Dan Gordon (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Dan" Gordon was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full-back
for various clubs in the early years of the 20th century.
(then in Midlothian
) and started his professional career with local side Broxburn before moving to England in April 1903 to join Everton
.
Gordon was unable to break into Everton's first-team and, after a year of reserve team
football, he moved to the south coast
in the 1904 close season to join Southern League
champions, Southampton
.
At The Dell, Gordon was understudy to England
international George Molyneux
. Described as "a capable fullback with the physique of a blacksmith
", he had a "deceptive burst of speed" which helped the Saints reserves win the Hampshire Senior Cup
in 1905. In the first team, Gordon made only six Southern League appearances, each time as replacement for Molyneux at left-back.
In the summer of 1905, Gordon returned to his native Scotland to join St. Mirren
, where he remained for three years before signing for Middlesbrough
of the English Football League Second Division
in May 1908. After six months and one appearance for Middlesbrough, he then joined fellow Second Division club, Bradford Park Avenue
where he remained for two years making 50 league appearances. By the end of the 1909–10 season, he had joined another Second Division club, Hull City
, for whom he made only eleven appearances before returning to Southampton
in the summer of 1911.
Back at The Dell, Gordon added some valuable experience to a struggling side, generally acting as cover for Jack Eastham
. After a further twelve League appearances, Gordon retired in 1912, returning to Scotland to live.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for various clubs in the early years of the 20th century.
Football career
Gordon was born in West CalderWest Calder
West Calder is a village in West Lothian, Scotland, located 4 miles west of Livingston. The village was an important centre for the oil shale economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. West Calder has its own railway station. It is also has the most northerly centre of the Dogs Trust, closely followed...
(then in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
) and started his professional career with local side Broxburn before moving to England in April 1903 to join 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...
.
Gordon was unable to break into Everton's first-team and, after a year of reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
football, he moved to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
in the 1904 close season to join Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions, 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...
.
At The Dell, Gordon was understudy to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international George Molyneux
George Molyneux
George Molyneux was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton.-Honours:Southampton* FA Cup finalist: 1902...
. Described as "a capable fullback with the physique of a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
", he had a "deceptive burst of speed" which helped the Saints reserves win the Hampshire Senior Cup
Hampshire Senior Cup
The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
in 1905. In the first team, Gordon made only six Southern League appearances, each time as replacement for Molyneux at left-back.
In the summer of 1905, Gordon returned to his native Scotland to join St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
, where he remained for three years before signing for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
of the English Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in May 1908. After six months and one appearance for Middlesbrough, he then joined fellow Second Division club, Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
where he remained for two years making 50 league appearances. By the end of the 1909–10 season, he had joined another Second Division club, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, for whom he made only eleven appearances before returning to 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 the summer of 1911.
Back at The Dell, Gordon added some valuable experience to a struggling side, generally acting as cover for Jack Eastham
Jack Eastham
John Bilborough "Jack" Eastham was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Blackburn Rovers and then Southampton playing as a full-back.-Blackburn Rovers:...
. After a further twelve League appearances, Gordon retired in 1912, returning to Scotland to live.