Aberdeen FC were very saddened to learn of the death of former goalkeeper John Ogston.

John’s family contacted the club on Thursday.

John or ‘Tubby’ as he was affectionately known, was a hugely popular figure with the Aberdeen support during the 1960s.

Born in the Granite City, he made his first team debut against Rangers at Pittodrie on 20th December 1958 after he replaced Reggie Morrison in goal. At that time John was in good company as the Dons had U-23 international Morrison as well as Fred Martin whose career was now coming to a close at Pittodrie. John Ogston went on to establish himself as the No 1 at Pittodrie by 1960 with Chris Harker as the back up keeper. John went on to play 230 games for the Dons before Bobby Clark emerged as first choice and John Ogston joined Liverpool. Tubby had the distinction of being an ever present in the Aberdeen first team right through seasons 1962.63, 1963.64 and 1964.65, an incredible unbroken spell of 164 games in succession.

At International level John was capped for the Scotland U23s and was also named in a number of full Scotland squads.

John passed away on Wednesday evening. He was a lifelong Aberdeen supporter and still attended games at Pittodrie until very recently.

The thoughts of everyone at Aberdeen FC are with John’s family at this time.

John Kessack OGSTON | his career

By Derek Giles (Aberdeen FC Heritage Trust)

Role: G (1958-66)
6’2” 12st. 6lbs
b. Aberdeen,  15th January 1939. d. Aberdeen 16th August 2017.
   
CAREER:   
Banks O’Dee / Aberdeen 4th May 1957 / Liverpool 25th September 1965 £12,000 / Doncaster Rovers 1st August 1968 / Buckie Thistle 12th August 1971 / Huntly 6th May 1972 / Fraserburgh 26th February 1974 / Deveronvale 3rd August 1974, Cancelled – 16th September 1974

To a generation of Aberdeen supporters John Ogston will always be known as Tubby.

Despite his nickname he was a very agile goalkeeper, who though solid rather than spectacular was always in command of his area.

It was as a member of Banks o’ Dee’s 1957 Scottish Junior Cup winning eleven that he first hit the headlines. He would later recount: “It was a very big event in my career. I was one of the youngest members of the team – I was only 18 years old and had been only two seasons at Banks o’ Dee before we won the Junior Cup.”

Aberdeen moved quickly to sign him and he spent a three season apprenticeship in the second eleven. During this period he did manage a number of first team appearances as several injuries saw both first and second choice goalies, Fred Martin and Reggie Morrison unavailable.

Making his debut against Rangers in December 1958 and despite the 3-1 defeat, the local press pointed to the fact that “John Ogston, one of Aberdeen’s two debutants, emerged with a good deal of credit. It must have been a nerve-wracking experience for the youngster to be thrown in at the deep end against Rangers, but he will have benefited from the experience.”

John recalled, “I got my chance through luck. Freddie Martin and Reggie Morrison were injured and I got put in.”

He had only been at the club about a year and a half and at the time was still working as an apprentice at Granholm Mill. Fred Martin opened the 1959-60 season as first choice keeper but was injured in the first game of the season, so just as it appeared John would get his chance to establish himself National Service intervened and after only a couple of games he had to report on Thursday 20th August 1959.

Unable to get any leave during his 14 week basic training, John’s call up sparked something of goalkeeping crisis at Pittodrie, with the club having to use four different keepers to cover for his absence. During his time in the military he would alternate with Chris Harker depending on whether or not he could get leave. However, on the 12th August 1961 he lined up against Dunfermline Athletic and he would not relinquish his position between the sticks until the 28th August 1965 when Bobby Clark took over against Clyde, it was a remarkable run of 164 games.

From then on he knew his days were numbered at the club, “Managers always want to bring in their own men so it wasn’t a great shock.”

He would not have to wait long for a move from the club, in September 1965 Liverpool came North and signed him. Not yet the powerhouse of European football that they were to become, they were still a top English club under the management of Bill Shankly.

However, John was to point out, “It was a bad move for me. It was just a case of I had been at Pittodrie for eight years, a local lad. I wanted to see what the grass was like on the other side. At the time it seemed like a good move but when I went down there I knew I was going into the reserves.” Unable to shift regular keeper Tommy Lawrence, John only played one League game in the three years he was at the club, a 3-1 victory against Newcastle United on 7th April 1967.

He would later joke that there not many ‘keepers who can boast a 100 per cent record for Liverpool”

The signing of Ray Clemence and unhappy with reserve team football John took the opportunity to sign for Doncaster Rovers. Managed by Lawrie McMenemy, they won promotion to Division 3 but when McMenemy got the sack John decided it was time to come home.

John requested and was granted a free transfer. He returned to Aberdeen and got a job as a fish market porter and played in the Highland League initially signing for Buckie Thistle before seeing service with Huntly, Fraserburgh, Deveronvale and retiring at the age of 35.

He left the fish market in 1989 to take up a position as a hospital porter, firstly in Woodend Hospital and then at the ARI. On his retirement he became a fulltime bowler at Woodend in the summer and Aberdeen Indoor in the winter.

And of his nickname ‘Tubby’: “I got it as a child and it just stuck, even though I stretched as I got older, I never shook of the name. But I regard it as something of a compliment that people still remember my time as a footballer.”

John Ogston | Aberdeen FC stats
 
Debut: Aberdeen v. Rangers D1 20^th December 1958 L1-3 
 

	League		SC Cup		LG Cup		Euro		Total
	App	Gls	App	Gls	App	Gls	App	Gls	App	Gls
1958-59	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
1959-60	16	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	20	0
1960-61	26	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	31	0
1961-62	31	0	5	0	6	0	0	0	42	0
1962-63	34	0	3	0	6	0	0	0	43	0
1963-64	34	0	4	0	6	0	0	0	44	0
1964-65	34	0	2	0	6	0	0	0	42	0
1965-66	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	179	0	17	0	34	0	0	0	230	0

 
 for more information please visit the AFC Heritage Trust website | click here

Former Players Club | John Ogston

John completed the following Q&A which appeared in the matchday programme a number of years ago under the Former Players banner:

Date of Birth; 15th October 1939

Born; Aberdeen

Honours; Scottish Cup (U-12) Winner, Scottish Junior Cup Winner with Banks O’Dee, English league Division Three Winner, Represented Scotland at U-23 and League international level.
Represented British Army on several occasions during National service (1959-1961)

Team Supported as a Boy; Aberdeen

Job, trade or profession; Apprentice at Grandholm Mills before National Service

Best player/s played with at Pittodrie; Was fortunate to meet and play with some great players at Pittodrie but Archie Glen stands out from most.

Most Difficult Opponent; Joe Baker of Hibernian and England. He was a great striker and true sportsman.

Favourite Away Ground; Ibrox

Best Game played and why; England U-23 0:1 Scotland U-23 in 1961. It was the first time that Scotland had defeated England at that level. Gordon Banks and Bobby Moore played in the England side. 

Biggest Influence on Career; George Mutch who was the coach at Banks O’ Dee for many years.

Biggest Disappointment; Never winning a major honour at Pittodrie and not gaining a full cap for Scotland despite being reserve keeper on many occasions.

Superstitions; None

Rest in Peace Tubby.