An Interview With Dean Gordon

You started your career at Crystal Palace and in that time they were relegated twice, promoted twice and also lost a Play off Final.  Why do you think that the club kept yo-yoing up and down from the Premiership in that time?

I don’t think that some of the players were good enough at the time. We conceded too many goals generally and you have to keep clean sheets to be able to win enough games to stay up. 

You weren’t a part of the team that got beaten by Leicester City in the Play Off Final.  Why was that?

I was injured and missed the last third of the season with an Achilles injury. 

Crystal Palace reached the play off final again 12 months later and this time you were in the starting line up.  What was it like to play at Wembley and what are your memories of that day?

It was a great day. Sheffield United won the game though with David Hopkin scoring with the last kick of the game. It was a tough game, I didn’t feel particularly sharp, and Hoppo’s goal was basically all that I can remember of the match! 

You joined Middlesbrough for £900,000 in 1998;  Why did you want to move to the Riverside?

To be honest, I wanted a change. I had been at Palace for many years and wanted a new challenge and to stay in the Premier League. Middlesbrough came along at the right time for me in my career. 

Middlesbrough won for the first time at Old Trafford when you were at the club and you got on the scoresheet which was a bit of a rarity.  Was this your favourite goal in your career?

That was a great day and experience. That goal, along with one against Derby for Palace and Leeds for Palace are my three favourite goals in my career.

After a brief spell on loan at Cardiff, you then joined Coventry City.  What do you make of the recent financial troubles at Coventry?

The whole situation is saddening. It’s a good club with great support.
It looks like they are in process of sorting it and I hope they do. They might even get promoted this season. 

In 2005 you moved to APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus.  How did that move come about?

I always wanted to play abroad. I was at Grimsby and as I left the club for the last time, I received a phone call literally as I walked out.
The call was to begins talks with another club. The offer was a no-brainer for me. I loved my time there and I think that my time there was too short. 

Who were your toughest opponents?

Andrei Kanchelskis, Ryan Giggs, Ruel Fox, Thierry Henry and
Nicolas Anelka 

You won 13 caps for the England Under 21’s during your career.  Who else played in that team?

It was lucky enough to be part of a great team.  We had Sol Campbell, Robbie Fowler, Chris Bart Williams, Trevor Sinclair and Nicky Butt in the team.

In the final few years of your career you played for many clubs in non-league.  When did you decide that it was time to retire?

To be honest, I just wanted to play football and realised afterwards that was a mistake. I played for a friend’s team to keep fit and ended up changing a few times and playing abroad. I wasn’t enjoying playing and decided to stop. 

Your son now plays for Middlesbrough.  That must make you very proud?

Yes, I’m very proud. I always dreamed and prayed for a son who would become a success first and a footballer. He’s doing great.

Can you tell me a bit about what you do now at Pro-Motiv8?

I’m hoping to motivate and inspire kids to be the best they can be. It’s obviously football related. I deliver one-to-one coaching with mentoring in the hope that I can help these kids to go all the way.
I have have been working with a handful of kids for years. Three quarters of them have gone from grassroots to academy level and one is a professional at Sunderland, not including my son.
I also own Futsal leagues which unbelievably help with technical development. I am also an agent for the ones that come through the system. 

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