VectisSaint Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 Sad to hear today that John Mortimore has passed. Former President of the Club, and a long relationship from when he was coaching back in the Lawrie Mac days. Good man, will forgive his links with the Skates. Playing career was with Chelsea as a Centre Half. Managed in Spain and Portugal as well as that lot down the M27. RIP John. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Bates Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 😪 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 That is sad news. Most with recall back to the Lawrie Mac days will know him as assistant manager. Hampshire chap too. Always seemed a quiet man, was well respected by his peers in the game. Think the last time I saw him was walking into St Marys alongside Bobby Charlton their chat seemed to be a full catch up carrying on from where they had arrived in the same car. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alehouseboys Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 Yep, more sad news - when did we all get so old? RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 Very sad news to read this. John Mortimore was a great servant to Saints who I think was assistant to Ted Bates late 60s/early 70s from recollection before going abroad at a time very few British players did never mind managers or coaches. I think he was the manager of Portsmouth who signed Ron Davies for them. Someone said to me by at one stage in the early-mid 1980’s that he was the ‘brains’ behind part of Lawrie’s success after the name players (Ball, Keegan & Channon) had left, and that the sweeper system with Agboola was largely his inspiration. It was a shame in 1985 when Lawrie left for Sunderland that Mortimore wasn’t an option. Think he said in an interview that he’d have been interested but had already accepted the post at Benfica. Another sad loss of someone who contributed a great deal to Saints, RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Saint Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 (edited) Turned me down in 1989 when I had trials for Saints. OK, I let one in through my legs in a trial game but ..... RIP well thought of in the game, thats for sure. Edited 27 January, 2021 by Nick75Sfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallyboy Posted 27 January, 2021 Share Posted 27 January, 2021 Our paths crossed back in the day and he was a nice guy, a gentleman and a great servant to Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted 28 January, 2021 Share Posted 28 January, 2021 People on here are very respectful in remembering past members and fans of the club who have passed away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 28 January, 2021 Share Posted 28 January, 2021 Sad news, fond memories, a very distinguished fellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 28 January, 2021 Share Posted 28 January, 2021 We all have to die in the end and John has had a good innings. One of a large group of friends in the Itchen he will be sadly missed by us on match days When dismissed by Cortese he just came down from the directors box a few rows behind us and sat with us. No bitterness that one could tell. End of an era one could say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 28 January, 2021 Share Posted 28 January, 2021 10 hours ago, Jeremy said: People on here are very respectful in remembering past members and fans of the club who have passed away. Indeed, anybody who has followed Saints though thick and thin for 40 or 50 years deserves the utmost respect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 28 January, 2021 Author Share Posted 28 January, 2021 I must admit I didn't realise that John joined to help Ted, I had always thought he started with Lawrie Mac. Nice piece by David Bull on the OS that relates his early days. https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-01-28/an-appreciation-john-mortimore-southampton-football-club-28-january-2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 28 January, 2021 Share Posted 28 January, 2021 23 hours ago, Nick75Sfc said: Turned me down in 1989 when I had trials for Saints. OK, I let one in through my legs in a trial game but ..... RIP well thought of in the game, thats for sure. I thought as a coach, he was on a different level to anyone else I have ever come across before. Certainly made the likes of Lew Chatterly look pretty amateurish. I guess you don't manage Benfica twice unless you know your stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
positivepete Posted 30 January, 2021 Share Posted 30 January, 2021 On 28/01/2021 at 20:49, Chez said: I thought as a coach, he was on a different level to anyone else I have ever come across before. Certainly made the likes of Lew Chatterly look pretty amateurish. I guess you don't manage Benfica twice unless you know your stuff. It was an oddity that with his record of coaching successfully in Europe he wasn’t appointed to more prestigious jobs in England when he returned. Managing Benfica is no simple task. He was certainly an important figure in our history. Thanks John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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