Sad Old Boy News: RIP John Matthews (27/08/46 – 25/12/2019) (and Gordon Dougall)
John Matthews
CCFPA Chairman Jim Brown has received some news in the last few days about a couple of Former Players of the Past with CCFC connections. Both John Matthews, a young sixties Sky Blue who went on to make his mark in Ireland and Gordon Dougall have recently sadly passed away. Our condolences go to the family and friends of both players.
Here is Jim’s appreciation of the two players:-
“It’s sad to report the death of former City youth player John Matthews at the age of 73. Coventry-born John was the son of ex-City player Horace Matthews and joined City after being spotted playing for GEC. John was a winger and played in the same youth team as [now CCFPA member] Mick Coop and Pat Morrissey but his first team chances were non-existent due to the form of Ronnie Rees and John Mitten [also both later Association members]. In 1966 Jimmy Hill was approached by Mick Lynch, the manager of Waterford, seeking a young player on loan.
JH agreed for young John, who would have probably been released that summer, to go over for six weeks to gain some experience and in his first seven games he helped them clinch their first ever League of Ireland championship. John signed permanently for the club soon afterwards and the club won five more titles over the next six seasons and played in the European Cup against such sides as Manchester United and Celtic. He also played for Cork United, Newcastlewest and Longford Town during a 22-year career. His 156 goals make him the ninth highest goal scorer in the history of the League of Ireland.
After retiring Johnny, as he became known in Ireland, managed Limerick & Waterford United as well as becoming a referee & TV pundit. Thanks to City fan Jim Douglas for the sad news. John can be found on the unique photograph taken of the whole club staff taken in 1966 (below). He is on the far right in the group under number 11 with [now CCFPA member] Dave Clements“.
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“Another who passed away over the Christmas period was Gordon Dougall. Gordon was one of six sons of 1920’s Coventry City star Jimmy Dougall and played for several local clubs including Rugby Town and Lockheed Leamington in the fifties.
One of his brothers was Tommy Dougall who played four games for City during the Second World War”.
