Dean Gordon

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Dean Gordon

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Dean Dwight Gordon

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1973|2|10}}

| birth_place = Croydon, London, England

| height =

| position = Left-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Crystal Palace

| years1 = 1991–1998

| years2 = 1998–2002

| years3 = 2001

| years4 = 2002–2004

| years5 = 2004

| years6 = 2004–2005

| years7 = 2005

| years8 = 2005–2006

| years9 = 2006

| years10 = 2006

| years11 = 2006

| years12 = 2006

| years13 = 2006

| years14 = 2006

| years15 = 2006–2007

| years16 = 2007

| years17 = 2007

| years18 = 2007

| years19 = 2008–2009

| years20 = 2008–2009

| years21 = 2009

| years22 = 2009

| clubs1 = Crystal Palace

| clubs2 = Middlesbrough

| clubs3 = → Cardiff City (loan)

| clubs4 = Coventry City

| clubs5 = → Reading (loan)

| clubs6 = Grimsby Town

| clubs7 = APOEL Nicosia

| clubs8 = Crook Town

| clubs9 = Blackpool

| clubs10 = Lewes

| clubs11 = Crook Town

| clubs12 = Worksop Town

| clubs13 = Albany United

| clubs14 = Auckland City

| clubs15 = New Zealand Knights

| clubs16 = Lewes

| clubs17 = Torquay United

| clubs18 = Whitby Town

| clubs19 = Ilkeston Town

| clubs20 = → Glapwell (loan)

| clubs21 = Workington

| clubs22 = Thornaby

| caps1 = 201

| goals1 = 20

| caps2 = 63

| goals2 = 5

| caps3 = 7

| goals3 = 1

| caps4 = 35

| goals4 = 1

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| caps6 = 20

| goals6 = 2

| caps7 = 8

| goals7 = 0

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| caps9 = 1

| goals9 = 0

| caps10 = 2

| goals10 = 0

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| caps12 = 12

| goals12 = 0

| caps13 =

| goals13 =

| caps14 = 5

| goals14 = 2

| caps15 = 6

| goals15 = 0

| caps16 = 1

| goals16 = 0

| caps17 = 8

| goals17 = 0

| caps18 = 7

| goals18 = 0

| caps19 = 7

| goals19 = 0

| caps20 =

| goals20 =

| caps21 =

| goals21 =

| caps22 =

| goals22 =

| totalcaps = 386

| totalgoals = 31

| nationalyears1 = 1994–1995

| nationalteam1 = England U21

| nationalcaps1 = 13

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Dean Dwight Gordon (born 10 February 1973) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back between 1991 and 2009 in his native England as well as Cyprus and New Zealand.

He notably played Premier League football for Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, having also had spells as a professional with Cardiff City, Coventry City, Reading, Grimsby Town, APOEL Nicosia, Blackpool, Albany United, New Zealand Knights, Auckland City and Torquay United. Gordon also spent time playing in the English Non-League system with Worksop Town, Crook Town, Lewes, Whitby Town, Ilkeston Town, Glapwell, Workington and Thornaby.

Gordon, who was born in Croydon, South London, is an example of a journeyman footballer having represented 20 different clubs during an 18-year career, but despite this he had only played for two clubs in his first ten years in the game but spent his latter years playing for numerous clubs.

Club career

=Crystal Palace=

Gordon began his career as a trainee with Crystal Palace, turning professional in July 1991. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Eagles and was known to be a strong in the tackle and impressive going forward down the left flank. His speedy forays often resulted in spectacular goals as he let fly from the edge of the box.

=Middlesbrough=

Gordon joined fellow Premier League club Middlesbrough for a fee of £900,000 on 6 July 1998. In his first season at the Riverside he played in every league game. In November 2001 Gordon went on loan to Cardiff City,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/1669831.stm Gordon signs for Bluebirds] scoring once against Blackpool,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1699201.stm |title=Blackpool 1–1 Cardiff |publisher=BBC |date=15 December 2001 |accessdate=19 January 2010}} and was released by Middlesbrough at the end of that season.

=Coventry City=

Gordon joined Coventry City in July 2002[https://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/sport/stories/2002/08/09/hyldgaard-in-the-frame.shtml Pressure's on as McAllister era starts for real] and was a regular in his first season at Highfield Road, scoring once against Ipswich Town.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2917751.stm |title=Coventry 2–4 Ipswich |publisher=BBC |date=12 April 2003 |accessdate=19 January 2010}} However, he lost his place and joined Reading on loan in March 2004,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/3560691.stm Reading swoop for Gordon]

and eventually went on trial with Hibernian in July 2004.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3894123.stm Hibs look to Gordon]

=Grimsby Town=

Gordon signed with Football League Two side Grimsby Town on a free transfer in August 2004, his first club outside of the top two tiers of English football, but despite holding down a regular place in the team he was released in March 2005 by Russell Slade.

