Jimmy Gilligan
Encyclopedia
James Martin "Jimmy" Gilligan (born 24 January 1964 in Hammersmith
) is a former English
professional footballer of Irish ancestry. He is currently head coach of the Nike Football Academy
.
His son Ryan Gilligan
is also a professional footballer.
, turning professional in August 1981. He helped Watford defeat Manchester United
to win the FA Youth Cup in 1982 whilst also earned representative honours, appearing for the England Youth team. In October 1982 he joined Lincoln City
on loan for one month, making three substitute appearances. Returning to Watford, he began making intermittent appearances for the first team, the undoubted highlight being scoring Watford's first goal in Europe in their very first game against Kaiserslautern
in the 1983-1984 UEFA Cup
; he would later score in the quarter final defeat to Sparta Prague. However, he never established a regular starting role in his four seasons as a professional.
Having come to Grimsby Town
's attention when scoring against them in an FA Cup
Fourth Round tie in January 1985, Gilligan moved to Grimsby in the summer of 1985 for a fee of £100,000. However, his season at Blundell Park
was disappointing: he managed just six goals in the season at the club, including two in a League Cup match against York City
. Grimsby cut their losses in the summer of 1986 by allowing him to move on to Swindon Town
for a fee of £30,000. Once again, he struggled to make an impression and in January 1987 joined Newport County on loan before moving to Lincoln City
in March 1987. Gilligan failed to fire for the Red Imps, scoring a solitary goal as Lincoln slipped to relegation from the Football League.
A fee of £17,500 saw him join Cardiff City
where he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career. He scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient
and went on to finish as the clubs top scorer in his first year. Virtually ever present during his two years at the club he scored vital goals in several competitions including the second goal during a 2-0 Welsh Cup
final victory over Wrexham
and a hat-trick against Derry City
in the European Cup Winners Cup.
After two defeats in the opening two games of the 1989-90 season, Cardiff's manager Frank Burrows
accepted an offer to become assistant manager to John Gregory at Portsmouth
. The pair soon tabled an offer of £215,000 for Gilligan which the Cardiff board readily accepted. After a year on the South Coast, Gilligan returned to South Wales to play for Swansea City
before injury finished his league career. In March 1993, he resumed playing in the non-league with Boreham Wood
before moving on to Stamco.
, heading up their Football In The Community scheme. After spells as Youth Development Manager and Youth Team Manager, he was appointed Watford's Assistant Academy Director. He left Watford in 1999 with David Platt appointing him Reserve Team Manager at Nottingham Forest
. In July 2001, following Platt's departure and the appointment of Paul Hart
to the manager's position, Gilligan left his role at Nottingham Forest
. A month later, he was appointed manager of Boreham Wood
, succeeding Graham Roberts
in the role. However, less than three months later he resigned from the role. He joined the PFA as a regional coach educator, whilst also helping out David Platt with the England U21s, before being appointed Academy Technical Director at Wimbledon
in February 2003. Integral to Gilligan's appointment was Stuart Murdoch
whom Gilligan had forged a friendship with from his coaching days at Watford. With Wimbledon
suffering financial difficulties and the move to Milton Keynes, Gilligan moved up the ranks at Milton Keynes Dons
, becoming Assistant Manager to Murdoch. Following Murdoch's sacking in November 2004, Gilligan was placed in temporary charge. He remained in charge until the appointment of Danny Wilson in December, a move which saw Gilligan depart the Dons shortly afterwards.
In July 2005, Gilligan was appointed to coach the under 18 team and first team of Waltham Forest
under the management of his long-term friend Hakan Hayrettin
.
In June 2006, Hayrettin was appointed manager of Thurrock
and Gilligan followed him to the Ship Lane based club as first-team coach.
In August 2007, he left his post at Thurrock
to become a scout for Stuart Pearce
and the England U21 team. In May 2010 it was announced that Gilligan would take up the role of Head of Youth for Stevenage from 1 July. After just nine months as Head of Youth at Stevenage, Gilligan resigned. He is currently head coach of the Nike Football Academy
.
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
) is a former English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer of Irish ancestry. He is currently head coach of the Nike Football Academy
Nike Football Academy
Nike Academy is a football academy that is made up of 23 unsigned U20 players to help them find a club.-Staff:-'The Chance' winners 2010/11: Mustapha Taline Jonathon King Tobi Amokeodo Seon-Min Moon Fabio Tonnini Titi Accam Tom Rogic-External links:**...
.
His son Ryan Gilligan
Ryan Gilligan
Ryan James Gilligan is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Conference National team Newport County on loan from Northampton Town.-Personal life:...
is also a professional footballer.
Playing career
Gilligan started his career as an apprentice at WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, turning professional in August 1981. He helped Watford defeat Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
to win the FA Youth Cup in 1982 whilst also earned representative honours, appearing for the England Youth team. In October 1982 he joined Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on loan for one month, making three substitute appearances. Returning to Watford, he began making intermittent appearances for the first team, the undoubted highlight being scoring Watford's first goal in Europe in their very first game against Kaiserslautern
1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern, also known as 1. FCK, FCK or simply Kaiserslautern, is a German association football club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. On 2 June 1900, Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern merged to create FC 1900...
in the 1983-1984 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
; he would later score in the quarter final defeat to Sparta Prague. However, he never established a regular starting role in his four seasons as a professional.
