Footballer and manager
born June 3rd 1967
died January 10th 2018
John McGlashan who has died aged 50 enjoyed a long and successful career as a footballer and manager in both Scotland and England.
During a playing career that lasted almost 20 years he played over 400 games for seven teams and managed three clubs. A strong running and powerful central midfielder he also had an eye for goal and was a regular scorer wherever he played.
Having begun his senior career in 1988 with Montrose he went on to play for Millwall, Peterborough United, Rotherham United, Dundee, Ross County and Arbroath, playing his last game there in 2007 aged 39.
He also managed the Gayfield club and later, junior clubs Tayport and Dundee Violet. A serious ankle injury at Millwall requiring treatment at Harley Street and the insertion of plates was undoubtedly a factor in his not going on to play at a higher level but it is to his credit that he was able to continue to play professionally with distinction.
He was also highly regarded while employed by two charities for football- related activities with disadvantaged children, the Café Project in Arbroath and Dundee-based ‘Showcase the Street,’ while one summer he did voluntary work for Barnardo’s driving a minibus and assisting at their camps.
He obtained a degree from Abertay University through part time study in Travel and Tourism — he had worked in a travel agency on leaving school. By the end of his playing career he had begun an involvement in property development and eventually owned several properties for letting in Angus.
Born in Dundee to John, a docker, and Sandra, he was the younger brother of Stephen who predeceased him.
John attended Whitfield High School where his sporting aptitude was soon apparent. He always remained very proud of having captained his school team to success in the popular television series “We Are The Champions,” in which teams from all over the UK competed at a variety of sports events.
After playing for Mains Boys’ Club he followed his father – who had been a well known junior player – by playing for Dundee Violet from where he joined Montrose in 1988. After two successful seasons, former Scottish captain Bruce Rioch signed him for Millwall, then in the old second division, having just been relegated from the first.
Injury marred his progress, and he only played 20 games during his two seasons – alongside players including Teddy Sheringham, Mick McCarthy, Terry Hurlock and Alex Rae.
He moved on to Peterborough United for a club record fee of £100,000 and helped them to 10th place in the old second division in his first season, then to Rotherham United in the old third division, managed by Archie Gemmill at the time. Held in high regard by the fans, they nominated him as their “greatest player of all time” in a magazine poll.
Fulfilling a boyhood ambition, he then played for Dundee, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 1998 before joining Ross County whom he also helped win promotion in successive seasons to the old first division. After County he went to Arbroath and again was part of their promotion winning team to the old first division.
A brief spell as player/manager at Dundee Violet preceded being appointed manager at Arbroath who were then struggling financially and second bottom of the fourth tier. He succeeded in putting them on a sound financial footing and winning promotion to the third tier. Although nominally part time he was virtually full time, undertaking a wide range of duties. After four years there he went on to manage Tayport, Dundee Violet and was a youth coach at Dundee.
In 2005 he married Dawn, the couple having known each other at school and renewed their relationship in 1997. They had a son together, John, as well as Dawn’s daughter Hollie.
He had a variety of interests outside football, including cycling, hillwalking and genealogy which led to his researching his family back to the seventeenth century and discovering relatives in Canada and France with whom he corresponded.
A well rounded, intelligent individual he was popular with all who knew him. Possessed of a good sense of fun, he related well to everyone, especially the disadvantaged children with whom he worked at the charities, as the many tributes received since his death attest.
He is survived by his wife, son and step daughter.
JACK DAVIDSON
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