John Dempster (footballer)

For the Queen of the South player, see Jocky Dempster.

John Dempster (born 1 April 1983) is a UEFA Pro Licence football coach and former player who is currently a first-team coach at Coventry City. 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)
2011	→ Kettering Town (loan)	3	(0)
2011–2012	→ Mansfield Town (loan)	12	(3)
2012–2015	Mansfield Town	69	(2)
2012	→ Tamworth (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
2020–2024	Coventry City (Academy)
2024–	Coventry City (first-team coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Rushden & Diamonds

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

Oxford United

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

Kettering Town

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rushden & Diamonds

• Football League Third Division: 2002–03^[14]

Kettering Town

• Conference North: 2007–08^{[citation needed]}

Crawley Town

• Conference Premier: 2010–11^[15]

Crawley Town

• Football League Two third-place promotion: 2011–12^[16]

Mansfield Town

• Conference Premier: 2012–13^[17]

References

1. "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.

External links

• John Dempster at Soccerbase