realities of Edinburgh life...
. He was a sports pundit for Radio Forth
Radio Forth
Radio Forth is a group owning two radio stations based in Edinburgh. The stations broadcast to Edinburgh, The Lothians and Fife.-History:Radio Forth was launched on 22 January 1975 by current chairman Richard Findlay. His opening speech included "This, for the very first time is Radio Forth"...
during the 1980s, as well as a three year spell as Rector's Assessor at Edinburgh University, and subsequently worked as a match host for Hibs at Easter Road.
Gordon died in February 2010, having suffered from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
External links
- Appearances at londonhearts.com
- ALAN GORDON, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database.