Don Dorman
Encyclopedia
Donald J. "Don" Dorman was an English professional footballer who played as an inside right
. He made 265 appearances in the Football League
. He later became a scout
.
Born in Hall Green
, Birmingham
, Dorman served as a paratrooper
in the 1st Airborne Division during the Second World War
. He was wounded and captured at Arnhem
and made a prisoner of war
. After the war he signed a professional contract with Birmingham City
in 1946. He remained at the club for five years, and then joined Coventry City
in an exchange deal for Tommy Briggs
. At Coventry Dorman scored at a rate of a goal every three games. In 1954 he signed for Walsall
, and was their leading scorer in 1956–57
, the final season of his playing career.
Dorman then rejoined Birmingham as a scout, and became chief scout when Walter Taylor died. He was responsible for bringing to the club a number of young players who went on to very successful careers, including Kenny Burns
, Trevor Francis
, Bob
and Dave Latchford
, Malcolm Page
and Garry Pendrey
. He and coach
Bill Shorthouse
acted as caretaker manager
s at the end of the 1969–70
season while the club sought a replacement after Stan Cullis
retired. Dorman left Birmingham when Ron Saunders
arrived as manager and took up the post of chief scout at Aston Villa
. He died in 1997 aged 74.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
. He made 265 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He later became a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
.
Born in Hall Green
Hall Green
Not to be confused with Hall Green, Wolverhampton or Hall Green, SandwellHall Green is an area and ward in south Birmingham, England. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Dorman served as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
in the 1st Airborne Division during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was wounded and captured at Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and made a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. After the war he signed a professional contract with 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...
in 1946. He remained at the club for five years, and then joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in an exchange deal for Tommy Briggs
Tommy Briggs
Tommy Briggs was a professional footballer who played as a striker. He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and died in Grimsby, Lincolnshire....
. At Coventry Dorman scored at a rate of a goal every three games. In 1954 he signed for Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, and was their leading scorer in 1956–57
1956-57 in English football
The 1956–57 season was the 77th season of competitive football in England.Manchester United won the First Division to become English football champions for the fifth time. Tottenham Hotspur were runners-up. In the Second Division it was Leicester City who finished in top spot, ahead of East...
, the final season of his playing career.
Dorman then rejoined Birmingham as a scout, and became chief scout when Walter Taylor died. He was responsible for bringing to the club a number of young players who went on to very successful careers, including Kenny Burns
Kenny Burns
Kenneth "Kenny" Burns is a former Scotland international footballer, most famous for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup successes....
, Trevor Francis
Trevor Francis
Trevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
, Bob
Bob Latchford
Robert Dennis "Bob" Latchford is an English former association footballer who played as a centre forward. He made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, playing for Birmingham City, Everton, Swansea and Coventry City in the First Division, and won 12 full caps for England.Latchford was...
and Dave Latchford
Dave Latchford
David Barry "Dave" Latchford is an English former footballer who made more than 208 appearances in the Football League and 8 in the Scottish League playing as a goalkeeper. He is the older brother of former England international striker Bob Latchford and Celtic goalkeeper Peter...
, Malcolm Page
Malcolm Page (footballer)
Malcolm Edward Page is a Welsh former professional footballer born in Knucklas, Radnorshire who played as a defender or midfielder. He made 391 appearances for Birmingham City in all competitions over a 17-year career, and also played for Oxford United...
and Garry Pendrey
Garry Pendrey
Garry James Sidney Pendrey is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender, making 345 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 for Birmingham City...
. He and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Bill Shorthouse
Bill Shorthouse
William "Bill" Shorthouse was an English professional football player and coach, who spent his playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:...
acted as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
s at the end of the 1969–70
1969-70 in English football
The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth...
season while the club sought a replacement after Stan Cullis
Stan Cullis
Stanley Cullis was a professional footballer and manager, most notably for Wolverhampton Wanderers. During his term as manager between 1948 and 1964 Wolves became one of the strongest teams in the British game, winning the league title on three occasions, and playing a series of high-profile...
retired. Dorman left Birmingham when Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
arrived as manager and took up the post of chief scout at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He died in 1997 aged 74.