John Duncan (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Pearson Duncan is a Scottish
footballer
and football manager
.
for Dundee
, Tottenham Hotspur
, Derby County
, Scunthorpe United
and the Scottish Football League
.
. His first season in charge proved to be one to forget, as they finished second-bottom of the Fourth Division and were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League. The following season was a vast improvement however, and Scunthorpe spent much of the season challenging for the Fourth Division title. However, Duncan was controversially sacked in February 1983 after allegedly speaking to Second Division side Grimsby Town
about their manager's job. Scunthorpe eventually achieved promotion that season under succeeding manager Allan Clarke
.
Six weeks after being sacked by Scunthorpe, Duncan was invited to become interim manager of Hartlepool United
, who were bottom of the Fourth Division. In his two months in charge the club earned enough points to escape bottom place, but their eventual finish of 22nd place wasn't enough to prevent Duncan spending a second successive year watching his club apply for re-election. That summer, Duncan was offered the chance to become the club's permanent manager, but turned it down in favour of the manager's job at Chesterfield
, who had just been relegated from the Third Division.
Duncan's first season in charge of the club resulted in only a mid-table finish, but in 1985 he steered the club to the Fourth Division title. The club managed to stay in the Third Division for the next two seasons, even looking like they might challenge for promotion to the Second Division in the early stages of the 1985-86 season. Duncan's achievements with the club were noticed by Ipswich Town
, who appointed him as manager in the summer of 1987 following the departure of Bobby Ferguson
.
In his first season in charge, Ipswich managed a decent finish but never seriously challenged for promotion. The following season saw an improvement, and they missed out on the play-offs by just three points. Duncan's third season in charge of Ipswich started badly however, and even some good results near the end of the season weren't enough to make any sort of promotion push, leading to Duncan being sacked after the season ended.
After leaving Ipswich Town, Duncan took up a career in schoolteaching in Suffolk before returning to Chesterfield, where he achieved Division Three playoff glory in 1995 and reached the F.A Cup semi finals in 1997 losing to Middlesbrough
in the replay. This was achieved with impressive victories away to Bolton
, and victories at home to Wrexham and (then) Premier League Nottingham Forest
before the infamous Semi-Final tie with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford
which ended in a 3-3 draw. Chesterfield even had a contentious goal that appeared to cross the line which was not given by Referee David Elleray
. Chesterfield's last minute equaliser resulted in Duncan celebrating so wildly he lost his glasses. Chestefield were defeated in the replay 3-0 at Hillsborough
. He was to be sacked three years later upon their relegation back to Division Three. In 2002 he was given a testimonial against Manchester United in his honour.
He spent four seasons managing Loughborough University F.C.
from 2007, winning the Midland Combination League Cup in 2008 and the League title and promotion to the Midland Football Alliance
in 2009.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
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...
and football manager
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:...
.
Playing career
He played as a centre-forwardStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, 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...
, Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
.
Management career
Duncan's first managerial job was at Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. His first season in charge proved to be one to forget, as they finished second-bottom of the Fourth Division and were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League. The following season was a vast improvement however, and Scunthorpe spent much of the season challenging for the Fourth Division title. However, Duncan was controversially sacked in February 1983 after allegedly speaking to Second Division side Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
about their manager's job. Scunthorpe eventually achieved promotion that season under succeeding manager Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke (footballer)
Allan John Clarke , nicknamed "Sniffer", is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Walsall, Fulham, Leicester City, Leeds United and Barnsley, and won 19 international caps for England.-Early career:Clarke started his career at Walsall and made his debut aged 17, in 1963...
.
Six weeks after being sacked by Scunthorpe, Duncan was invited to become interim manager of Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, who were bottom of the Fourth Division. In his two months in charge the club earned enough points to escape bottom place, but their eventual finish of 22nd place wasn't enough to prevent Duncan spending a second successive year watching his club apply for re-election. That summer, Duncan was offered the chance to become the club's permanent manager, but turned it down in favour of the manager's job at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, who had just been relegated from the Third Division.
Duncan's first season in charge of the club resulted in only a mid-table finish, but in 1985 he steered the club to the Fourth Division title. The club managed to stay in the Third Division for the next two seasons, even looking like they might challenge for promotion to the Second Division in the early stages of the 1985-86 season. Duncan's achievements with the club were noticed by Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, who appointed him as manager in the summer of 1987 following the departure of Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson
Robert Burnitt "Bobby" Ferguson is an English former footballer. He played as a full-back for Newcastle United, Derby County, Cardiff City and Newport County and also football manager, coach and scout...
.
In his first season in charge, Ipswich managed a decent finish but never seriously challenged for promotion. The following season saw an improvement, and they missed out on the play-offs by just three points. Duncan's third season in charge of Ipswich started badly however, and even some good results near the end of the season weren't enough to make any sort of promotion push, leading to Duncan being sacked after the season ended.
After leaving Ipswich Town, Duncan took up a career in schoolteaching in Suffolk before returning to Chesterfield, where he achieved Division Three playoff glory in 1995 and reached the F.A Cup semi finals in 1997 losing to 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...
in the replay. This was achieved with impressive victories away to Bolton
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, and victories at home to Wrexham and (then) Premier League 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...
before the infamous Semi-Final tie with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
which ended in a 3-3 draw. Chesterfield even had a contentious goal that appeared to cross the line which was not given by Referee David Elleray
David Elleray
David Roland Elleray , is an English former football referee, who officiated in the Football League, the FA Premier League and for FIFA.-Career:...
. Chesterfield's last minute equaliser resulted in Duncan celebrating so wildly he lost his glasses. Chestefield were defeated in the replay 3-0 at Hillsborough
Hillsborough
-In Canada:*Hillsborough, New Brunswick*Hillsborough, Nova Scotia, in Inverness County*Hillsborough , a defunct Prince Edward Island federal electoral district-In New Zealand:* Hillsborough, Auckland...
. He was to be sacked three years later upon their relegation back to Division Three. In 2002 he was given a testimonial against Manchester United in his honour.
He spent four seasons managing Loughborough University F.C.
Loughborough University F.C.
Loughborough University Football Club is an English football club based in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The club are currently members of the Midland Alliance and play at the Nanpantan Sports Ground.-History:...
from 2007, winning the Midland Combination League Cup in 2008 and the League title and promotion to the Midland Football Alliance
Midland Football Alliance
The Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire...
in 2009.