John Joseph Graham (born 16 July 1946) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager who played as a central midfielder and inside left. He is best remembered for the decade he spent in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 400 appearances. Graham was voted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in December 2013.
Playing career
Morton
Graham began his senior career in his native Scotland when he joined Scottish League First Division club Morton on 1 August 1964.[2] He scored one goal in six league appearances for the club, before departing at the end of the 1965–66 season.[3]
Dundee United
Graham moved to fellow top-flight club Dundee United for a £15,000 fee on 20 August 1966.[4][5] He failed to progress at Tannadice and made just 27 appearances over the course of three seasons, scoring 10 goals.[6] He gained further experience on loan at United Soccer Association club Dallas Tornado during the 1967 season, for whom he scored four goals in 11 appearances.[7] Graham departed Dundee United at the end of the 1968–69 season.[8]
Graham joined Fourth Division club Brentford for a £2,500 fee in July 1970,[10] having gone behind the back of the Guildford City board to sign for the club.[8] He flourished under Frank Blunstone's management and moved from inside left to central midfield.[8] He was an automatic pick in the midfield and was the team's playmaker and a regular set piece taker, scoring twice directly from corner kicks.[4] Despite contemplating returning to Guildford City during Mike Everitt's tenure as manager,[8] Graham remained with the Bees and made 409 appearances and scored 40 goals in his decade at Griffin Park.[9] He tasted promotion from the Fourth Division in the 1971–72 and 1977–78 seasons and his performances garnered him the club's Players' Player of the Year award in 1971–72 and 1976–77.[11] He was also named captain by Bill Dodgin,[8] after having turned the role down under previous manager John Docherty.[12]
Graham departed Brentford in 1980, after failing to see eye to eye with incoming manager Fred Callaghan.[8] Graham received a standing ovation at Griffin Park when he emerged from the tunnel as a player with Addlestone & Weybridge Town in November 1980,[12] prior to an FA Cup match.[9] Graham was recognised for his service to the Bees by being awarded a testimonial versus Watford in May 1982,[9] from which he earned approximately £3,500.[13] Graham was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in December 2013.[14]
Graham is a Rangers supporter and was friends with Walter Smith, a former teammate at Dundee United.[8] He worked in security for American Airlines at Heathrow Airport.[16] Apart from a period living in a Brentford-owned house in Hounslow, Graham has lived in Guildford since 1969.[8] After retiring from football, Graham initially worked as an engineer and as of 2005 was running a cleaning contractor business in the town.[8] As of September 2022, at age 76, he was still running his business.[12]
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
