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Gordon Marshall (footballer born 1939)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Marshall is a former Anglo-Scottish professional football goalkeeper who played in the top flights of both Scotland
and England
in a 22-year senior career.
, making his debut aged only 17 in 1956. Within a season he had replaced Wilson Brown as Hearts regular custodian and was to play a significant part in one of the most successful eras in the Maroons history, collecting 5 major medals in his 7 years at Tynecastle
. He missed only 3 matches in Hearts' 1957-58
League
-winning campaign and only 1 match during the 1959-60 season
, when they won a League and League Cup
Double
. However, in 1963 Newcastle United
bid £18,000 for his services and, with future Scotland international
Jim Cruickshank
in reserve, Hearts decided to sell.
The Magpies, one of the leading sides in England in the early 1950s, were by this stage floundering in the Second Division. Marshall soon became the first-choice goalkeeper as manager Joe Harvey
successfully rebuilt the side, culminating in promotion as champions in 1964-65
. After several seasons of consolidation in the top flight, Newcastle sold Marshall to Nottingham Forest
for £17,500 in 1968. His time in the East Midlands
was brief though, and after only 7 appearances he was allowed to leave for Hibernian
at the end of the 1968-69 season
.
The Edinburgh
side finished third in Marshall's first full season with them but struggled during the next campaign and at its conclusion he was transferred to Celtic
. He was exclusively a back-up to Denis Conaghan and then Evan Williams
, and he didn't play for Celtic's first team. Marshall then signed for Aberdeen
as cover for Bobby Clark
in early 1972. He played nine games for the Dons as they achieved a second place league finish in 1971-72
, but he left for newly promoted Arbroath
in the following summer.
Marshall spent the final six years of his playing career with the Red Lichties, earning a testimonial. He helped them maintain their status in the top flight until league reconstruction in 1975-76
created a ten-team Premier Division. He was a member of the giant-killing side of 1976-77
which knocked old club Hibs out of the Scottish Cup
in a replay at Easter Road before retiring 1978.
, Marshall is of Scottish ancestry and was raised in Edinburgh. However, unlike current eligibility regulations that allow players to represent a country based on residence or grand-parental links, those enforced by the British football associations in the 1960s only allowed players to represent the country they were born in. Thus Marshall, similar to his contemporary, Liverpool
-born Hibs' forward Joe Baker
, was decreed English in footballing terms, regardless of any personal affiliation he felt to Scotland. Both Marshall and Baker represented England
at Under-23 level, with Baker later earning selection to the full side. Marshall himself was reputedly watched by Sir Alf Ramsey with regard to selection for England's World Cup
squad but eventually passed-over in favour of the more celebrated trio of Banks
, Springett
and Bonetti
.
, a venture he continued to run after his playing retirement in 1978. He retained a keen interest in football, regularly watching his first club Hearts, and raised two sons who developed into professional players. Gordon Jnr.
, also a goalkeeper, started off with Rangers
, later joined Celtic
and eventually earned a full cap for Scotland
. Scott
, a defender, played for Arsenal
, Southampton
and Brentford
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in a 22-year senior career.
Club career
Marshall began his career with Heart of MidlothianHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, making his debut aged only 17 in 1956. Within a season he had replaced Wilson Brown as Hearts regular custodian and was to play a significant part in one of the most successful eras in the Maroons history, collecting 5 major medals in his 7 years at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. He missed only 3 matches in Hearts' 1957-58
1957-58 in Scottish football
The 1957–58 season was the 61st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: East Fife, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division Two:...
League
Scottish football champions
The Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
-winning campaign and only 1 match during the 1959-60 season
1959-60 in Scottish football
The 1959–60 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: Stirling Albion, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
, when they won a League and 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...
Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
. However, in 1963 Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
bid £18,000 for his services and, with future Scotland international
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...
Jim Cruickshank
Jim Cruickshank
Jim Cruickshank was a former Scottish football goalkeeper, who was born in Glasgow and played for Heart of Midlothian for the majority of his career.- Life and career :...
in reserve, Hearts decided to sell.
The Magpies, one of the leading sides in England in the early 1950s, were by this stage floundering in the Second Division. Marshall soon became the first-choice goalkeeper as manager Joe Harvey
Joe Harvey
Joe Harvey was an English football player and later manager. He spent much of his career at Newcastle United; he was the club's longest serving captain, manager, and, as of the 2009 – 10 season the last to win a major trophy....
successfully rebuilt the side, culminating in promotion as champions in 1964-65
1964-65 in English football
The 1964–65 season was the 85th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* After a three-way tussle for the League title between Manchester United, Leeds United and Chelsea, Manchester United came out on top and were crowned champions....
