Archie Gemmill
Encyclopedia
Archibald "Archie" Gemmill (born 24 March 1947 in Paisley
, Renfrewshire
) is a Scottish former footballer
, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands
in the 1978 FIFA World Cup
. The goal is so famous that it sometimes overshadows a successful career in which he won three English league titles
and captained his national side.
on 13 August 1966 in a Scottish League Cup
tie at Shawfield
to become the first tactical substitute in Scottish football history. Gemmill was sold for £
13,000 to Preston North End
, where he came to the attention of Peter Taylor, Derby County's assistant manager, who then told Brian Clough
, the manager of Derby County
, about Gemmill, who had been considering signing for the reigning champions Everton
. Clough saw him as a player who could pass well and had the type of energy that would drive an attack forward. Clough drove to Gemmill’s house and when the player refused to sign for Derby, who had never won the league title
, Clough told him that he was going to sleep outside in the car. "But," says Gemmill, "my wife invited him in and he stayed the night”. Clough, eventually, got his man for £60,000 over fried egg
s the following morning.
Gemmill scored only three goals for the Rams that season, but they became Football League champions the following year. He was suspended for the controversial 1973 European Cup
semi-final, but he became club captain in place of the injured Roy McFarland
when the Rams won their second title in 1975. He made 324 appearances in total for the club and scored 25 goals.
After moving on to Nottingham Forest
, Clough sought to take the nucleus of Derby's championship-winning side with him. Along with John O'Hare
and John McGovern
, Gemmill was part of a midfield unit that was to achieve great success in England and Europe. He signed for Nottingham Forest
in September 1977 for £25,000. Gemmill was used by Forest as a passer of the ball, helping to put into place a dangerous counter-attacking plan.
He played 58 times for Forest in the league, scoring three goals. He was integral to the success of the club in the late 1970s, but was surprisingly dropped for the 1979 European Cup Final
. Gemmill referred to the decision later:
This led to a split between Clough and Gemmill, which led to him signing for Birmingham City
. He made his debut on 18 August 1979 in a 4–3 defeat at home to Fulham
. He played 97 League matches for the Blues, scoring 12 goals. In early 1982, Gemmill crossed the Atlantic to play for the Jacksonville Tea Men
of the NASL
. He only stayed for one season - playing 32 league games. In September 1982, he joined up with former team mate and club manager Larry Lloyd
at Wigan Athletic
, but only stayed for 11 matches before going back to Derby County as player-coach to become Peter Taylor’s first signing for the club in 1982. He retired from playing in 1984.
. He captained the national side
on no fewer than 22 occasions. Gemmill's most celebrated moment was his goal against the Netherlands
in a Group D fixture at the 1978 World Cup
. Scotland needed to win the game by three goals to qualify for the next stage of the tournament, having had very poor results in their first two games. With his team leading 2–1 in the 68th minute, Gemmill scored a goal which was described by The Scotsman
as follows:
The goal has been translated into song http://www.tartanspecials.com/sdsr78-lyrics.html, dance http://www.freud.org.uk/archiegemmill.html as well as its mention in the movie Trainspotting, in which characters Tommy and Lizzie make love while watching a homemade porno
film, only to see it has been replaced with a football tape called "100 Great Goals" which features Gemmill's strike. At the same time, Renton (Ewan McGregor
), who had switched the tapes in their cases and borrowed Tommy and Lizzie's tape, says after climaxing
during sex
, Gemmill first saw Trainspotting on a club outing with Rotherham
, and his reaction was:
Unfortunately for Scotland, three minutes later Johnny Rep scored for the Netherlands, and the game ended 3–2, denying Scotland a spot in the second round. Rep’s effort was deflected off Gemmill’s outstretched leg and flew past Alan Rough
’s dive. Nonetheless, Gemmill's goal is regularly rated as amongst the greatest goals ever scored in the World Cup.
in 1984. He then managed
Rotherham United
for two seasons in the mid 1990s.
