Dean Gordon

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

Dean Gordon
Personal information
Full name Dean Dwight Gordon
Date of birth (1973-02-10) 10 February 1973
Place of birth Croydon, London, England
Playing position(s) Left-back
Youth career
Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1998 Crystal Palace 201 (20)
1998–2002 Middlesbrough 63 (5)
2001 → Cardiff City (loan) 7 (1)
2002–2004 Coventry City 35 (1)
2004 → Reading (loan) 3 (0)
2004–2005 Grimsby Town 20 (2)
2005 APOEL Nicosia 8 (0)
2005–2006 Crook Town ? (?)
2006 Blackpool 1 (0)
2006 Lewes 2 (0)
2006 Crook Town ? (?)
2006 Worksop Town 12 (0)
2006 Albany United ? (?)
2006 Auckland City 5 (2)
2006–2007 New Zealand Knights 6 (0)
2007 Lewes 1 (0)
2007 Torquay United 8 (0)
2007 Whitby Town 7 (0)
2008–2009 Ilkeston Town 7 (0)
2008–2009 → Glapwell (loan) ? (?)
2009 Workington ? (?)
2009 Thornaby ? (?)
Total 386 (31)
National team
1994–1995 England U21 13 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:23 May 18, 2007 (UTC)

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

He 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

He 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,[1] scoring once against Blackpool,[2] and was released by Middlesbrough at the end of that season.

Coventry City

He joined Coventry City in July 2002[3] and was a regular in his first season at Highfield Road, scoring once against Ipswich Town.[4] However, he lost his place and joined Reading on loan in March 2004,[5] and eventually went on trial with Hibernian in July 2004.[6]

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

Latter 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,[7] while being near to his business in Darlington.[8] He subsequently had an unsuccessful trial with Barnsley before joining Blackpool in January 2006,[9] but was released after playing just once.[10] 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,[11] before the following month rejoining Crook Town.[12] Later that month he joined Worksop Town,[13] 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.[14] He subsequently moved to Auckland City in September the same year,[15] scoring twice in five games.[16]

In December 2006, Gordon left City to join A-League team New Zealand Knights in a surprise move,[17] forgoing the chance to play for City against Barcelona in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.[18]

He played six times for the Knights in the A-League,[19] before returning to England where he rejoined Lewes in February 2007.[20]

He began training with English club Torquay United[21] 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.[22] Gordon also had a short but successful spell at local teesside based club Thornaby.

In March 2009, Gordon signed for Conference North side Workington.[23]

International career

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

Personal life

Following his retirement, Gordon now lives 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 also runs Futsal Sunderland in the city, providing competitions and other Futsal events for all ages.[24]

He is the father of Middlesbrough player Nathan Wood-Gordon.[25]

Honours

Individual
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References
  1. Gordon signs for Bluebirds
  2. "Blackpool 1–1 Cardiff". BBC. 15 December 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  3. Pressure's on as McAllister era starts for real
  4. "Coventry 2–4 Ipswich". BBC. 12 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  5. Reading swoop for Gordon
  6. Hibs look to Gordon
  7. Crook lose star recruit Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Dean Gordon joins Crook Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Defender Gordon joins Blackpool
  10. Blackpool release defender Gordon
  11. Gordon coup for Lewis Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Gordon's back at Crook Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Now Gordon joins Tigers Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Dean Gordon signs for Albany Utd
  15. Brown, Michael (17 September 2006). "Soccer: Auckland City strengthen squad before title defence". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  16. Auckland City 2006-7 player appearances Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Gordon takes on Knights opportunity
  18. "Gordon joins Knights". Television New Zealand. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  19. Hyundai A-League 2006/07 Player Details – Dean Gordon Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  20. Dean Gordon back with Rooks Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  21. Torquay capture Blades' teenager
  22. http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/Another-joins-up-as-Robins.4430547.jp
  23. "Now Gordon joins Reds". NonLeagueDaily.com. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  24. http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2010/06/13/ex-boro-player-dean-gordon-target-of-racist-abuse-79310-26640178/
  25. http://football-wonderkids.co.uk/player/nathan-wood-gordon/
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