Alan Gordon (footballer)

Football player infobox


playername = Alan Gordon
fullname =
height = height|ft=6|in=0
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1944|5|14
cityofbirth = Edinburgh
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears = –1961
youthclubs = Edina Hearts Edinburgh Athletic
years = 1961–1967 1967–1968 1968–1969 1969–1972 1972–1974 1974–1976
clubs = Hearts Durban United Hearts Dundee United Hibernian Dundee
Total
caps(goals) = 111 0(49) 015 00(6) 077 0(34) 084 0(51) 036 00(8)
324 (128)

Alan Gordon (born 14 May 1944, in Edinburgh) is a retired Scottish footballer famous for playing for the two senior sides of both Edinburgh and Dundee.

Despite attending the rugby union-playing George Heriot's School,cite book| first=Andrew| last=Hoggan| title=Hearts in Art| publisher=Mainstream| year=1995| id=ISBN 1-85158-736-5| pages=77] Gordon nurtured his early footballing prowess by appearing for youth sides Edina Hearts and Edinburgh Athletic. He earned a professional contract with Hearts aged 17, although he persisted with his studies towards an accountancy qualification and would continue to work in that industry throughout his playing days. He made his senior debut a couple of months later, playing in a League Cup final in only his second match. By the 1964-65 season he had developed into a first team regular, scoring 23 times as the "Maroons" narrowly missed out on the League title.

Following a year-long spell in South Africa related to his accountancy career in 1967, where he played for Durban United, Gordon left Tynecastle permanently in 1969, when Jerry Kerr paid £8,000 to take him to Dundee United. While with the Tannadice club he remained Edinburgh-based for business-reasons, training twice a week with the "Terrors". However when Jim McLean was appointed manager he instigated a policy requiring all United players to live in Tayside and Gordon's conflict of interests led to him being transfer-listed.cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1292005
publisher=The Scotsman|title=Hibs hero of 73 toasts new breed|date=2005-01-01]

Eddie Turnbull paid £12,000 to take Gordon to Edinburgh with Hibernian in January 1972 and it was with the Easter Road side he enjoyed his career highlights. In 1972-73 he helped Hibs to victory in the League Cup and Drybrough Cup, while the following season they retained the Drybrough Cup. He also featured in one of the most celebrated matches in Hibs' history, the 7-0 victory over rivals Hearts in the 1973 "Ne'er day" Derby, a match in which he scored twice.

Despite this success, Gordon was sold to Dundee for £13,000 in 1974, earning the unique distinction of having represented both of Dundee and Edinburgh's senior sides.cite book| first=Mike| last=Watson| title=Regs to Riches:The Official History of Dundee United| publisher=Winter & Sons| year=1985| id=ISBN 0-902804-18-9 | pages=159] His spell with the "Dark Blues" was less successful however, and following their last-day relegation in 1975-76, ironically only by virtue of an inferior goal difference to former side United, he retired aged 32.

Since ending his playing days, Gordon has continued to work in the accountancy profession, with his clients including Irvine Welsh. He was a sports pundit for Radio Forth during the 1980s and more recently has worked as a match host for Hibs at Easter Road.

References

External links

* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/gordonalan.html Appearances] at londonhearts.com