John McGovern

Hartlepools United / Hartlepool

The young McGovern initially wanted to play as a striker for the glory that came with scoring goals but was unsuited to that role. He then played as a winger. He began his senior career in English football's fourth tier with local club Hartlepools United in 1965–66. 'Pools were under the management of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. It was Taylor who advocated they get McGovern on the books. His senior debut was aged 16 on 21 May 1966 in a 1–1 draw v Bradford City in Pools' last home league game of the season. He became a first team regular the season after. On 3 September 1966, he signed a pro contract on apprentice terms. In the 1966–67 season the club finished on a decent 8th spot, however, the following campaign 1967/68, Hartlepool finished third earning promotion to the Third Division. His last game for Pools was on 6 September 1968 in a 2–1 defeat at Bristol Rovers. After playing six games in that 1968/69 season he moved up a division by transferring to Derby County.

Derby County

Clough and Taylor moved to Derby County in May 1967. They signed 18-year old McGovern to Derby for a fee of £7,500 in September 1968. For the 1968–69 season his mother and brother relocated with him to Derby (his sister had already moved to California). Shortly after arriving at Derby, on 2 October 1968 while in the reserves he watched the first team 3-1 replay win v Chelsea in the 1968–69 Football League Cup. On seeing Dave Mackay play,…

Brian Clough said of him, "He never stopped going, never stopped running, and he was a reasonably intelligent young man." John Robertson said of McGovern, "As far as I'm concerned John McGovern is what epitomises what every good side needs." A profile of the young McGovern on Sporting Heroes states, "John's ability to do the simple things well, allied to his work ethic and willingness to act as a man marker saw him return a series of solid displays; often against much older and experienced opponents." The same article closes by stating of his time at Derby, "He scored twenty goals and at his best demonstrated ball control and passing skills of the highest level, a talent that frequently allowed others to shine."

As a player

As a manager

McGovern was a 2017 inductee to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. He said, "It is a fantastic feeling that I have to be inducted into the Scottish Hall of Fame. Although I may not sound Scottish having left there when I was seven-years-old, I am a proud Scotsman having been born and bred in Montrose and any honour that you get in football is very well received."