The second of Brian McClelland's compelling series of articles on significant figures from Glentoran's history. Many thanks to the Glentoran Supporters Committee (1923) for use of this material.
"Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner"
...that I love London so. Like Bud Flanagan, who sang the famous, morale boosting, wartime song, don’t you just love London town – the sights, the sounds, the night life, not to mention the birth place of Ian and Glen. But who are Ian and Glen, I hear you ask?
Well, they are two London-born footballers who each scored the winning goal (indeed the only goal of each game) for the Glens in two Irish Cup finals just four years apart.
Now, let’s meet our two Londoners; Ian, born in Enfield, London, on 10 December, 1969, and Glen born in Wimbledon, London, on 15 October, 1975. While not quite born within the sound of Bow Bells, both our likely lads speak with something approaching Cockney accents, though the former’s ambition was to play for Scotland and the latter for England.
Enough of the teasing! As you may well have guessed, our two stars are Ian Gilzean, scorer of the winning goal against Portadown in 2000, and Glen Little, match winner against Glenavon in 1996.
Let’s have a wee look at Ian Gilzean in the first instance. Son of Alan Gilzean of Dundee, Spurs and Scotland fame, Ian was born in Enfield when dad Alan was in his pomp with Spurs. Determined to make his own way in the world of football, Alan managed to shake off the invisible shackles of having a famous father to be snapped up by Spurs as a youngster.
I contact Ian by phone at his Carnoustie home, near the famous golf club, and tell him I’m writing a story for the Gazette about his winning goal for Glentoran in the 2000 Irish Cup final, and also Glen Little’s in 1996. He is a friendly, engaging guy, and I enjoy our wide ranging conversation. I suggest he must be out on the golf links every weekend. “The championship course is a real monster,” he tells me, “so I play one of the smaller courses nearby.”
Ian Gilzean and Tim McCann celebrate the Irish Cup Final win over Portadown in 2000
I ask him whether being the son of Alan Gilzean was a help or hindrance to his career. “It did not matter either way,” Ian tells me frankly. “There is no sentiment in football. If you can’t play, you’re not going to make it. I signed a two year professional deal with Spurs, playing for the Youth team then the Reserves. I was scoring regularly and we won the Football Combination league for reserve sides.
Ian was on the fringes of first team football as indicated in an article in Spurs programme for their European Cup Winners’ tie against Porto on 23 October, 1991. “During my time at Spurs I suffered serious knee injuries, unfortunately, which involved numerous operations. Chris Houghton, who was with Spurs at the time, advised me to see a particular specialist. I had the anterior cruciate ligaments on both knees rebuilt. It was the only answer to my problems. Given these issues Spurs released me, so I moved on to Dundee. My father had done it the other way round, leaving Dundee to play for Spurs.”
At the risk of provoking Ian, I suggest that, given all his wanderings in England, Scotland and Ireland, both north and south, he might be considered something of a journeyman footballer, with a “have boots will travel” attitude. He laughs and explains, “Maybe, but you know, I just wanted to play football. Whether it was with Northampton Town, Doncaster Rovers, Ayr Utd or Sligo Rovers, I just loved the game, loved to play.”
Ian, then domiciled in Dublin, travelled north to Belfast to fulfil his Glentoran destiny. I enquire as to how the move to the Oval came about: “I had spent four years in the League of Ireland with Sligo, Drogheda and St Pats. I was out of favour with St Pats when the Glens approached me through manager Roy Coyle. I think it was Alan Gough, the Glens goalie from Dublin who recommended me. Again, I just wanted to be involved, to play football and was happy to sign. The fee I believe was around ten grand.”
“I absolutely loved playing for the Glens. There was more football played in the north, whereas the south was very physical. It was a joy to play up front with two speedy and clever wingers like Tim McCann and Stuart Elliot firing over pin point crosses.”
I bring our conversation round to the 2000 Cup final when Ian came on as substitute in the 52nd minute. I ask him if he had been unhappy at not being in the starting eleven. “Look, I’ve been a manager myself so I know there are difficult decisions to be made. Sure I was disappointed at not starting, but the goal was a big bonus. Rory Hamill did some good work in midfield putting Tim McCann away on the right. Tim sent over a great cross which swung away from the keeper. I had anticipated correctly where the ball would be, threw myself at it, and was relieved to see it end up in the net. For a big lad like me to make the connection was brilliant!”
The Cup final was Ian’s last hurrah for the Glens. He had scored 11 goals in 24 appearances – not a bad return! Departing the Oval after the final, Ian signed for Shelbourne, only to return with Shels a few months later in Justin McBride’s benefit game. As chance would have it he scored in a 3-3 draw!
Ian's famous cup final winner
Footnote
I would like to thank James Morgan, brother of Chris, for his assistance in contacting Ian Gilzean. James, a sports journalist in Scotland, has written an excellent book about Ian’s famous father, called “In Search of Alan Gilzean”. It is a superb read and well worth having in your football library at home. As a matter of interest, the father of the Morgan boys designed and printed the Gazette in the 80s
