John Dempster (footballer)

John Dempster (born 1 April 1983) is a UEFA Pro Licence football coach and former player who manages the Coventry City under-21s and is currently interim first-team coach. Born in England, he made one appearance for the Scotland U21 national team.

John Dempster
Dempster playing for Mansfield Town in 2013
Personal information
Full name John Dempster[1]
Date of birth (1983-04-01) 1 April 1983 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Kettering, England
Position(s) Centre back[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Rushden & Diamonds 66 (4)
2006–2007 Oxford United 23 (0)
2007–2011 Kettering Town 183 (21)
2011–2012 Crawley Town 17 (2)
2011Kettering Town (loan) 3 (0)
2011–2012Mansfield Town (loan) 12 (3)
2012–2015 Mansfield Town 69 (2)
2012Tamworth (loan) 6 (1)
Total 379 (33)
International career
2004 Scotland U21 1 (0)
Managerial career
2015–2019 Mansfield Town (Academy)
2018 Mansfield Town (Caretaker)
2019 Mansfield Town
2020– Coventry City (Academy)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Rushden & Diamonds edit

Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire,[1] Dempster began his career playing in the Football League for Rushden & Diamonds.[2]

Oxford United edit

In 2006 Dempster signed for Oxford United during the January transfer window.

Kettering Town edit

From 2007 he has been playing for Kettering Town, where he captained the side to promotion to the Conference Premier, and was awarded Players' Player and Supporters' player.

Crawley Town edit

Following a string of impressive performances for Kettering Town, Dempster was signed by Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee in the 2011 transfer window, in the middle of their promotion-winning season that saw Crawley elevated to the Football League.

Mansfield Town edit

In May 2012, Dempster was released by Crawley after being deemed surplus to requirements[3] following a handful of League 2 appearances that year and a loan spell at Conference Premier club Mansfield Town. He signed for Mansfield permanently for the 2012/13 season. After an injury and a spell on loan at Tamworth, Dempster established himself as a regular in the side that went on to win the Conference Premier on the last day of the season. Dempster signed a new contract at The Stags for 2013/14, making a return to the Football League. He captained the team in the absence of Adam Murray.

International career edit

Dempster is a former Scotland under-21 international, and has also represented Scotland at under-20 level.[4][5][6] He is eligible to play for Scotland because his father is from Ayrshire.

He was also selected for Paul Fairclough's England National XI side back in 2006.

Coaching and managerial career edit

Dempster accepted the position of academy manager at Mansfield at the end of the 2014–15 season.[7] On the resignation of club manager Steve Evans in February 2018, Dempster assumed the role of caretaker manager,[8] until new manager David Flitcroft was confirmed 1 March 2018.[9]

Dempster was promoted to the position of Mansfield Town manager when Flitcroft's contract was terminated 14 May 2019.[10] He was sacked on 14 December 2019 following a poor run of form.[11]

On 7 February 2020, Dempster was appointed as Coventry City's Lead Professional Development Phase Coach, which saw him take charge of the club's under-18 team.[12]

On 2 August 2022, Dempster was appointed as Coventry City's Senior Professional Development Phase Coach, which saw him take charge of the club's under-21 team.

Managerial statistics edit

As of match played 14 December 2019[13]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Mansfield Town 14 May 2019 14 December 2019 28 7 11 10 025.0
Total 28 7 11 10 025.0

Honours edit

Rushden & Diamonds

Kettering Town

Crawley Town

Crawley Town

Mansfield Town

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "John Dempster". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. ^ "John Dempster". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Mills among Crawley casualties". Sky Sports. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  4. ^ Fisher, Stewart (1 February 2004). "Rushden gem hopes to prove worth" (reprint). Sunday Herald. FindArticles. Retrieved 6 August 2009.[permanent dead link].
  5. ^ "Scotland Under-21 Squad". Scottish Football Association. 12 February 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  6. ^ Halliday, Stephen (19 February 2004). "Bonhof rings changes, and young Scots fall apart". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Retained list confirmed". Mansfield Town. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Club Statement". Mansfield Town FC. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  9. ^ David Flitcroft Announced As New Mansfield Town Manager Archived 11 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Mansfield 103.2 FM, local commercial radio station, 1 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018
  10. ^ "Club statement". mansfieldtown.net. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. ^ "John Dempster: Mansfield Town sack manager after seven months in charge". BBC Sport. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. ^ Hornby, Mark (7 February 2020). "NEWS: John Dempster appointed Lead Professional Development Phase Coach". Coventry City. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Managers: John Dempster". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  14. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2003). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2003–2004. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 47, 328–329. ISBN 978-0-7553-1228-3.
  15. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 636, 648–649. ISBN 978-0-7553-6231-8.
  16. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 37, 160–161. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  17. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2013). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2013–2014. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 652–653. ISBN 978-0-7553-6413-8.

External links edit