Jack Gordon (footballer, born 1863)

Jack Gordon
Personal information
Full name John B. Gordon
Date of birth 1863
Place of birth Port Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1882 Preston North End
1882–1884 Port Glasgow Athletic
1884–1894 Preston North End 113 (27)
1895 Loughborough 3 (1)
1897–1898 Wigan County
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

John Gordon, known as Jack Gordon, born Port Glasgow 1863 was a leading professional footballer of the 1880s and 1890s. Signed for Preston North End in 1884, Loughborough in 1895 and, finally Wigan County in 1897.[1]

Career

One of the first Scotsmen to play for North End, Jack Gordon was working at Leyland as a joiner when he was first asked to play for the club in February 1882. He scored on his debut in a 7–0 win over Fishwick Ramblers, a local side who were then on a level with North End. Yet, despite impressing, he returned home to Port Glasgow where he worked in the shipyards and played football for Port Glasgow Athletic. Two years later he returned to Deepdale, the home of Preston North End, and after a handful of games at inside–right, switched to the wing where he turned up with Jimmy Ross. He scored lots of goals in North End's pre–League days, including five in the 26–0 win over Hyde United. His pinpoint crosses led to Preston players scoring a large number of goals with their heads. Jack Gordon played in the 1888 FA Cup Final on the right–wing but was on the losing side. Preston North End lost 2–1 to West Bromwich Albion at Kennington Oval on 24 March 1888.[2]

Jack Gordon made his League debut on 8 September 1888 as a winger for Preston North End against Burnley at Deepdale. Preston won 5–2 and Jack Gordon scored Preston North End' second goal. Jack Gordon played in 20 of Preston' 22 League Championship matches. As a winger he played in a Preston North End midfield that achieved a big (three–League–goals–or–more) win on 11 separate occasions. Jack Gordon scored ten League goals in 1888–1889. His ten goals included a hat–trick on 3 November 1888 at Trent Bridge in a 7–0 win over Notts County. Gordon scored the Preston North End second, fifth and sixth goals. He also scored two–goals–in–a–match on 22 September 1888 when he scored North End' second and third goals in 3–1 win over Bolton Wanderers. He played in all five FA Cup ties including the 3–0 Final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Kennington Oval on 30 March 1889. Jack Gordon achieved League Championship and FA Cup Winners medals.[3][4]

Jack Gordon played 134 first–team matches for Preston North End from 8 September 1888 until 24 November 1894 scoring 35 goals. 113 were played in League matches scoring 27 League goals. He also played for four seasons before the Football League commenced but can find no record of the number of games he played and goals scored from 1884–1888. In October 1891, he scored North End's first–ever penalty in a 4–2 win at Blackburn Rovers. He won a second League Championship Winners' Medal for season 1889–90. He also played in all seven FA Cup ties, in season 1892–93, including a semi–final (and replay) against Everton. Preston North End lost the replay 2–1, Gordon scoring Preston' only goal.[5][6]

He signed for Loughborough in July 1895 but only played for them five times (three League) scoring one League goal. He signed for Wigan County in 1897, a Lancashire League team. It is not recorded when he retired.[7]

Sadly, Jack Gordon developed congestion of the lungs and pleurisy and doctors had to battle for three days to save his life.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Soccer Data. p. 103. ISBN 1 899468 67 6.
  2. ↑ Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Preston North End. Breedon Books. p. 96. ISBN 1 85983 516 3.
  3. ↑ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 2018-03-18. (registration & fee required)
  4. ↑ Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League The First Season 1888/89. Amberley. pp. 41–42/74–75. ISBN 978 1 4456 1881 4.
  5. ↑ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 2018-03-18. (registration & fee required)
  6. ↑ Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Preston North End. Breedon Books. p. 97. ISBN 1 85983 516 3.
  7. ↑ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 2018-03-18. (registration & fee required)
  8. ↑ Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Preston North End. Breedon Books. p. 97. ISBN 1 85983 516 3.
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