His son Scot Gemmill
became a Scotland
player in the 1990s. In 1970, Archie drove his pregnant wife back to Scotland to ensure that Scot would be born there. Archie became unhappy that Scot was selected for squads but was rarely used in games. He eventually told Scot to stop making himself available for selection, but Scot disagreed and continued to play for Scotland until late in his career.
Archie Gemmill is now the manager
of the Scotland national under-19 football team
. Under his management the team finished second in the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
and qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
in Canada.
Manager
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
) is a Scottish former footballer
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...
, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
. The goal is so famous that it sometimes overshadows a successful career in which he won three English league titles
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
and captained his national side.
Club career
Gemmill’s early career at St Mirren was ruined by a succession of injuries, not least a broken ankle in early 1966. He was sent on to replace Jim ClunieJim Clunie
Jim Clunie was a Scottish association football player and manager. Clunie played for Aberdeen in the 1954 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 2–1 to Celtic at Hampden Park....
on 13 August 1966 in a Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
tie at Shawfield
Shawfield Stadium
Shawfield Stadium is a greyhound racing venue in the town of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located close to the boundary with Glasgow. It has also previously been a regular venue for football and speedway, as home to Clyde F.C. and the Glasgow Tigers respectively...
to become the first tactical substitute in Scottish football history. Gemmill was sold for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
13,000 to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, where he came to the attention of Peter Taylor, Derby County's assistant manager, who then told Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
, the manager of Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, about Gemmill, who had been considering signing for the reigning champions Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Clough saw him as a player who could pass well and had the type of energy that would drive an attack forward. Clough drove to Gemmill’s house and when the player refused to sign for Derby, who had never won the league title
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
, Clough told him that he was going to sleep outside in the car. "But," says Gemmill, "my wife invited him in and he stayed the night”. Clough, eventually, got his man for £60,000 over fried egg
Fried egg
A fried egg is a food made from an egg fried whole with minimal accompaniment. They are traditionally eaten for breakfast in western countries, but may be eaten at other times of the day.-China:...
s the following morning.
Gemmill scored only three goals for the Rams that season, but they became Football League champions the following year. He was suspended for the controversial 1973 European Cup
European Cup 1972-73
The 1972–73 season of the European Cup football club tournament was won by for the third consecutive time by Ajax in the final against Juventus at Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade...
semi-final, but he became club captain in place of the injured Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
when the Rams won their second title in 1975. He made 324 appearances in total for the club and scored 25 goals.
After moving on to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, Clough sought to take the nucleus of Derby's championship-winning side with him. Along with John O'Hare
John O'Hare
John O'Hare is a Scottish former footballer. His clubs included Sunderland, Derby County and also Nottingham Forest and was part of their European Cup victory in 1980, coming on as a substitute in the final. He also won thirteen caps for the Scotland national team, scoring five goals.- Career...
and John McGovern
John McGovern
John McGovern may refer to:*John McGovern , American football quarterback for the University of Minnesota*John McGovern , European Cup winning captain...
, Gemmill was part of a midfield unit that was to achieve great success in England and Europe. He signed for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in September 1977 for £25,000. Gemmill was used by Forest as a passer of the ball, helping to put into place a dangerous counter-attacking plan.
He played 58 times for Forest in the league, scoring three goals. He was integral to the success of the club in the late 1970s, but was surprisingly dropped for the 1979 European Cup Final
1979 European Cup Final
The 1979 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Olympiastadion, Munich, on 30 May 1979, that saw Nottingham Forest of England defeat Malmö FF of Sweden 1–0.-Background:...
. Gemmill referred to the decision later:
This led to a split between Clough and Gemmill, which led to him signing for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He made his debut on 18 August 1979 in a 4–3 defeat at home to 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...
. He played 97 League matches for the Blues, scoring 12 goals. In early 1982, Gemmill crossed the Atlantic to play for the Jacksonville Tea Men
Jacksonville Tea Men
The Jacksonville Tea Men were an American soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Overall, the Tea Men played a total of four seasons in Jacksonville, first in the major league-level North American Soccer League from 1980–1982, then in the lower level American Soccer League and United...
