Jerry Dawson (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
James "Jerry" Dawson (30 October 1909 – 19 January 1977) was a Scottish
footballer who spent most of his career playing for Rangers
.
, Dawson's position as a goalkeeper
saw him nicknamed Jerry after the famous English custodian with whom he shared a surname. He began his career playing with local Junior
side Camelon
, before turning professional with Rangers in November 1929. He spent the next 16 years with the Ibrox
side, winning the Scottish league
five times and the Scottish Cup
twice. He made 236 league appearances for Rangers and was capped 14 times by Scotland
between 1934 and 1939. He also appeared 11 times for the Scottish League XI
.
Dawson moved to home-town club Falkirk
in 1945 and retired at the end of the 1948–49 season
. After a spell as a journalist
with the Daily Record
, he moved into coaching when appointed East Fife
's manager in July 1953. He guided his new side to the League Cup
within months of his appointment but eventually left the Fifers in July 1958, after they suffered relegation to the Second Division.
Dawson's contribution to Scottish football has been recognised by former club Rangers and he was posthumously elected to their Hall of Fame
. Dawson was nicknamed "The Prince in the Yellow Jersey" because Rangers
traditionally had a yellow goalkeeper jersey.
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...
footballer who spent most of his career playing for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
Career
Born in FalkirkFalkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Dawson's position as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
saw him nicknamed Jerry after the famous English custodian with whom he shared a surname. He began his career playing with local Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Camelon
Camelon Juniors F.C.
Camelon Juniors F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club based in Camelon, in Falkirk district.The club, founded in 1920, currently play in the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League after winning the Lothians League Division 1 in 2005–06.Camelon parted company with...
, before turning professional with Rangers in November 1929. He spent the next 16 years with the Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
side, winning the Scottish league
Scottish football champions
The Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
five times and the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
twice. He made 236 league appearances for Rangers and was capped 14 times by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
between 1934 and 1939. He also appeared 11 times for the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
.
Dawson moved to home-town club Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
in 1945 and retired at the end of the 1948–49 season
1948-49 in Scottish football
The 1948–49 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in Scotland. Rangers became the first team to win the Scottish domestic treble. Scottish League Division "C" was disbanded...
. After a spell as a journalist
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
with the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
, he moved into coaching when appointed East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
's manager in July 1953. He guided his new side to 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...
within months of his appointment but eventually left the Fifers in July 1958, after they suffered relegation to the Second Division.
Dawson's contribution to Scottish football has been recognised by former club Rangers and he was posthumously elected to their Hall of Fame
Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame
The Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame is a list established in 2000 by the then Rangers chairman, Sir David Murray, to honour the club's notable players.Each year more names are added by a panel consisting of selected ex-Rangers legends...
. Dawson was nicknamed "The Prince in the Yellow Jersey" because Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
traditionally had a yellow goalkeeper jersey.