John Docherty (29 April 1940 – 4 December 2024) was a Scottish football player and manager.

Managerial career

Having previously been manager of

Cambridge United Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...

between January 1978 and 13 December 1983 and

Brentford Brentford is a suburban town in West (London sub region), West London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It lies at the confluence of the River Brent and the River Thames, Thames, west of Charing Cross. Its economy has dive ...

, and briefly coaching at St Clement Danes School after leaving Brentford, his spell at Cambridge United saw the club in the Second Division where they managed respectable finishes, with eighth in 1979–80 being their highest. The following season saw the side as outside contenders for promotion before a late slump saw them finish 13th. He was appointed Millwall manager in May 1986 following the departure of

George Graham George Graham (born 30 November 1944) is a Scottish former football player and manager. Nicknamed "Stroller", he made 455 appearances in England's Football League as a midfielder or forward for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester Unite ...

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

. In his second season as manager, he guided them to the Second Division title and gained Millwall their first top division campaign. Docherty's team performed well in the first half of the 1988–89 season, topping the table at one point. Their form in the second half of the season faded, and their position of 10th place in the final table was their lowest standing all season, but still, this remains their highest league finishing position to date. The 1989–90 season started well for Millwall, and they again briefly topped the league in September, but won only two more league games all season and were relegated in bottom place. Just before relegation was confirmed, Docherty was dismissed in favour of

Bruce Rioch Bruce David Rioch (; born 6 September 1947) is a British football manager and former player for the Scotland national team. His last managerial post was at AaB in the Danish Superliga in 2008. As a player, he made more than 550 appearances in ...

in February 1990. Docherty's next stop was at

Bradford City Bradford City Association Football Club is an English professional football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The club competes in , the third tier of English football, and is managed by Graham Alexander. The club was founded in 1903 and ...

, in March 1990, who were relegated to the Third Division later that season. He was in charge for 20 months before being sacked on 11 November 1991, to make way for Frank Stapleton. Docherty returned to Millwall during the 1996–97 season, but by this stage they were in the new Division Two (the third flight of English football) and he failed to emulate his first spell as manager. His contract was not renewed at the end of the season and he was replaced by

Billy Bonds William Arthur Bonds (born 17 September 1946) is a former professional footballer and manager, who is most often associated with West Ham United with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager. He played 799 first-team games for West Ham in a ...

Personal life and death

In retirement, Docherty lived in

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...

. He died on 4 December 2024, at the age of 84.

Honours

Brentford *

Football League Fourth Division The Football League Fourth Division was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Following the creation of the Premier ...

third-place promotion: 1971–72 Cambridge United *

Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 Football League, 1920–21 and again from 1958–59 Football League, 1958 until 1991–92 Football League, 1992. When the FA Premier League ...

runner-up: 1977-78 Millwall *

Football League Second Division The Football League Second Division was the second level division in the English football league system between 1892 and 1992. Following the foundation of the FA Premier League, the Football League divisions were renumbered and the third tier ...

: 1987–88 Individual * Brentford Hall of Fame *

Hall of Fame

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Docherty, John 1940 births 2024 deaths Footballers from Glasgow Scottish football managers Cambridge United F.C. managers Brentford F.C. managers Millwall F.C. managers Bradford City A.F.C. managers Men's association football wingers Brentford F.C. players Sheffield United F.C. players Reading F.C. players English Football League players St Roch's F.C. players Queens Park Rangers F.C. players English Football League managers Scottish men's footballers Brentford F.C. non-playing staff Association football coaches