Paul Gilchrist
Encyclopedia
Paul Anthony Gilchrist is a former footballer, who won the FA Cup
with Southampton
in 1976
.
apprentice and played 7 league games for them. During his time at Charlton he was loaned out briefly to several clubs, including Cambridge United
and Fulham
, but never played in their first teams.
In September 1970, he joined non-league Yeovil Town
, initially on loan (he played four games),Gilchrist joined 4th Division Doncaster Rovers
in the 1971 close season. He was relatively successful in the 1971-72 season, scoring 8 goals in his 22 appearances, which prompted Lawrie McMenemy
to sign him for 1st Division Southampton
.
His major contribution to Saints’ history came in the run to the FA Cup
final in 1976, when he scored 2 goals, the most important of which was the first goal, scored from 25 yards, in the semi-final against Crystal Palace
. Southampton went on to win the final
at Wembley
1-0 against Manchester United on 1 May 1976.Don Revie the England manager said after the game.'The man of the match was Paul Gilchrist'
He only made 2 league appearances in the following season, his final appearance being at The Valley, where he had started his career with Charlton. Southampton lost this game 6-2 and Gilchrist’s place in the side had been taken by Ted MacDougall
, who had recently signed from Norwich City
.
Gilchrist spent a brief, unhappy period at the end of 1976 on loan to Alahfi in Saudi Arabia
, before moving to Portsmouth
in March 1977.
, then manager at 3rd Division Portsmouth, invited Gilchrist to join the struggling club. Although Gilchrist played in every remaining game that season, because of his history with their local rivals, he was made the scape-goat for his new club’s problems, and was barracked by the home fans throughout every game.
By the end of the 1977-78 season, Gilchrist had been joined at Portsmouth by his fellow ex-Saint, Bobby Stokes
and St. John had been replaced as manager by Jimmy Dickinson
, but he could not prevent Portsmouth being relegated into Division 4. By then, Gilchrist had played his last league game for the club.
He made his final appearance for Portsmouth in a Football League Cup
defeat at Swindon
in August 1978, when he scored one of Portsmouth’s goals. This prompted Swindon to offer to buy him.
was in charge of team affairs at 3rd Division Swindon, it was general manager Danny Williams who influenced the signing of Gilchrist in August 1978. Smith didn't take well to this, and within a month, he had bought Andy Rowland
from Bury
.
Because of this, Gilchrist found it difficult to break into the first team, even though his scoring record was good - he scored six goals from ten games. He was one of the players who made way after a home defeat by Plymouth
in January 1979 - and he only made seven more substitute appearances for the club, before leaving for 4th Division Hereford United
in March 1980.
At Hereford, he played every game to the end of the 1979-80 season and Hereford just managed to avoid having to apply to be re-elected to the League. His only goal for Hereford came in the final game of the season.
At the start of the following season, in a pre-season friendly against Wolves
, he suffered a broken cruciate ligament
in his leg after a nasty tackle, and, despite a year of medical treatment, his football career was over.
, which he ran successfully for seven years before moving to Redhill, Surrey
where he is employed as a service advisor at a BMW
/MINI
dealership. He lives in a village close to Tunbridge Wells.
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 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 1976
FA Cup Final 1976
The 1976 FA Cup Final took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division...
.
Early career
Gilchrist was a CharltonCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
apprentice and played 7 league games for them. During his time at Charlton he was loaned out briefly to several clubs, including Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
and 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...
, but never played in their first teams.
In September 1970, he joined non-league Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, initially on loan (he played four games),Gilchrist joined 4th Division Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in the 1971 close season. He was relatively successful in the 1971-72 season, scoring 8 goals in his 22 appearances, which prompted Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
to sign him for 1st Division 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...
.
Southampton
He joined Saints for a fee of £30,000 in March 1972, and over the next five years was intermittently in and out of the first team, as they were relegated from Division 1 at the end of the 1973-74 season. He was a ball winner in the middle of the pitch, running on to crosses into the box and displayed excellent close control for such a big player. According to Lawrie McMenemy he was "One of the quiet brigade but a likeable, popular player". He suffered a number of injuries while at Southampton but managed to score 22 goals in his 120 appearances.His major contribution to Saints’ history came in the run to 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...
final in 1976, when he scored 2 goals, the most important of which was the first goal, scored from 25 yards, in the semi-final against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Southampton went on to win the final
FA Cup Final 1976
The 1976 FA Cup Final took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division...
at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
1-0 against Manchester United on 1 May 1976.Don Revie the England manager said after the game.'The man of the match was Paul Gilchrist'
He only made 2 league appearances in the following season, his final appearance being at The Valley, where he had started his career with Charlton. Southampton lost this game 6-2 and Gilchrist’s place in the side had been taken by Ted MacDougall
Ted MacDougall
Edward John "Ted" MacDougall is a retired Scottish footballer who is currently coaching with Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA....
, who had recently signed from Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Gilchrist spent a brief, unhappy period at the end of 1976 on loan to Alahfi in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, before moving to 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...
in March 1977.
Portsmouth
Ian St. JohnIan St. John
Ian St. John is a former Scottish footballer, who played for Scotland 21 times. He later became a manager and pundit...
, then manager at 3rd Division Portsmouth, invited Gilchrist to join the struggling club. Although Gilchrist played in every remaining game that season, because of his history with their local rivals, he was made the scape-goat for his new club’s problems, and was barracked by the home fans throughout every game.
By the end of the 1977-78 season, Gilchrist had been joined at Portsmouth by his fellow ex-Saint, Bobby Stokes
Bobby Stokes
Bobby Stokes was an English footballer, well known for scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute of the FA Cup Final for Southampton F.C. against Manchester United in 1976.-Early career:...
and St. John had been replaced as manager by Jimmy Dickinson
Jimmy Dickinson
James William 'Jimmy' Dickinson was an English football player.Dickinson holds the record for number of league appearances for Portsmouth...
, but he could not prevent Portsmouth being relegated into Division 4. By then, Gilchrist had played his last league game for the club.
He made his final appearance for Portsmouth in a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat at Swindon
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...
in August 1978, when he scored one of Portsmouth’s goals. This prompted Swindon to offer to buy him.
Swindon & Hereford
Despite the fact that Bobby SmithBobby Smith (football manager)
Robert William "Bobby" Smith is an English former professional footballer and football manager. He was capped by England at Schools and Youth level...
was in charge of team affairs at 3rd Division Swindon, it was general manager Danny Williams who influenced the signing of Gilchrist in August 1978. Smith didn't take well to this, and within a month, he had bought Andy Rowland
Andy Rowland
Andrew Rowland was an English footballer who played for Derby County, Bury and most notably Swindon Town.-References:...
from Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
Because of this, Gilchrist found it difficult to break into the first team, even though his scoring record was good - he scored six goals from ten games. He was one of the players who made way after a home defeat by Plymouth
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in January 1979 - and he only made seven more substitute appearances for the club, before leaving for 4th Division Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in March 1980.
At Hereford, he played every game to the end of the 1979-80 season and Hereford just managed to avoid having to apply to be re-elected to the League. His only goal for Hereford came in the final game of the season.
At the start of the following season, in a pre-season friendly against Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, he suffered a broken cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
in his leg after a nasty tackle, and, despite a year of medical treatment, his football career was over.
After football
With his partner, he opened a fitness centre in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, which he ran successfully for seven years before moving to Redhill, Surrey
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
where he is employed as a service advisor at a BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
/MINI
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
dealership. He lives in a village close to Tunbridge Wells.