Nice one son, but Oliver Gill has tough job trying to make a name for himself at Man U

Published on Tuesday 8 December 2009 22:37

MANCHESTER United player whose dad is chief executive could find his famous father a hindrance, writes Alan Pattullo

OLIVER Gill is not the first footballer to yearn for some space in which to operate. He has just broken into the Manchester United first-team squad, but already his surname defines him.

It can be a hindrance more than a help to be blessed with the skills to be a professional footballer but associated with a famous father. Gill is a unique case in that daddy happens to be David, the Old Trafford club's not-always popular chief executive.

Many in the past have been condemned by a name, even if the original association has helped open some initial doors. Tom Jordan, the son of Joe, once observed that footballers eventually end up at the standard they deserve to be at, whether or not they were helped up the ladder in the beginning. Tom is presently at Eastleigh, and the PE instructor enjoyed his own day in the sun two seasons ago. When with Havant and Waterlooville, his team briefly led against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup. He is philosophical about the extra pressure which came as an inevitable result of his surname. "After a few years I think you end up at the level where you're supposed to be at," he said last year. "When I look back, there were better players around me. Simple as that."

Andrew, his brother, found it equally difficult to even start following in the footsteps of their father. Unlike Tom, he was signed by Jordan during his time as manager of Bristol City, but played only a handful of games before moving on to Cardiff City. Injury cut short a career that had been destined to be played out in the shadow of Joe.

It is a familiar tale, one which unfairly suggests apparent failure. Most budding footballers would have been happy to have been handed the career of Paul Dalglish. But when set next to that of his father, the winner of a mere three European Cups and 102 Scotland caps, it can only lose its lustre. Dalglish junior might agree that he was fast-tracked into the first teams of clubs that would otherwise have ignored his claims for a jersey. Wherever Kenny had been, so went Paul – and that inevitably meant some major gigs for a footballer who, his later performances – and postings – suggested, had been promoted above his station. Celtic, Liverpool and then Newcastle United are the first three clubs which feature on his CV, while he also signed schoolboy forms with Blackburn Rovers – while his father was in charge, of course.

Perhaps tellingly, his later career plotted a less-glamorous path, via the likes of Blackpool, Linfield and Livingston. Now installed as head coach at Tampa Bay Rowdies, and married to a Texan wife, Dalglish junior might one day open the door to his own son, in circumstances that he will be relieved to note are not as intense as his own experiences. While some resented his early fortune, he was also the victim of some unfair decision-making. Paul was not even given a chance to impress when Ruud Gullit succeeded his father as manager at St James' Park. He was again defined by his father, but this time the connection counted against him. "Gullit told me he was never going to play me again because he didn't like my dad", said Paul. He never did feature for Newcastle under the Dutchman, and moved, instead, to Norwich City.

Blair Sturrock is another who had little hope of improving on the success of his father, Paul. Sturrock senior played in a World Cup, and also a Uefa Cup final. Sturrock junior, despite benefiting from his father's ties with Dundee United and Plymouth, is now with Mansfield in the Conference league.

Gavin Strachan, too, has enjoyed a reasonable career, but despite early promise – he won eight under-21 caps for Scotland – is now with Corby. He might, though, be able to provide a telling insight at what it is like to walk in the footsteps of a famous father, having begun a masters degree in journalism.

Alex Miller went one better than Kenny Dalglish when he was in charge at Hibernian, and employed both his sons. Neither lived up to their early promise. Graeme was given a free transfer – by his dad – in 1996 and Greg left Easter Road soon after.

Of those who have benefited from family loyalty, perhaps only Nigel Clough managed to repay his father's faith to any great degree. During nine years with Nottingham Forest, he scored over 100 goals in 300 league appearances, won 14 England caps and produced a 2.3million transfer fee when he was sold to Liverpool after Brian retired.

But Oliver Gill has, according to insiders at Manchester United, been quietly making a name for himself at United. At a club swimming in young, precocious talents, he would have to be a little bit special – and thick-skinned. Not only is he the son of the boss, he is also called Oliver. And he went to public school.

Manchester United, perhaps surprisingly for a club which can have the pick of the crop, have quite a history of employing the sons of those already on the staff. Sir Alex Ferguson, of course, did it with his own son, Darren. Surprisingly – or perhaps not, given who was selecting the team – he started the opening 15 games of the 1992/93, and earned a Premier League title medal. Brian McClair's son Liam, has also played for the Old Trafford youth side.

It isn't unusual for fathers to have their sons follow them into the trade, although Gill's case does buck the trend slightly. Although his father is in football, he never played the game at a decent level. Gill junior has shown commendable determination to reach the point where he is, while still a teenager, considered good enough for Champions League duty. The genes he inherited did not necessarily ease his passage into professional footballer, and neither, perhaps, did his background.

"My dad's the chief exec" is a claim likely to open more than few doors elsewhere in business, but not necessarily on the football field. "My dad's the manager" is a rather more eye-catching claim, though plenty have suffered in their attempts to prove that they are good enough to stand on their own two feet.