=APOEL Nicosia=

On 2005 Gordon moved to Cyprus to play for APOEL Nicosia, but he was released from the club a few months later.

=Later career=

In November 2005, Gordon joined non-league Crook Town, where he could rebuild his English football career, which had been delayed due problems with gaining international clearance,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035211/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=32230 Crook lose star recruit]}} while being near to his business in Darlington.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030806/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30793 Dean Gordon joins Crook]}} He subsequently had an unsuccessful trial with Barnsley before joining Blackpool in January 2006,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/4596286.stm Defender Gordon joins Blackpool] but was released after playing just once.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/4689038.stm Blackpool release defender Gordon] A proposed move to Chester City was blocked as Gordon was not allowed to sign for two clubs inside the transfer window. As a result, he moved to Lewes in February 2006,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040755/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=33272 Gordon coup for Lewis]}} before the following month rejoining Crook Town.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033414/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=33490 Gordon's back at Crook]}} Later that month he joined Worksop Town,{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201025/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=33567 Now Gordon joins Tigers]}} where he played until the end of the season.

Gordon then moved to New Zealand and signed for Auckland North Shore team Albany United in June 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.albanyunited.org/dean%20gordon.htm |title=Dean Gordon signs for Albany Utd |access-date=31 August 2006 |archive-date=4 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004234207/http://www.albanyunited.org/dean%20gordon.htm |url-status=dead }} He subsequently moved to Auckland City in September the same year,{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10401631 |title=Soccer: Auckland City strengthen squad before title defence |author=Brown, Michael |date=17 September 2006 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=27 September 2011}} scoring twice in five games.[http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=Display&Item=mh_playapp.txt Auckland City 2006-7 player appearances] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013100242/http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=Display&Item=mh_playapp.txt |date=13 October 2007 }}

In December 2006, Gordon left City to join A-League team New Zealand Knights in a surprise move,[http://knightsfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=6149 Gordon takes on Knights opportunity]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} forgoing the chance to play for City against Barcelona in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411317/908432 |title=Gordon joins Knights |work=Television New Zealand |accessdate=27 September 2011}}

He played six times for the Knights in the A-League,[http://www.socceraust.co.uk/2006/ALGE/player00185.html Hyundai A-League 2006/07 Player Details – Dean Gordon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030701/http://www.socceraust.co.uk/2006/ALGE/player00185.html |date=27 September 2007 }} before returning to England where he rejoined Lewes in February 2007.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031439/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=40200 Dean Gordon back with Rooks]}}

He began training with English club Torquay United[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/torquay_united/6360825.stm Torquay capture Blades' teenager] and signed for the Gulls on non-contract terms on 16 February 2007. He made his debut the following day in a 1–0 defeat at home to Hartlepool United. He played eight times as Torquay were relegated to the Conference National and was released at the end of the season.

After playing seven games in late 2007 for Whitby Town on a match-to-match basis, he then signed for another Northern Premier League side, Ilkeston Town in August 2008.http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/Another-joins-up-as-Robins.4430547.jp {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} Gordon also had a short but successful spell at local teesside based club Thornaby.

In March 2009, Gordon signed for Conference North side Workington.{{cite news|title=Now Gordon joins Reds |publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com |date=17 March 2009 |accessdate=18 March 2009 |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=56410 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908232605/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=56410 |archivedate=8 September 2012}}

International career

Gordon appeared 13 times for the England Under-21s in the mid-1990s.

Personal life

Following his retirement, Gordon lived in Sunderland and began coaching and teaching for the 'Show Racism The Red Card' group and now goes around schools in the North East to teach them about racism. Dean runs Futsal Sunderland in the city, providing competitions and other Futsal events for all ages.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2010/06/13/ex-boro-player-dean-gordon-target-of-racist-abuse-79310-26640178/|title = Sunday Sun - North East news, sport and what's on}}

He is the father of Southampton FC player Nathan Wood-Gordon.{{Cite web|url=http://football-wonderkids.co.uk/player/nathan-wood-gordon/|title=Nathan Wood-Gordon|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062256/http://football-wonderkids.co.uk/player/nathan-wood-gordon/|url-status=dead}}

Honours

Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 1995–96 First Division{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1996–97 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1996 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-571-1 |page=285}}

References

External links

[https://archive.today/20200712030953/http://www.farpostheader.com/2020/01/an-interview-with-dean-gordon.html Dean Gordon Interview]
[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10407035 Dream of life in elite lane keeps Gordon on his toes]
{{Soccerbase|name=Dean Gordon's}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Croydon

Category:People from Croydon

Category:English men's footballers

Category:England men's under-21 international footballers

Category:English football managers

Category:English people of Jamaican descent

Category:Premier League players

Category:English Football League players

Category:A-League Men players

Category:Cypriot First Division players