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:...
. He only stayed for one season - playing 32 league games. In September 1982, he joined up with former team mate and club manager Larry Lloyd
Larry Lloyd
Laurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s....
at Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, but only stayed for 11 matches before going back to Derby County as player-coach to become Peter Taylor’s first signing for the club in 1982. He retired from playing in 1984.
International career
Gemmill played 43 times and scored 8 goals for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He captained the national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on no fewer than 22 occasions. Gemmill's most celebrated moment was his goal against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in a Group D fixture at the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
. Scotland needed to win the game by three goals to qualify for the next stage of the tournament, having had very poor results in their first two games. With his team leading 2–1 in the 68th minute, Gemmill scored a goal which was described by The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
as follows:
The goal has been translated into song http://www.tartanspecials.com/sdsr78-lyrics.html, dance http://www.freud.org.uk/archiegemmill.html as well as its mention in the movie Trainspotting, in which characters Tommy and Lizzie make love while watching a homemade porno
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
film, only to see it has been replaced with a football tape called "100 Great Goals" which features Gemmill's strike. At the same time, Renton (Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
), who had switched the tapes in their cases and borrowed Tommy and Lizzie's tape, says after climaxing
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
during sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, Gemmill first saw Trainspotting on a club outing with Rotherham
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, and his reaction was:
Unfortunately for Scotland, three minutes later Johnny Rep scored for the Netherlands, and the game ended 3–2, denying Scotland a spot in the second round. Rep’s effort was deflected off Gemmill’s outstretched leg and flew past Alan Rough
Alan Rough
Alan Roderick Rough is a former Scottish international goalkeeper, who won over 50 caps and played in two FIFA World Cups...
’s dive. Nonetheless, Gemmill's goal is regularly rated as amongst the greatest goals ever scored in the World Cup.
After playing
Gemmill returned to Nottingham Forest to be a coach alongside Brian CloughBrian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
in 1984. He then managed
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
for two seasons in the mid 1990s.
His son Scot Gemmill
Scot Gemmill
Scotland 'Scot' Gemmill is a Scottish ex professional association footballer who is now a UEFA A Licensed Coach. He is currently helping to coach the Scotland Under 19 Team. He played as a midfielder, most recently for the New Zealand Knights...
became a Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
player in the 1990s. In 1970, Archie drove his pregnant wife back to Scotland to ensure that Scot would be born there. Archie became unhappy that Scot was selected for squads but was rarely used in games. He eventually told Scot to stop making himself available for selection, but Scot disagreed and continued to play for Scotland until late in his career.
Archie Gemmill is now the manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Scotland national under-19 football team
Scotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
. Under his management the team finished second in the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 Final Tournament was held in Poland between 18 July and 29 July 2006. The top three teams in each group qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players born after 1 January 1987 were allowed to participate in this competition.-Qualifications:There were two...
and qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
in Canada.
Honours
Player
-
- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
- Champions: 1971–72, 1974–75
- First Division
-
- FA Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
- Winners: 19751975 FA Charity ShieldThe 1975 FA Charity Shield was the 53rd FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup competitions. The match was played on 9 August 1975 at Wembley Stadium and contested by Derby County, who had won the 1974–75 First...
- Winners: 1975
- FA Charity Shield
-
- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
- Champions: 1977–78
- First Division
-
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
- Winners: 19781978 Football League Cup FinalThe 1978 Football League Cup Final was the eighteenth League Cup final, and was contested between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The initial match resulted in a 0–0 draw at Wembley Stadium on 18 March 1978...
, 19791979 Football League Cup FinalThe 1979 Football League Cup Final took place on 17 March 1979 at Wembley Stadium. It was the nineteenth Football League Cup final and the thirteenth to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Nottingham Forest and Southampton. Forest were the hot favourites to win being the holders of the...
- Winners: 1978
- Football League Cup
Manager
-
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
- Winners:1996
- Football League Trophy