Luton Town Legends Series: Spotlight on Gordon Riddick

For the latest in our series covering those who have achieved legendary status among the support, we feature another former Luton figure who became a fans favourite.

Continuing from the previously highlighted names—John Moore, David Preece, Mal Donaghy, Brian Lewis, Bruce Rioch, Fred Jardine, Brian Horton, Kevin Nicholls, Tony Read, Steve Foster, Mike Keen, Ian Buxton, Lars Elstrup, Peter Anderson, Graham French, Alan West, David Moss, Terry Branston, John Aston, Paul Futcher, John Ryan, Syd Owen, Marvin Johnson, Malcolm MacDonald, Bob Hatton, Steve Buckley, Chris Coyne, Ron Baynham, John Still, Jack Bannister, Ricky Hill, Chris Nicholl, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Don Givens, Gordon Turner, Brian Stein, Jesse Pye, Raddy Antic, Joe Payne, Max Dougan, Alan Slough, Ray Whittaker, Dave Pacey, Milija Aleksic, Ron Davies, Sandy Davie, John O’Rourke, Les Sealey, Bob Morton, Wally Shanks, Gordon Riddick, Billy Bingham, Herbert Moody, Adrian Alston, Reg Pearce, Keith Allen, Jimmy Ryan, George Cummins, Rodney Fern, Harry Walden, Billy McDerment, Scott Oakes, Bert Mitchell, Kingsley Black, Mike Harrison, Matt Tees, Jimmy Husband, John Collins, Billy Waugh, Steve Howard, Robert Hawkes, Mark Pembridge, Bernard Streten, and Sol Davies.

The latest in our series, as requested by you, our readership, is Gordon Riddick.

Born on 06-November-1943, Riddick began his career in the youth set-up, at Kenilworth Road before breaking in to the first team in 1962.

My own memories of Gordon are a little sparse as he was to leave the Hatters in the very year I first started venturing to Kenilworth Road with my late father.

He was a player that always gave his best but, for one reason or another, was never really appreciated by the Luton Town support.

During his Luton Town career, Gordon made 114 appearances and scoring on 17 occasions.

Once his career at Kenilworth Road came to an end, he joined Gillingham, signing for a record fee paid by the Kent based club.

Later in his career he was to play for Brentford, Charlton Athletic, Northampton Town and Orient.

But his time as a professional footballer effectively came to an end ater he picked up an ankle injury while with Brentford.

Although acknowledgedas a professional footballer, Gordon was also a keen cricketer, playing what was labelled as Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire and followers of Langleybury Cricket Club will recall his role as captai, groundsman, committee member and president for the club.

Behind the scenes he also ran a successful building firm.

Sadly, Gordon passed away on 24-August-2018, aged 74 years-of-age.

Gordon Riddick – Mini Fact File

Name – Gordon George Riddick

Date of Birth – 06-November-1943

Place of Birth – Langleybury, England

Position – Midfielder

Youth Career – Luton Town

Playing Career – Luton Town, Gillingham, Charlton Athletic, Orient, Northampton Town, Brentford, Wealdstone

If you feel able to share any of your thoughts or memories on the Hatters career of Gordon Riddick, please feel free to do so in the comment facility beneath this article.

If you can think of anyone who deserves nominating for coverage in this ongoing series, please drop their name into the comment facility beneath this article.

My thanks go to those who have already nominated faces from the past, they will all be covered, in time.

Next up in the series will be Tony Thorpe as suggested by Mad Hatter.

COYH’s