Gilmour John “Jock” Image 2 Dundee 1930

Description

Bellshill, Lanarkshire born left back John “Jock” Gilmour started his football career with Scottish League Division Two side Bathgate, but played most of his career at Dundee, joining the Dens Park outfit in August 1923, playing for The Dark Blues until 1936. He made his debut for The Dees on September 8th 1923 in a 1-0 home win over Third Lanark and featured in the 1925 Scottish Cup Final, which Dundee lost 2-1 to Celtic.

Gilmour also took part Dundee’s 1924 Tour in Spain, the second summer in a row that the Dark Blues travelled to the Peninsular and he scored a penalty against Deportivo La Coruna. He was part of the team that beat Barcelona twice and Real Madrid, becoming the first side from outside Spain to beat both Real and Barça on their own grounds.

He was selected, and scored, for The Scottish League when they beat The Irish League 5-0 at Firhill, Motherwell, on 8th October 1930, scoring the fifth goal. Described as “a fast, clever back”, he was chosen for the Scotland squad for a match against France in Paris in May 1930 but was a non playing reserve, he was then selected to win his first cap for Scotland when he played against Wales in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on 25th October 1930, however it proved to be his only international appearance.

He left Dundee in May 1936 after 14 goals in 369 matches for The Dees. He then joined Yeovil and Petters United before retiring. That wasn’t the end of his footballing story however as two years later he came out of retirement to play for Dundee United in a Scottish Cup tie against Hearts in 1938 before finally hanging up his boots.