Obituary: Dumbarton FC captain Gordon Lennon

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

THERE are times when a football fan is struck so dumb by events that they are simply lost for words. This is one of them.

Gordon was more than just a model professional footballer, with obvious talent, potential and leadership skills.

He was also a perfect gentleman off the field – the best example almost certainly being that day at Annan. He knew that was the fans’ day and made sure they were involved.

I was there to meet him when he signed for Sons in January 2008 and, although we were newly-introduced, he chatted away as if we’d worked together for years.

Since then, my working rapport with him had become a firm one. He was always friendly on the phone or in person and never dodged a question.

I consider it a privilege to have got to know the real Gordon – but others of course knew him better. It is unthinkable what his family must be going through right now.

One of the worst aspects of it all is that his five-month-old son, Kai, now has to face the rest of his life without his dad.

And what about Sons manager Jim Chapman? When I spoke to the boss, he manfully displayed all the dignity and decorum he does in any circumstances, but on the inside he must be shattered.

For Gordon was his player. He introduced him to senior football at Albion Rovers in 2005. He signed him for Sons and made him team captain.

And that captain led a side to a championship in what, devastatingly, was his final football match.

If one thing is fitting about this whole tragedy, it is that Gordon Lennon has died as a Sons hero and as a winner.

Andy Galloway