Tragic death of Dumbarton FC captain and new dad Gordon Lennon

Jun 12 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

THE tragic death of Dumbarton FC captain Gordon Lennon comes just five months after he became a dad for the first time.

The 26-year-old was killed on Sunday after crashing his 4x4 into an electricity pole on a trip to Brahan, near Dingwall, with his family.

Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the possibility that Gordon may have survived but was electrocuted by fallen power lines.

The Sons skipper celebrated becoming a new dad in January when his long-term partner Kelly Dempsey, 25, gave birth to son Kai.

He is pictured holding his beloved boy last month after leading Sons to the third division championship, the club’s first league title for 17 years.

Tributes have been arriving at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium where a book of condolences was opened.

Dumbarton manager Jim Chapman said: “I knew Gordon as a very loyal and family orientated boy, who gave everything he had to make sure his family were okay.

“Gordon constantly rose to the challenges ahead of him and everything was going so well for him with the birth of his son Kai, just moving into his new home in Paisley, and the proud moment Dumbarton won the league.

“He was at the top of his game. His family and social life were great, and he was popular with everyone. That’s what makes it all the more heartbreaking.”

Gordon, a business analysis graduate, had just started a new job and recently moved from Cardonald to Paisley to set up home with Kelly and Kai.

He was born in Larne in Northern Ireland and later settled in Cardonald with mum Silvana, dad Alex, brothers Scott, 24, and Buchan, 20, and sister Heather, 19.

Jim Chapman, who had been due to meet with Gordon at Strathclyde Homes Stadium on Monday ahead of pre-season training, said: “Everyone at the club knows where their priorities lie, and that is with Kelly and Kai, and Gordon’s parents and family.”

Gordon made his debut in senior football under Jim at Albion Rovers in 2005, and was one of his first signings for Dumbarton in January 2008. He was immediately made team captain.

Jim added: “He had been looking forward to going away for the weekend and spending some time with his family.

“I spoke to Kelly on Sunday. She had spoken to him and he had been having a great time as usual.”