He’s played against George Best and Pele, managed in the Premiership and taken England to a World Cup tournament. We take a look at the extraordinary footballing
career of club member John Gorman and his comeback from a recent stroke.
Walking through Club reception, you could easily be excused for doing a double-take seeing a trim, dapper gent practising keepie-uppies with a battered old football—kept especially for him behind the desk.
“I used to be able to do 2000 of these,” he mutters, deep in concentration. He effortlessly manages 20. Not bad considering ex-professional footballer and England Assistant Head Coach, John Gorman, is recovering from a severe stroke.
The Player
A proud Scotsman, John was born in Winchburgh, West Lothian. He signed for Jock Stein’s Celtic in 1966 at the age of just 16, his full-back skills developing rapidly as a result of facing legendary winger Jimmy Johnstone every day in training.
As a member of Celtic’s famous Quality Street Gang, he made his only appearance for the senior team against Hamilton Academicals in September 1968, replacing the great Billy McNeill for the day. Kenny Dalglish made his debut in the same match. John counts this single appearance for his beloved Celtic as his greatest achievement.
Despite the promise shown by the young full-back, competition for places in a side that had recently won the European Cup was fierce, so in 1970 he took the opportunity to move south and join Bob Stokoe’s Carlisle United. As an attacking full-back, he played over 200 games for the Cumbrian club, helping them win promotion to the first tier of English football.
In 1976, he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur and found himself playing at White Hart Lane with the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles. But after just 32 appearances, a tough trademark tackle by Liverpool’s Jimmy Case put him out of action. 18 months and two major operations later, he was forced to review his footballing future.
Spurs manager Keith Burkinshaw offered him a coaching role, but he opted to move to the USA and continue playing. He ended his career in the North American Soccer League with Tampa Bay Rowdies and then Phoenix Inferno.
Playing regularly against soccer legends such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Rudy Krol, Gerd Muller, George Best, Rodney Marsh, and Johan Cruyff, John had come a long way from schoolboy football in Winchburgh.
The Manager and Coach
Returning to the UK, John began his transition from player to coach.
In 1992, after short spells as Assistant Manager at Gillingham and Leyton Orient, he reunited with his old Spurs teammate, Glenn Hoddle, at Swindon Town. This gave birth to a visionary coaching partnership, creating a stylish but formidable brand of football and steering the Wiltshire club to the Premier Division for the only time in their history.
When Glenn left for Chelsea, John took the reins as a Premiership Manager for 18 months until their partnership was rekindled in 1996 when the FA appointed Glenn as England Head Coach and invited John to be his assistant.
During a productive three-year period, the team enjoyed a 60% win ratio and reached the knockout stage of the 1998 World Cup in France before being eliminated on penalties by Argentina. John firmly believes that had they won the shoot-out, they would have gone on to win the tournament.
Following Glenn’s controversial dismissal, John became Caretaker Manager at West Bromwich Albion before joining him again, first in 2000 as Assistant Manager at Southampton and then from 2001–2003 as Assistant Manager at Tottenham.
25 years on from their World Cup escapade, John and Glenn remain close friends.
John rounded off his career with managerial and coaching roles at Wycombe Wanderers, Gillingham, Northampton Town, Ipswich Town, QPR, and finally, from 2010–2012, with MK Dons.
The Artist
John and his partner Denise live close to Wellington Health & Fitness Club, and he has been a member for over 10 years. His life changed dramatically in November last year when he suffered a severe stroke. Fortunately, treatment was swift, and he is recovering well.
Club members are getting used to seeing him in the gym testing out the QUBE equipment, doing his best to stay afloat in the pool, or trying to make the receptionists believe that he can still do 2000 keepie-uppies. In John’s own words:
Always a slick artist with a football, he is also a slick artist with a paintbrush. Throughout his playing career, his caricatures of teammates appeared regularly in matchday programmes.
Retirement now allows him more time to spend painting in his studio and exhibiting his artwork around the local area. He regularly receives private commissions to create caricatures of sporting celebrities and donates many of his works to local charities.
In the New Year, John will have his own wall space at the Club, and we look forward to hanging his work for members to enjoy.
