Archie Gemmill

Authentic Signed Archie Gemmill Photos, Frames, Mounts and Displays

Archie Gemmill is a Scottish former footballer, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. The goal is so famous that it sometimes overshadows a successful career in which he won three English league titles and captained his national side. Brian Clough saw him as a player who could pass well and had the type of energy that would drive an attack forward. Clough drove to Gemmill's house and when the player refused to sign for Derby, who had never won the league title, Clough told him that he was going to sleep outside in the car. "But," says Gemmill, "my wife invited him in and he stayed the night”. Clough, eventually, got his man for £60,000 over fried eggs the following morning. Gemmill scored only three goals for the Rams that season, but they became Football League champions the following year. He was suspended for the controversial 1973 European Cup semi-final, but he became club captain in place of the injured Roy McFarland when the Rams won their second title in 1975. He made 324 appearances in total for the club and scored 25 goals. After moving on to Nottingham Forest, Clough sought to take the nucleus of Derby's championship-winning side with him. Along with John O'Hare and John McGovern, Gemmill was part of a midfield unit that was to achieve great success in England and Europe. He signed for Nottingham Forest in September 1977 for £25,000. Gemmill was used by Forest as a passer of the ball, helping to put into place a dangerous counter-attacking plan. He played 58 times for Forest in the league, scoring three goals. He was integral to the success of the club in the late 1970s, but was surprisingly dropped for the 1979 European Cup Final. This caused a spilt between Gemmill and Clough and Gemmill signed for Birmingham City. Gemmill played 43 times and scored 8 goals for Scotland. He captained the national side on 22 occasions.