Peter Gavigan

Peter was born in the Gorbals, Glasgow in 1897. At 5 ft 6”, he wasn’t particularly tall, but was considered “fleet of foot”.

He started his career with junior club Vale of Clyde, before heading south to England. Joining Fulham F.C.in 1920, he was a regular in the team, until a serious injury in January 1922, when he split his kneecap in a cup-tie against Plymouth, which kept side-lined him for eleven months.

In 1925 Fulham put him on the transfer list for £500, but the League committee granted him a “free transfer”. Gavigan moved to Clapton Orient, where he became club captain.

A move back to Scotland took place in 1927, when Peter signed for St Johnstone. He had two successful seasons, before being given a “free transfer”.

Dundee F.C. were keen to take him to Dens Park, negotiations took place over a few days, and he became a Dundee player on 11^th July 1930. He would be vying for the outside right position with fellow team mate Harry Ritchie.

Gavigan’s skill and experience shone through, and he quickly became an ever present in the team.

When Dundee beat Fraserborough 10-1, in the 1^st round of the Scottish Cup, on 17th January 1931, Peter’s name was on the score sheet. But according to the newspaper report he “could have scored a dozen himself!”

“Peter blossomed forth as a football comedian. He walked, literally walked, through the defence right up to the goalkeeper and then either passed the ball back, or lifted it into the keeper’s hands.”

He followed that up in the next round of the cup when Dundee beat Glasgow Rangers, at Dens Park, winning 2-1. The paper reported it as “Gavigan’s Day”.

“It was to Peter more than to any other man that Dundee owed their victory, simply because he undermined the left flank of the Rangers defence…. He fairly waltzed around the big left back, enticing him into pools and leaving him floundering, a picture of misery.”

After the highs of January and February, he came down with a bump in March, tearing ligaments in his ankle. Initially it was feared that it might have been broken. However, he recovered quickly, and was back playing in April.

The start of season 1931-32 saw Peter playing in the “A” team, before returning to the first team ranks. The ligament injury he sustained the previous season, kept causing him problems, and he had a lengthy lay off in January.

He was released by Dundee at the end of the season.

Whilst deciding what the future held, he got involved with the Dunning Highland Games running the five-a-side competition.

Deciding he wasn’t ready to hang up his boots, he signed for Montrose in October 1932. The deal he brokered was that he would only play four matches for the club. So in November he left the “Gable Enders”, although they were keen to extend the contract.

After becoming a free agent again, Dundee United were keen to sign him. He joined them in December, and left on a “free transfer” at the end of the season.

Retiring from football Peter and his wife ran the Exchange Bar, on George Street, Perth. A keen golfer he had more time to play in competitions. He continued to be involved in football, refereeing schoolboy matches, and continuing to run the Dunning Highland Games five-a-side competition.

During WW2 Peter joined the army, helping injured soldiers and airmen with their recovery at a Perthshire military hospital, rising to the rank of Sergeant-Major.

At the end of the war, in 1945, he was a member of the coaching staff to the Scottish Command Select football team that toured Norway. Continuing in the role of army team trainer, he returned to Dens Park for a match against Dundee. During this period he was also in charge of the Scottish Services Select team and the Services International Select teams .Later, after leaving the military service, he was also asked to take charge of the Scottish army in a match at White Hart Lane versus the English army.

In 1947, he applied for the manager’s job at Galatasaray, after seeing an article in  the “Jack Harkness Here” column in the Sunday Post. From 106 applicants he was offered the job, but declined the offer in the end.

It seems that football was very much in Peter’s blood, during the 1950’s he became a scout for Manchester City, and also the managed, Perthshire junior clubs, Stanley and Luncarty. He also found time to play in a “Professions v Professionals” charity football match at Dens Park in 1953, where he lined up with some former teammates, and scored a penalty. The match ended 3-3.

Peter died on 2nd March 1977.