Rest In Peace – Bohemian FC shares condolences after sad passing of former player and manager John Doran

FORMER BOHEMIANS player and general manager John Doran sadly passed away this week.

Doran played for Bohs for ten seasons and even lined out in defence against football legend Pele during his trip to Dalymount Park.

@bfcdublin

@bfcdublin

Bohemians issued a statement sharing their condolences and sympathies to Doran’s family at this sad time.

Stephen Burke wrote a touching tribute to Doran which Bohemians have shared on their website.

Burke wrote: “Though football was a huge part of his life, John Doran was much more than a footballer, and it is an impossible task to adequately do justice to this entirely remarkable human being.

“I first met him in and around 1967, went to see him play at Dalymount Park courtesy of the odd guest pass, and so I began to support Bohemians, as did my whole family.

“I should mention that he was ‘John’ to us, but ‘Seán’ to his nearest and dearest. He was so good humoured he never seemed to mind which name you used.

“He played for Bohs for ten seasons, the first three as an amateur, and then as a professional.”

Burke shared that Doran was on the first Bohs team to feature professionals and signed on himself the following year.

Doran was a big part of the side that won the Dublin side their first FAI Cup since 1935.

Burke continued: “He was also on the first Bohemian team to play in European competition, in the Cup-Winners’ Cup games against Gottwaldov of what was then Czechoslovakia. He brought back a beautiful glass vase John as a present for my mother.

“In 1971 John and his sisters Carol and Dolores had formed a women’s team in Finglas, the Suffragettes, and for almost three years I was secretary and assistant manager.

“With John as manager, the team was set up on near-professional lines as he applied everything he’d learnt about the game to help the girls progress rapidly.

“He was making his way as a computer engineer at the time, playing semi-professionally for Bohs, and breaking ground in women’s football with the Suffragettes. Typical John. He was non-stop.

“Naturally the Suffragettes were a great success, winning the very first Women’s FAI Cup in 1971 (the final actually being played in January 1972).

“They reached the 1972 WFAI Cup final too, but this time were runners-up to All Stars of Ballyfermot in the decider at Richmond Park.”

Burke explained how Doran’s excellent defending helped Bohs win their first league title since 1936.

Doran was an ever-present in that side finished his Bohs career in the 1975/76 season.

Burke added: “In all he 322 appearances for Bohs, scoring 19 goals in his ten seasons (1966/67 to 1975/76).

“One quirky matter not included in his goal stats is the rare, possibly unique feat of scoring a hat-trick in a penalty shoot-out, one that decided the Pioneer Cup game away to Cliftonville in May 1968.

“John continued his League of Ireland career with Shamrock Rovers and then Thurles Town. At Thurles he was a player for a year, and then player-manager for the next four.

“It almost goes without saying that Thurles could often be difficult opponents with John at the helm, and they took vital points off Bohs more than once!”

Doran went to play in Uruguay and returned to Bohs in 2010 for a short stint as General Manager.

It was tough but Burke said it was ‘just like John to take on a near-impossible task’.

He also revealed that Doran’s sons became good tennis players which wasn’t surprising due to their dad’s interest in the sport.

GREAT MAN

Burke continued: “John was a great talker and joker, his chirpy manner ever-present in everything he did, quite often squeezing in a bit of Gaeilge along the way.

“He brought you along with him, coached you, boosted you. He made me a better person, and I know he did the same for many others.

“If there was a problem it was always a case of, “give me the details” and, soon enough, “I see, ok, here’s what we do”. The positivity just flowed out of him.

“There weren’t really problems but opportunities to do something better.

“He could and would argue with you over something or other, but you’d never fall out, there’d be that twinkle in his eye as he picked just the right remark and moment to leave you laughing….

“I don’t know when or where to start or stop when it comes to John, and I never will, I owe him so much.

“A role model, a mentor, an inspiration, but more importantly the warmest, truest friend you could wish for.

“John Doran: there really are no words.”