John Dempsey (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Dempsey is a former footballer
who played in the 1960s and 1970s as a defender.
Starting his career with Fulham
, making his debut in 1963 and 149 appearances over six years, Dempsey was signed for West London
rivals Chelsea
by Dave Sexton
in January 1969 for £70,000. He made his Chelsea debut against Southampton
in February that year and established himself in the side for the remainder of the 1968-69
season.
Dempsey featured in the successful Chelsea side of the early 1970s, winning the FA Cup
with the club in 1970, playing in both fiercely-contested final matches against Leeds United as his side eventually ran out 2-1 winners. A year later, the Cup Winners' Cup was added with a win against Real Madrid
in another replay in Athens
, in which Dempsey scored the winner from a corner (one of only five goals he scored for the club) as Chelsea won 2-1. He won a number of international caps for the Republic of Ireland
(he qualified to play for Ireland through his parents).
He had no further success with the club, but remained during the turbulent later 1970s, and eventually left in March 1978 with the club by then in Division Two
, and moved to the Philadelphia Fury
of the NASL
, playing alongside fellow ex-Chelsea star Peter Osgood
. In 1979, he was voted the NASL's defender of the year, beating Franz Beckenbauer
into second place.
He was appointed player-manager of Dundalk
in August 1983 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0812/Pg003.html#Ar00303:68AB136A3B266B7B136EEB26631B62669B75 but only departed by mutual consent in March http://www.dundalkfc.com/dundalkfcweb/History/1980S.HTM.
He also had spells managing Maidenhead
and Egham Town
before retiring from the game in 1984.
He is now involved in local charity work and recently attended the tributes to Peter Osgood at Stamford Bridge
following the latter's death.
He currently works with adults with autism and learning difficulties in a daycentre in the London Borough of Barnet. John has been a care worker in the area for a number of years.
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...
who played in the 1960s and 1970s as a defender.
Starting his career with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, making his debut in 1963 and 149 appearances over six years, Dempsey was signed for West London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
rivals Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
by Dave Sexton
Dave Sexton
David "Dave" Sexton OBE is an English former football manager and player.-Playing career:Son of former professional boxer Archie Sexton, he started his playing career with West Ham United in 1948. Playing mainly at inside-forward, he would finish his career with time at Luton Town, Leyton Orient,...
in January 1969 for £70,000. He made his Chelsea debut against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in February that year and established himself in the side for the remainder of the 1968-69
1968-69 in English football
The 1968–69 season was the 89th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool...
season.
Dempsey featured in the successful Chelsea side of the early 1970s, winning the 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...
with the club in 1970, playing in both fiercely-contested final matches against Leeds United as his side eventually ran out 2-1 winners. A year later, the Cup Winners' Cup was added with a win against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in another replay in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, in which Dempsey scored the winner from a corner (one of only five goals he scored for the club) as Chelsea won 2-1. He won a number of international caps for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
(he qualified to play for Ireland through his parents).
He had no further success with the club, but remained during the turbulent later 1970s, and eventually left in March 1978 with the club by then in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, and moved to the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
of the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, playing alongside fellow ex-Chelsea star Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood
Peter Leslie Osgood was an English footballer who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing Chelsea and Southampton at club level, and was also capped four times by England in the early 1970s.-Chelsea:Born in a small road named Kentons Lane in Windsor, Osgood...
. In 1979, he was voted the NASL's defender of the year, beating Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
into second place.
He was appointed player-manager of Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
in August 1983 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0812/Pg003.html#Ar00303:68AB136A3B266B7B136EEB26631B62669B75 but only departed by mutual consent in March http://www.dundalkfc.com/dundalkfcweb/History/1980S.HTM.
He also had spells managing Maidenhead
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
and Egham Town
Egham Town F.C.
Egham Town Football Club is a football club based in the town of Egham, in Surrey, England.-History:The club's forerunners were a team called Runnymede Rovers who were established in 1877 and played in red and white - colours the present club have now adopted as their own...
before retiring from the game in 1984.
He is now involved in local charity work and recently attended the tributes to Peter Osgood at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
following the latter's death.
He currently works with adults with autism and learning difficulties in a daycentre in the London Borough of Barnet. John has been a care worker in the area for a number of years.
External links
- Chelsea legend Dempsey still a star Was the first Irish player to be sent off back in 1970 V Hungary.