Johnny Gavin (footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Thomas Gavin | ||
| Date of birth | 20 April 1928 | ||
| Place of birth | Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 20 September 2007 (aged 79) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Jamesborough United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1947–1948 | Limerick | 14 | (5) |
| 1948–1954 | Norwich City | 203 | (76) |
| 1954–1955 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | (15) |
| 1955–1958 | Norwich City | 109 | (46) |
| 1958–1959 | Watford | 43 | (12) |
| 1959–1961 | Crystal Palace | 66 | (15) |
| 1961–1962 | Cambridge City | ||
| 1962–? | Newmarket Town | ||
| 1967–1968 | Fulbourn Institute | ||
| National team | |||
| 1949–1956 | Ireland | 7 | (2) |
|
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John Thomas Gavin (born 20 April 1928 – died 20 September 2007) was a famous Irish footballer. He spent most of his amazing career playing in England. Johnny was known for scoring many goals. He played for several teams, including Limerick, Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace. He also played for the Irish national team.
Contents
Johnny Gavin's Football Journey
Starting His Career
Johnny Gavin was born in Limerick, Ireland. Before becoming a professional footballer, he worked as a painter on the Irish railways. He played football for his local team, Limerick.
In 1948, the manager of Norwich City, Doug Lochhead, noticed Johnny's talent. Another big club, West Ham United, also wanted to sign him. But Johnny chose Norwich City. This was because his friend and teammate from Limerick, Kevin Holman, had already decided to join Norwich. Johnny felt it would be easier to settle in a new country with a friend.
Becoming a Star at Norwich
Norwich City paid £1,500 to sign Johnny Gavin. This turned out to be a fantastic deal for them! Johnny became a legend at the club. He scored an incredible 132 goals in 338 matches for Norwich City. His record for the most goals scored for the club still stands today.
His amazing goal-scoring skills caught the eye of Tottenham Hotspur, a top team. They signed him in October 1954. Johnny scored 15 goals in 32 games for Tottenham, which was a great achievement.
Returning to Norwich
Even though he scored many goals, Johnny didn't feel settled at Tottenham. So, in November 1955, he returned to Norwich City. This move was part of a deal that saw future England player Maurice Norman go to Tottenham.
On 15 September 1956, Johnny scored his 100th goal for Norwich. This happened in a 3–0 win against Plymouth Argyle at Norwich's home ground, Carrow Road. His consistent performance led to him being chosen for the Third Division South representative team in 1956–57.
Johnny was known for having fun with the fans during games. He once said, "I got a little bit of jip from them but gave some back." This shows he had a good relationship with the supporters.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing football, Johnny Gavin ran a pub for several years in Cambridge. He lived there until he passed away. In his later years, he had some health problems, including a hip replacement and osteoarthritis.
In 2002, Johnny was honored by Norwich City. He became one of the first members of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. This special award recognized him as one of the club's greatest players ever.
Johnny Gavin passed away on 20 September 2007, at the age of 79. Before Norwich's next home game against Sheffield Wednesday, fans and players held a minute of applause to remember him. The players also wore black armbands to show their respect.
