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 currently a 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)
2024– Coventry City (first-team coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Rushden & Diamonds

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

Oxford United

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

Kettering Town

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

On 9 August 2024, Dempster was appointed as a first-team coach at Coventry City.

Managerial statistics

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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

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Rushden & Diamonds

Kettering Town

Crawley Town

Crawley Town

Mansfield Town

References

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  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.
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