{{short description|Scottish footballer (1923–1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Use British English|date=March 2018}} {{infobox football biography | image = | fullname = John Govan | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1923|1|16}} | birth_place = Larkhall, Scotland | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1999|2|17|1923|1|16}} | death_place = Leith, Scotland | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref name = "Jeffrey">{{harv|Jeffrey|2005|pp=61–62}}</ref> | position = Full back | youthyears1 = –1941 | youthclubs1 = Larkhall Thistle | years1 = 1941–1954 | clubs1 = Hibernian | caps1 = 163 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1954–1955 | clubs2 = Ayr United | caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1947–1948 | nationalteam1 = Scotland | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1948–1952 | nationalteam2 = Scottish League XI | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0 }}
'''John Govan''' (16 January 1923 – 17 February 1999) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Hibernian and Ayr United.<ref>{{harv|Smith|2013|p=107}}</ref> Govan, who was a key part of the successful post-war Hibs side, was capped six times by Scotland.<ref name = "donald"/>
Govan grew up in Larkhall, a Lanarkshire town noted for its support of Rangers.<ref name = "donald"/> He played for the local junior club Larkhall Thistle until he was signed by Hibernian in 1941.<ref name = "donald"/> This move upset the people in Larkhall, who burned his Hibs training kit.<ref name = "donald"/> Govan was a full-back, but had an attacking style that was ahead of its time.<ref name = "donald">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/jock-govan-1.303280|first=Brian|last=Donald|work=The Herald|publisher=Herald & Times Group|date=2 March 1999|access-date=5 December 2011|title=Jock Govan}}</ref>
Govan broke into the Hibs first team in 1943, eventually forming a partnership with Davie Shaw.<ref name = "donald"/> This partnership formed the basis of Hibs success after the Second World War, as they won the league championship in 1948.<ref name = "donald"/> Although Shaw was eventually replaced due to age and injury, Govan continued to enjoy success with Hibs, winning the league again in 1951 and 1952.<ref name = "donald"/> He was transferred to Ayr United in 1954, where he finished his playing career.<ref name = "donald"/>
After retiring as a football player, Govan worked as a mining engineer and played lawn bowls in Midlothian.<ref name = "donald"/> He died in Leith on 17 February 1999, at the age of 76, and was survived by his wife and two children.<ref name = "donald"/><ref>{{cite web |title=John Govan death record |url=https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results/50326798463d523a02de34 |website=Scotland's People |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jock Govan |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12339290.jock-govan/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |publisher=The Herald |date=2 March 1999}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
*{{cite book | last=Jeffrey | first=Jim | title=The Men Who Made Hibernian F.C. since 1946 | publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2005 | isbn=0-7524-3091-2}} *{{cite book | last=Smith | first=Paul |title=Scotland Who's Who | publisher=Pitch Publishing | year=2013 | isbn=9781909178847 }}
== External links == *{{NeilBrownPlayers|player3/jockgovan}} *{{SFA profile}} *[http://ihibs.co.uk/player.php?playerid=572 Jock Govan], www.ihibs.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Govan, Jock}} Category:1923 births Category:1999 deaths Category:Footballers from Larkhall Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's international footballers Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players Category:Hibernian F.C. players Category:Ayr United F.C. players Category:Larkhall Thistle F.C. players Category:Scottish Football League representative players Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen