Jump to content

John Docherty (footballer, born 1940)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Docherty
Personal information
Date of birth (1940-04-29)29 April 1940
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 4 December 2024(2024-12-04) (aged 84)
Position(s) Right winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
St Roch's
1959–1961 Brentford 17 (2)
1961–1966 Sheffield United 41 (9)
1966–1968 Brentford 97 (31)
1968–1970 Reading 46 (8)
1970–1974 Brentford 116 (33)
1974–1975 Queens Park Rangers 0 (0)
Total 317 (116)
Managerial career
1975–1976 Brentford
1978–1983 Cambridge United
1986–1990 Millwall
1990–1991 Bradford City
1997 Millwall
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Docherty (29 April 1940 – 4 December 2024) was a Scottish football player and manager.

Managerial career

[edit]

Having previously been manager of Cambridge United between January 1978 and 13 December 1983 and Brentford,[1] and briefly coaching at St Clement Danes School after leaving Brentford, his spell at Cambridge United saw the club in the Second Division where they managed respectable finishes, with eighth in 1979–80 being their highest.[2] The following season saw the side as outside contenders for promotion before a late slump saw them finish 13th.[3]

He was appointed Millwall manager in May 1986 following the departure of George Graham to Arsenal.[1] In his second season as manager, he guided them to the Second Division title and gained Millwall their first top division campaign.[1]

Docherty's team performed well in the first half of the 1988–89 season, topping the table at one point. Their form in the second half of the season faded, and their position of 10th place in the final table was their lowest standing all season,[4] but still, this remains their highest league finishing position to date.[5]

The 1989–90 season started well for Millwall, and they again briefly topped the league in September, but won only two more league games all season and were relegated in bottom place.[6] Just before relegation was confirmed, Docherty was dismissed in favour of Bruce Rioch in February 1990.[7]

Docherty's next stop was at Bradford City, in March 1990,[7] who were relegated to the Third Division later that season.[8] He was in charge for 20 months before being sacked on 11 November 1991, to make way for Frank Stapleton.[1]

Docherty returned to Millwall during the 1996–97 season,[1] but by this stage they were in the new Division Two (the third flight of English football) and he failed to emulate his first spell as manager.[9] His contract was not renewed at the end of the season and he was replaced by Billy Bonds.[1]

Personal life and death

[edit]

In retirement, Docherty lived in Wiltshire.[10] He died on 4 December 2024, at the age of 84.[11][12]

Honours

[edit]

Brentford

Cambridge United

Millwall

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "League Managers Association – John Docherty". leaguemanagers.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Football Club History Database – Cambridge United". fchd.info. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Cambridge United Home Page for the 1980-1981 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Millwall Home Page for the 1988-1989 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Football Club History Database – Millwall". fchd.info. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Millwall Home Page for the 1989-1990 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b "John Docherty | Latest Betting Odds | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Bradford City Home Page for the 1989-1990 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Millwall Home Page for the 1996-1997 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Wally meets...the manager who put Dean Richards on the road top the big time, John Docherty". mirror. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  11. ^ "John Docherty". www.millwallfc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  12. ^ "John Docherty, footballer and manager who took Millwall to the top of the League". The Telegraph. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  13. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 391. ISBN 0951526200.
  14. ^ a b "Managers". Manager Stats. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Hall of Fame – Inductees 2024". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Nine new inductees into Hall of Fame". Cambridge United F.C. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
[edit]