Mervyn Gill
Encyclopedia
Mervyn John Gill is a retired English football goalkeeper who spent most of his playing career with Torquay United
.
, Devon
and spent his early years as a footballer (from 1948 to 1953) playing with Bideford in the Western League
. During his time with the north Devon club, they gained promotion twice as champions, of Division Three in 1949–50 and of Division Two in 1951–52.
In August 1953, Gill joined Portsmouth
of the Football League First Division
as an amateur, under-studying Ted Platt
. Gill made six league and three F.A. Cup appearances for Portsmouth in the 1953–54 season, but by the end of the season, Northern Ireland
international Norman Uprichard
had re-established himself as the first choice 'keeper.
In 1954, Gill was enlisted into the Royal Air Force
for his National Service
, during which time he made occasional appearances for Woking
. Gill was based at Thorney Island
, near Chichester
where he represented the RAF at football.
On being demobbed, he joined Southampton
as an amateur in December 1955, becoming new manager Ted Bates'
first signing, before signing professional papers in April 1956. He made only one first-team appearance, standing in for Fred Kiernan
in the final match of the 1955–56 season, a 3–1 victory at Walsall
.
, of the Third Division South
, managed by former Southampton
player Eric Webber
.
Gill was immediately drafted into the first-team, replacing Peter Wakeham
in goal for the remainder of the 1956–57 season, at the end of which Torquay finished as runners-up to Ipswich Town
, missing out on the only promotion spot on goal average. In 1957–58, Wakeham was restored as first-choice 'keeper, with Gill as under-study, making only ten appearances as Torquay struggled, eventually finishing in 21st place and finding themselves in the new Fourth Division the following season.
Following the departure of Wakeham in September 1958, Gill was re-instated as first-choice goalkeeper and retained his position throughout the next three seasons, helping Torquay to return to the Third Division in 1960.
In the 1961–62 season, Gill lost his place to Eddie Marsh and at the end of the season he retired from professional football. In his six years at Plainmoor
, Gill made a total of 174 appearances in league and cup matches.
, Dorset
.
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.
Early career
Gill was born in ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and spent his early years as a footballer (from 1948 to 1953) playing with Bideford in the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
. During his time with the north Devon club, they gained promotion twice as champions, of Division Three in 1949–50 and of Division Two in 1951–52.
In August 1953, Gill joined 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...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
as an amateur, under-studying Ted Platt
Ted Platt
Edward "Ted" Platt is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Romford, Platt spent his early career with Colchester United of the Southern League, before moving to Arsenal in 1938. Platt made his debut for Arsenal in 1946, and made a total of 53...
. Gill made six league and three F.A. Cup appearances for Portsmouth in the 1953–54 season, but by the end of the season, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international Norman Uprichard
Norman Uprichard
William Norman McCourt Uprichard was a football player for Arsenal, Portsmouth, Swindon Town and Northern Ireland.-Gaelic football career:...
had re-established himself as the first choice 'keeper.
In 1954, Gill was enlisted into the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
for his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, during which time he made occasional appearances for Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
. Gill was based at Thorney Island
Thorney Island (West Sussex)
Thorney Island is an island that juts into Chichester Harbour in West Sussex. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel called the Great Deep. The village of West Thorney lies on the east coast of the island and has been incorporated into the military base...
, near Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
where he represented the RAF at football.
On being demobbed, he joined 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...
as an amateur in December 1955, becoming new manager Ted Bates'
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
first signing, before signing professional papers in April 1956. He made only one first-team appearance, standing in for Fred Kiernan
Fred Kiernan
Frederick William Kiernan was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the 1940s and 1950s.-Playing career:...
in the final match of the 1955–56 season, a 3–1 victory at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
Torquay United
After making eight appearances in the Saints' reserves in August and September 1956, Gill moved back to his native Devon, where he joined Torquay UnitedTorquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, of the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
, managed by former 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...
player Eric Webber
Eric Webber
Eric Victor Webber was an English footballer, playing as a centre-half, and manager.-Early days:Although he was born at Shoreham in West Sussex, Webber's family moved into Hampshire when he was a child and he played for Fareham Senior School, before joining Fareham Town and then Gosport Borough...
.
Gill was immediately drafted into the first-team, replacing Peter Wakeham
Peter Wakeham
Peter Francis Wakeham was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Wakeham joined Torquay United as a junior, turning professional in October 1953...
in goal for the remainder of the 1956–57 season, at the end of which Torquay finished as runners-up to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, missing out on the only promotion spot on goal average. In 1957–58, Wakeham was restored as first-choice 'keeper, with Gill as under-study, making only ten appearances as Torquay struggled, eventually finishing in 21st place and finding themselves in the new Fourth Division the following season.
Following the departure of Wakeham in September 1958, Gill was re-instated as first-choice goalkeeper and retained his position throughout the next three seasons, helping Torquay to return to the Third Division in 1960.
In the 1961–62 season, Gill lost his place to Eddie Marsh and at the end of the season he retired from professional football. In his six years at Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
, Gill made a total of 174 appearances in league and cup matches.
Career after football
On retiring from football, Gill was employed by English China Clays, from December 1962 until December 1990, and is now living in his retirement in BridportBridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the River Brit and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope-making centre...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.