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Sheffield United promotion-winner hailed by former clubs after passing away aged 84
Bradford City and Millwall are amongst the clubs to have paid tribute to Sheffield United promotion-winner John Docherty, whose death was announced this week at the age of 84. The former winger played 47 times in all for the Blades and later went on to manage City and the Lions, as well as Cambridge United and another of his former clubs in Brentford.
Born in Scotland, 5ft 5in Docherty was signed by John Harris from Brentford in 1961, months before United won promotion back to the first division, but Docherty struggled to retain his place after the arrival of Len Allchurch and, later, the emergence of a young Alan Woodward. He scored a respectable nine goals in 41 league games for the Blades before returning to Brentford in 1966, for the first of three spells as a player at Griffin Park.
He later returned as a coach and manager, with only 10 men playing more than his 252 games during their time in the Football League. He was only inducted to the Bees’ hall of fame last month and a Brentford statement read: “John's life and legacy will be honoured before Saturday's game against Newcastle United. Rest in peace, Doc.”
A statement from Bradford described the club as “devastated” to learn of Docherty’s passing, adding: “The thoughts of everyone associated with the club are with John’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.” Millwall paid tribute to the most successful manager in their history, and the only boss to guide the club to the top flight of English football, with a minute’s applause and black-armband tribute planned for their game against Coventry City this weekend.
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