LIFE OF GOVAN-BORN PRIEST TO BECOME A MOVIE

When young Martin Gordon played in the streets and parks of Govan as a boy, never once did he dream that one day he would be playing football in London with Billy Wright, Trevor Ford, Jimmy Logie, Henry Cooper, Brian Blessed and Norman Rossington. This is only a small part of Father Martin Gordon’s remarkable story which is planned to adapt for the movies.

Born at 5 Harmony Row, Govan, on the 15th of April, 1931 in a single tenement standing opposite St.Anthony primary school and St.Anthony’s chapel, both of which Martin was to attend. His home was on the second floor of the tenement, above a pawnbroker, who the young boy noticed, was very busy on Monday and Saturday mornings, when crowds of women climbed the stairs to the premises. His own mother was also a visitor.

Martin lived through the war, attending St. Anthony’s for his primary education, and spending two years at St. Gerards secondary school. However, his life was to change dramatically in 1945 when he went to live with his father’s sister Sarah Ellen, also known as Nelly, and her husband John McGowan, who had a farm in the lovely seaside village of Enniscrone, County Sligo.

Always a devout boy, he immersed himself in the many missionary magazines his aunt subscribed to. Before long Martin began seeing himself as one of the priests he was reading about. It was no surprise then that in September 1950, Martin left the farm to begin the long road to the priesthood – despite John McGowan begging him to stay – as dressed in clerical black, Martin was about to walk out the door, where his aunt stood with a holy water bottle in her hand.

In 1954, while a clerical student, Martin was instrumental in founding Enniscrone Utd. And in 1958, following the Munich disaster which killed eight of the ‘Busby Babes’, he organised the Manchester United Memorial Cup tournament that summer and refereed the Final.

Ten years later, Martin was ordained a Pallottine Father and appointed to the parish of SS Peter and Paul, Amwell Street, London EC1, where he was to remain for five years. During that time, he founded a parish football team, Marian Roves, and kitted out in the colours of Brazil. In its first season, it reached the semi-final of the cup and were runners-up in the league. Fr. Gordon played in a number of games and is the proud possessor today of a runners-up medal.

Through his friend Pat Sherlock at Mills Music, he became honorary chaplain at Chelsea Football Club, enjoying refreshment with the players after games at The Bridge. Terry Venables invited him to his wedding and George Graham remains a friend to this day.

Celtic has always been his team. And enjoys watching their games on TV at his home in Cork. Prior to Covid, he had become a guest at the Friars Walk Tavern, Cork’s shrine to Celtic, after organising a Tribute mass for Billy McNeil attended by Bobby Lennox and John Clark.