‘A goalscorer and a gentleman’ - tributes to John Duncan

John Duncan’s team-mates have paid tribute after our former striker sadly passed away on Saturday.

Signed from Dundee in 1974, John’s record shows a goal every two games in our colours - 62 goals in 120 appearances - between 1974-1978. He was our top scorer in 1974/75, 1975/76, where he scored 25 goals in 46 appearances, and 1977/78, when he fired us back into the First Division after relegation in 1976/77. He also played for Dundee in Scotland, Derby and Scunthorpe, with whom he began a 30-year career in management in 1981.

John would also manage Hartlepool, Chesterfield twice and Ipswich Town, famously taking Chesterfield to the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1997, where they lost out after a replay against Middlesbrough.

Gerry Armstrong

Team-mate, 1976-1978

“He scored a goal every two games, always scored goals. One of the games that always stands out to me is not long after Ossie and Ricky arrived in 1978, we drew 2-2 against Chelsea at home, we played up front together, John scored the first goal, I scored the second, Ossie and Ricky were brilliant, creating chances left, right and centre. He was a really good finisher, a bit of a poacher, great record, always scored goals, always in the right place at the right time. His statistics might have been even better, but I remember he had a bad back (in 1976/77, restricting him to 10 appearances) in the season we were relegated. He was a gentleman. I played for him when he was manager of Chesterfield in 1985. He was brilliant as a manager, and heavily involved in the LMA (League Managers Association) as well. He was a fantastic guy, a lot of fun, and I have lots of happy memories of times with him.”

Steve Perryman

Team-mate, captain - 1974-78

"John was an incredibly nice fella, very humble, very sensible. He was considered and thoughtful. He was our PFA representative. A good player, his stats were very good. He took the game extremely seriously and his goals speak for themselves. He managed to smell the position. He scored different types of goals and he could create as well. Overall, a very decent buy from Terry Neill and, arguably, his goals kept us up that first season, and then improve the next season. The overriding factor was his personality, so genuine."

John Pratt

Team-mate, 1974-1978

“John was a very intelligent man, a schoolteacher, then football, and the LMA. For being so bright, he used to turn his car off at the lights to save petrol! I learnt an important thing from John. I asked how he made space for himself in the box. He said, ‘I stand still!’ How good is that? He will be missed.”

Pat Jennings

Team-mate, 1974-1977

“He was a fantastic goalscorer, which was important for us because the team was struggling at the time. A great striker of the ball, who scored his fair share of goals. He was injured in the season we were relegated, so was I. He was a lovely lad. He lived our way, and I used to drive to matchdays with him. I can confirm John Pratt’s story about turning his car off at the lights. John was ahead of his time! We used to think it probably took the same amount of petrol to start the engine again!”