. After several seasons of consolidation in the top flight, Newcastle sold Marshall 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...
for £17,500 in 1968. His time in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
was brief though, and after only 7 appearances he was allowed to leave for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
at the end of the 1968-69 season
1968-69 in English football
The 1968–69 season was the 89th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool...
.
The Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
side finished third in Marshall's first full season with them but struggled during the next campaign and at its conclusion he was transferred to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He was exclusively a back-up to Denis Conaghan and then Evan Williams
Evan Williams (footballer)
Evan Williams is a Scottish former football goalkeeper, who played for Third Lanark, Wolves, Aston Villa, Celtic, Clyde and Stranraer. Williams also managed Vale of Leven.- External links :*, Neil Brown*, the Celtic wiki...
, and he didn't play for Celtic's first team. Marshall then signed for Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
as cover for Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark (footballer)
Robert "Bobby" Clark is a former Scottish football goalkeeper. Clark graduated from Jordanhill College in Glasgow, Scotland in 1967 with a degree in Physical Education.- Playing career :...
in early 1972. He played nine games for the Dons as they achieved a second place league finish in 1971-72
1971-72 in Scottish football
The 1971–72 season was the 75th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Clyde, Dunfermline-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Dumbarton, Arbroath-Cup honours:...
, but he left for newly promoted Arbroath
Arbroath F.C.
Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide...
in the following summer.
Marshall spent the final six years of his playing career with the Red Lichties, earning a testimonial. He helped them maintain their status in the top flight until league reconstruction in 1975-76
1975-76 in Scottish football
The 1975–76 season was the 79th season of Scottish league football. It was the first season in the new, three-tier setup. Division One was no longer the top division in Scottish football, although all three divisions are still part of the Scottish Football League.The Premier Division...
created a ten-team Premier Division. He was a member of the giant-killing side of 1976-77
1976-77 in Scottish football
Season 1976–1977 was the 80th season of Scottish league football.After the failure of the Spring Cup and the 26 game season in the 1st & 2nd Divisions, a 39 game season was instituted in these divisions with a slight imbalance in the amount of home and away games played by each team; however,...
which knocked old club Hibs out of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
in a replay at Easter Road before retiring 1978.
International career
Although born in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Marshall is of Scottish ancestry and was raised in Edinburgh. However, unlike current eligibility regulations that allow players to represent a country based on residence or grand-parental links, those enforced by the British football associations in the 1960s only allowed players to represent the country they were born in. Thus Marshall, similar to his contemporary, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
-born Hibs' forward Joe Baker
Joe Baker
Joseph Henry "Joe" Baker was an England international footballer. Born in Liverpool, England, he spent virtually his entire childhood growing up in Motherwell, Scotland...
, was decreed English in footballing terms, regardless of any personal affiliation he felt to Scotland. Both Marshall and Baker represented 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...
at Under-23 level, with Baker later earning selection to the full side. Marshall himself was reputedly watched by Sir Alf Ramsey with regard to selection for England's World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
squad but eventually passed-over in favour of the more celebrated trio of Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
, Springett
Ron Springett
Ronald "Ron" Deryk George Springett was a football goalkeeper for Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and England.-Career:Springett made 33 appearances for England, then the most by any Sheffield Wednesday player. He held this record for 26 years. He made his England debut against Northern Ireland in 1959...
and Bonetti
Peter Bonetti
Peter Phillip Bonetti is a former football goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. Bonetti was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname, "The Cat"...
.
Post-retirement
Marshall turned part-time upon joining Arbroath and simultaneously invested in a newsagents in West Maitland Street in Edinburgh's West EndHaymarket, Edinburgh
Haymarket is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is in the west of the city and is a focal point for many main roads, notably Dalry Road , Corstorphine Road and Shandwick Place .Haymarket contains a number of popular pubs, cafés and...
, a venture he continued to run after his playing retirement in 1978. He retained a keen interest in football, regularly watching his first club Hearts, and raised two sons who developed into professional players. Gordon Jnr.
Gordon Marshall (footballer born 1964)
Gordon Marshall is a former Scottish professional football goalkeeper. He is currently goalkeeping coach at Motherwell.-Career:...
, also a goalkeeper, started off with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, later joined Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and eventually earned a full cap for 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...
. Scott
Scott Marshall (footballer)
Scott Roderick Marshall is a former professional footballer, who played as a full back.-Playing career:Marshall is the son of former Hearts and England under-23 goalkeeper Gordon Marshall and the brother of Gordon Jnr. who played in goal for Celtic and Scotland...
, a defender, played for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, 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...
and Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.
Honours
Scottish LeagueScottish football championsThe Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
: 2
-
- 1957-58, 1959-60
- League CupScottish League CupThe 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...
: 3
- 1958-59, 1959-60, 1962-63
Division Two: 1
- 1964-65
- 1957-58, 1959-60
External links
- Appearances at londonhearts.com
- Appearances at "Newcastle United - a Statistical Journey"