Roddy Georgeson

Roderick Bruce Georgeson (born 31 July 1948) is an Egyptian former footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as "flamboyant". He scored 107 goals in 429 league games in a 17-year career in the Football League and Scottish Football League. He played for Bo'ness United, Port Vale, Dundee, Raith Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Dunfermline Athletic, Montrose, Meadowbank Thistle, Arniston Rangers (as player-manager), and Penicuik Athletic. He was promoted out of the Second Division with Meadowbank Thistle in 1982–83.

Career

Georgeson had a trial with Port Vale in October 1965, and after a spell with Bo'ness United, he returned to Vale permanently in January 1966. He was a part of Jackie Mudie and Stanley Matthews' Scottish experiment for the Stoke-on-Trent club. United reported Vale to the Scottish Junior Football Association over the transfer. In the match against Bradford City at Valley Parade on 12 January 17-year-old Georgeson was a part of the youngest ever Football League forward line, along with teenage teammates Alex Donald (17), Mick Cullerton (17), Paul Bannister (18), and Paul Ogden (19). He claimed his first league goal three days later, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale at Vale Park. He played five Fourth Division games and one FA Cup game in the 1965–66 season. He scored five goals in 22 appearances in the 1966–67 campaign but was released at his request in July 1967 after failing to agree with terms with the club.

He moved on to Bobby Ancell's Dundee, who finished ninth in the Scottish First Division in 1967–68 and 1968–69, and then sixth in 1969–70 under John Prentice's stewardship. He scored three goals in only 13 league matches in his three seasons at Dens Park. He had a trial with Hibernian, and then dropped into the Scottish Second Division to join Raith Rovers. "Hibs" finished eighth in 1970–71, before George Farm led them to 11th in 1971–72 and fourth in 1972–73. He scored 25 goals in 92 league games at Stark's Park. Georgeson then switched to league rivals Berwick Rangers. Harry Melrose's Rovers finished fifth in 1973–74, ninth in 1974–75, and 11th in 1975–76. Georgeson claimed 37 goals in 90 league appearances at Shielfield Park.

Georgeson signed with Harry Melrose's Dunfermline Athletic, who finished third in 1976–77 and 1977–78. He scored 19 goals in 72 league games at East End Park. He switched to Montrose, who were relegated out of the First Division at the end of the 1978–79 season under the stewardship of Kenny Cameron despite Georgeson scoring five goals in 18 league games at Links Park. He returned to Berwick Rangers, scoring four goals in 30 first Division games in 1979–80. He moved on to Meadowbank Thistle, who finished 13th in the Second Division in 1980–81 and 12th in 1981–82, before winning promotion in second place in 1982–83. Georgeson scored eight goals in 87 league games at Meadowbank Stadium. He later served Arniston Rangers as player-manager and played for Penicuik Athletic and Haddington.

Career statistics

Source:

Honours

Meadowbank Thistle
*Scottish Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1982–83

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Georgeson, Roddy
1948 births
Living people
Footballers from Cairo
Egyptian men's footballers
Men's association football forwards
Bo'ness United F.C. players
Port Vale F.C. players
Dundee F.C. players
Raith Rovers F.C. players
Berwick Rangers F.C. players
Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players
Montrose F.C. players
Arniston Rangers F.C. players
Penicuik Athletic F.C. players
English Football League players
Scottish Football League players
Men's association football player-managers
Egyptian football managers
20th-century Egyptian sportsmen