{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Gordon Coleman | image = | fullname = Gordon Michael Coleman<ref>{{Hugman|3783|accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|02|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Nottingham, England | height = | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 1970–1973 | youthclubs1 = Padstow Youth Club | years1 = 1973–1983 | clubs1 = Preston North End | caps1 = 269 | goals1 = 25 | years2 = 1983–1984 | clubs2 = Bury | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 5 | years3 = 1984 | clubs3 = Morecambe | caps3 = | goals3 = }} '''Gordon Michael Coleman''' (born 11 February 1954) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He began his career with Preston North End, remaining with the club for ten years and making over 300 appearances in all competitions before joining Bury in 1983. He spent one season with Bury and briefly played for Morecambe before retiring from football.
==Career== Born in Nottingham,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/gordon-coleman-34369/ |title=Gordon Coleman |work=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref> Coleman was keen on several sports as a child. He represented the county of Nottingham at cricket and played youth football until the age of 11, when he moved to a local grammar school where they only played rugby. He eventually returned to playing football at the age of 16, joining local team Padstow Youth Club. Having achieved 7 O levels and 2 A levels at school, Coleman was set to attend a teacher training college but was recommended to Peter Robinson, the chief scout at Preston North End, by Tommy Capel.<ref name="FPA">{{cite web |url=http://www.pneformerplayers.co.uk/formerplayers/former_players_feature.html |title=Gordon Coleman |publisher=Preston North End Former Players' Association |first=Ian |last=Rigby |accessdate=16 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103100416/http://www.pneformerplayers.co.uk/formerplayers/former_players_feature.html |archive-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He attended a week-long training camp at the club, living in a local hostel during his stay, and impressed enough to remain with the club for six weeks before being offered a one-year contract by manager Bobby Charlton.<ref name="Pain">{{cite news |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/gord-was-a-pain-in-backside-for-pool-1-5961263 |title=Gord was a pain in backside for 'Pool |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post |date=17 August 2013 |accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref> He moved to Preston, sharing a house with teammate Eric Snookes, playing in two reserve team matches before being handed his professional debut during a 2–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 1 October 1973.<ref name="Pain"/><ref name="FPA"/>
Coleman eventually established himself in the first team, helping the club win promotion from Division Three during the 1977–78 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/tee-time-for-ex-pne-stars-1-7371883 |title=Tee time for ex-PNE stars |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref> and played in every outfield position for the club during his time at Deepdale.<ref name="FPA"/> In 1982, he scored the winning goal during a 2–1 victory over Preston's West Lancashire rivals Blackpool in the second round of the FA Cup while sitting down in the opposition penalty area. Having fallen to the ground during an attack, Coleman headed the ball while sitting down, sending the ball over the head of defender Terry Pashley to win the match.<ref name="Pain"/> In August 1983, Coleman left Preston after making over 300 appearances for the club in all competitions, having lost his place in the first-team due to injury. He instead joined Bury where he spent one season before joining Morecambe.<ref name=ATZ>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/gordoncoleman.html |title=Gordon Coleman |website=Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database |first=Neil |last=Brown |accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref>
==After football==
During the final years of his playing career, Coleman completed a degree in Social Psychology, and was employed by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council following his retirement from playing. He returned to Nottingham 18 months later to become the manager of a local leisure centre, working towards a master's degree in business from Nottingham Trent University in his spare time. He later returned to football, spending five years working for the Professional Footballers' Association before working for Nottingham Forest.<ref name="FPA"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Gordon}} Category:English men's footballers Category:Preston North End F.C. players Category:Bury F.C. players Category:Morecambe F.C. players Category:Living people Category:1954 births Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:English Football League players Category:Footballers from Nottingham Category:Alumni of Nottingham Trent University Category:20th-century English sportsmen