OTD: GORDON CHISHOLM BORN

Born on this day in Glasgow, in 1960, is former player Gordon Chisholm. 

Chis was scouted from Glasgow schoolboys and Possil Y.M., turning professional on his 18th birthday and making his debut in the Anglo-Scottish Cup in the same year. He made 30 appearances in the 1978/79 season, in a fairly fluid central role alongside Shaun Elliott and Jeff Clarke. His tackling and reading of the game made him a good defender, whilst his passing made him a good defensive midfielder. Manager Jimmy Adamson used him in both positions before his October move to dirty Leeds. Gordon’s first goal came in April, in a 3-0 home win over Notts County. 

The following season saw Ken Knighton introduce the cavalry charge corner kick routine, which involved Chis and whoever of Rob Hindmarch, Elliott and Clarke was playing, lurking just outside the box and hurling themselves en masse at the cross. There were a mere 20 games for him that season but he was an important part of the promotion we achieved. There were 38 appearances in 1980/81, often alongside Sam Allardyce, although his four goals were a result of his occasional deployment in midfield, as we beat the drop by two points. We repeated that 'feat' in 1981/82, as Gordon played 24 times, and his 37 games the following season helped us to the dizzy heights of sixteenth. He was ever present the following campaign with another four goals, including the winner at West Ham United, which he put in with his chest. A year later, his chest was centre stage again but for the wrong reasons, as Asa Hartford’s shot at Wembley cannoned off it and into our net as we lost the League Cup final to Norwich City. Despite this aberration, Chis remained an immensely popular player at Roker Park, one who always had time for an autograph or a word with the fans.

He played only twice in 1985/86 before moving to Hibernian, scoring on his debut against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi final and thus playing two League Cup finals in the same year. After two seasons at Easter Road, he moved to Dundee where he stayed until 1992. A handful of games for Partick Thistle saw the end of his playing days but he continued with Partick as assistant manager, a role he also fulfilled at Clydebank, Ross County, Airdrie, Falkirk and Dundee United before becoming the big boss at United in 1995. A year there preceded three at Queen of the South, then he became the first man to manage both Dundee clubs by moving back to Tayside. Unfortunately, the club went bust and Chis was out of work just a year later.

He and his wife set up an estate agents business, but East Fife came calling in early 2012 and he joined as assistant manager. However, this only lasted six months due to the pressure of running a business as well as the football side of things. He then re-joined us as international development coach, a job which saw him travel to Africa in search of young talent. What he’s been doing since then is anybody’s guess, as he seems to have dropped right off the radar. 

Gordon William Chisholm, 235 games and 16 goals.  The first person to manage both Dundee clubs.