Having come to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
's attention when scoring against them in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Fourth Round tie in January 1985, Gilligan moved to Grimsby in the summer of 1985 for a fee of £100,000. However, his season at Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
was disappointing: he managed just six goals in the season at the club, including two in a League Cup match against York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. Grimsby cut their losses in the summer of 1986 by allowing him to move on to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
for a fee of £30,000. Once again, he struggled to make an impression and in January 1987 joined Newport County on loan before moving to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in March 1987. Gilligan failed to fire for the Red Imps, scoring a solitary goal as Lincoln slipped to relegation from the Football League.
A fee of £17,500 saw him join Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
where he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career. He scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and went on to finish as the clubs top scorer in his first year. Virtually ever present during his two years at the club he scored vital goals in several competitions including the second goal during a 2-0 Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
final victory over Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
and a hat-trick against Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
in the European Cup Winners Cup.
After two defeats in the opening two games of the 1989-90 season, Cardiff's manager Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
accepted an offer to become assistant manager to John Gregory at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. The pair soon tabled an offer of £215,000 for Gilligan which the Cardiff board readily accepted. After a year on the South Coast, Gilligan returned to South Wales to play for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
before injury finished his league career. In March 1993, he resumed playing in the non-league with Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood F.C.
Boreham Wood F.C. are a football club based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, at Meadow Park football ground. They were established in 1948, and have reached the FA Cup 2nd Round proper twice in their history. For 2011-12 they will play in Conference South...
before moving on to Stamco.
Coaching career
Following his retirement, he returned to WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, heading up their Football In The Community scheme. After spells as Youth Development Manager and Youth Team Manager, he was appointed Watford's Assistant Academy Director. He left Watford in 1999 with David Platt appointing him Reserve Team Manager at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. In July 2001, following Platt's departure and the appointment of Paul Hart
Paul Hart
Paul Hart is an English football manager and former football defender, who is currently Academy Director at Charlton Athletic. The son of Johnny Hart, a football inside forward and manager, Hart had five-year spells with both Blackpool and Leeds United, while also playing for Nottingham Forest and...
to the manager's position, Gilligan left his role at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. A month later, he was appointed manager of Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood F.C.
Boreham Wood F.C. are a football club based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, at Meadow Park football ground. They were established in 1948, and have reached the FA Cup 2nd Round proper twice in their history. For 2011-12 they will play in Conference South...
, succeeding Graham Roberts
Graham Roberts (footballer)
Graham Paul Roberts is a retired English footballer who played for numerous clubs, mainly in a defensive role...
in the role. However, less than three months later he resigned from the role. He joined the PFA as a regional coach educator, whilst also helping out David Platt with the England U21s, before being appointed Academy Technical Director at Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in February 2003. Integral to Gilligan's appointment was Stuart Murdoch
Stuart Murdoch (football manager)
Stuart Murdoch is a football coach. He is best known for his spell as manager of Wimbledon between May 2002 and June 2004. during which time the team moved to Milton Keynes in 2003...
whom Gilligan had forged a friendship with from his coaching days at Watford. With Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
suffering financial difficulties and the move to Milton Keynes, Gilligan moved up the ranks at Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, becoming Assistant Manager to Murdoch. Following Murdoch's sacking in November 2004, Gilligan was placed in temporary charge. He remained in charge until the appointment of Danny Wilson in December, a move which saw Gilligan depart the Dons shortly afterwards.
In July 2005, Gilligan was appointed to coach the under 18 team and first team of Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest F.C.
Waltham Forest F.C. are a football club from Walthamstow, who play in the Isthmian League First Division North. They have played under a number of names and were known as Leyton Pennant up until the end of the 2002–03 season.-History:...
under the management of his long-term friend Hakan Hayrettin
Hakan Hayrettin
Hakan Ramis-Hayrettin is a British former professional footballer and manager of Isthmian League Division One North club Grays Athletic. He was born in Enfield, London to Turkish Cypriot parents.-Playing career:...
.
In June 2006, Hayrettin was appointed manager of Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
and Gilligan followed him to the Ship Lane based club as first-team coach.
In August 2007, he left his post at Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
to become a scout for Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
and the England U21 team. In May 2010 it was announced that Gilligan would take up the role of Head of Youth for Stevenage from 1 July. After just nine months as Head of Youth at Stevenage, Gilligan resigned. He is currently head coach of the Nike Football Academy
Nike Football Academy
Nike Academy is a football academy that is made up of 23 unsigned U20 players to help them find a club.-Staff:-'The Chance' winners 2010/11: Mustapha Taline Jonathon King Tobi Amokeodo Seon-Min Moon Fabio Tonnini Titi Accam Tom Rogic-External links:**...
.