John McCormack (footballer, born 1955)

John McCormack
Personal information
Full name John Duffy McCormack[1]
Date of birth (1955-04-25) 25 April 1955 (age 69)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1980 Clydebank 114 (24)
1980–1984 St Mirren 109 (6)
1984–1986 Dundee 61 (9)
1986–1987 Airdrieonians 44 (0)
1987–1988 Partick Thistle 19 (0)
Total 347 (39)
Managerial career
1997–1998 Dundee
1999–2002 Queen's Park
2002–2004 Greenock Morton
2005–2007 Bellshill Athletic
2007–2008 Albion Rovers
2009–2010 Clyde
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Duffy McCormack (born 25 April 1955) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender and has managed several Scottish clubs.

Career

Born in Glasgow, McCormack began his playing career in 1976 with Clydebank, making over 100 league appearances and scoring 24 times before joining St Mirren in 1980. While playing for St Mirren, McCormack acquired the nickname "Cowboy", because he had the same name as a professional boxer with that nickname.[1] He moved to Dundee in 1984 before returning to the west of Scotland in 1986, spending single seasons with Airdrieonians and Partick Thistle before retiring in 1988.

Following his retirement from playing, McCormack was employed by Glasgow City Council for several years, working in sports centres in the city.[1] He then returned to Dundee as a youth coach, before progressing to assistant manager and becoming manager in 1997.[1] Just months later, McCormack was sacked – despite Dundee leading the Scottish Football League First Division – and went on to join Queen's Park. In November 2002, McCormack was appointed manager of Greenock Morton,[2] guiding the club to the Scottish Third Division title in his first season. After losing a large lead at the top of the Second Division near the end of the 2003–04 season, McCormack was sacked in September 2004.[3] He also had an assistant manager stint at Stenhousemuir[4] but left within a month to become manager at Scottish Junior football side Bellshill.[5]

McCormack was appointed manager of Scottish Third Division side Albion Rovers in May 2007,[6] guiding the side to seventh place in his first season. In June 2008, McCormack left his position to take up an assistant role at newly promoted Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical.[1][7] McCormack left the club only two months later,[8] but later won a claim for wrongful dismissal against the club.[1][9]

McCormack returned to the game in September 2009, becoming first team coach at Second Division club Clyde.[10] McCormack was promoted to manager on 30 November 2009, after John Brown was sacked.[11][12] McCormack was given a contract until the end of the 2009–2010 season, but he was sacked on 5 April, with the club facing almost certain relegation to the Third Division.[13] Despite making a number of changes to the squad, McCormack had failed to arrest a decline in Clyde's fortunes and left the club in April 2010.[13]

Honours

Queen's Park

Greenock Morton

Albion Rovers

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "John Duffy McCormack v. Hamilton Academical Football Club". Court of Session. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Morton appoint McCormack". BBC Sport. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Morton sack McCormack". BBC Sport. 10 September 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  4. ^ "McCormack new assistant at Stenny". BBC Sport. 17 June 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  5. ^ "McCormack becomes Bellshill boss". BBC Sport. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Albion Rovers appoint McCormack". BBC Sport. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  7. ^ "McCormack new Accies assistant". BBC Sport. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Canning joins Hamilton from Hibs". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Former Hamilton Accies coach wins sacking case". BBC News. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  10. ^ "McCormack returns as Clyde coach". BBC Sport. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  11. ^ "Clyde Football Club".
  12. ^ Clyde announce John McCormack as their new manager, BBC Sport, 30 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b "John McCormack leaves Clyde manager's post". BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  • John McCormack at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database