The Boardwalk in Venice Beach, Los Angeles has been a Mecca for unconventional types since the 60s when beat poets and artists headed west in search of inspiration. John Gidman, the former Liverpool apprentice and Manchester United full-back, fitted right in when he visited towards the end of his time as an Everton player.
Abandoned by newly appointed manager, Howard Kendall, Gidman was pondering his future at a hotel on the Pacific coast, when a telephone call came prior to an afternoon trip to Malibu.
Born near the docks in Garston, Gidman had been released by Bill Shankly as a teenager after failing to conform to the methods of a Melwood coaching staff member. “I had long hair and didn’t look like a footballer my teens,” he says. “Having a different appearance has never helped young lads trying to make their way in the game. So I annoyed one or two.”
A decade later, in 1981 and now at Goodison Park, Gidman’s reputation was preceding him again. In the opening game of a post-season tour to Japan, he went to pick up his number two shirt in the dressing room when the Blues boss approached him.
‘No, no, no. no,’ Kendall said.
Gidman continues, “I assumed that meant I’d be on the bench. So I walked across and picked up a subs shirt. Again, Howard followed me and said, ‘No, no, no. no...you’re in the stand.”
Following two defeats with Gidman on the sidelines, the Everton squad flew back to Heathrow via LA. Then the phone rang.
“The receptionist announced, ‘Mr Gidman, there’s a Mr Ron Atkinson wanting to speak to you.’
“Howard was sitting there in the reception and his ears pricked up.
“I thought that’s all I fucking needed. It looked like I was manoeuvring a deal myself.
“Howard looked at me coldly, but I went away and took the call regardless. I knew Howard didn’t want me but he never told me the real reason why. I’d caused a few problems for Gordon Lee, the previous guy in charge, because he wanted the team to play defensively and my strength was going forward. Maybe he didn’t want that kind of problem and that’s why I wasn’t in his plans.
“Venice Beach was my kind of place but I couldn’t wait to get back home. I couldn’t say no to United. It was a relief to leave Everton.”
Gidman became Atkinson’s first signing at Old Trafford, joining for £450,000 with Mickey Thomas moving the other way. Atkinson, who was born in West Derby, but raised near Birmingham, had some words of advice for his new signing.
“He told me that he’d sign any player for United providing they were good enough and he believed that as long as I reproduced the kind of form from my Villa days, I wouldn’t have a problem with the crowd. He was right. Atko wanted to change the style of play and bring exciting football to the club. I was an attacking full back and he believed that would go down well with the fans.
“Ron knew I had a bit of a reputation off the field but in his book he said that he’d never met a more nervous person than me because I couldn’t stop going for a pee during negotiations.
“He offered me a three and a half year contract and told me not to be greedy and accept it. So I did.”
Gidman also received guidance from another Scouser, Steve Coppell.
“Steve was brilliant with me and made me feel part of the set up from day one at the Cliff (United’s training ground).
“After one game, I came back into the dressing room to find my shirt sleeves, tie, pants, shoes and everything else I owned cut up. I later found Steve had done it.
“I put them back on and walked straight into the players’ lounge like nothing had happened. It went down with the lads like Gordon McQueen, Arthur Albiston and Martin Buchan who were all big personalities. I was right in the thick of all the fun and games after that.”
Gidman’s debut in a defeat at Coventry marked a turnaround in his career. The release from Liverpool more than 10-years earlier had wedged in his throat like a fishbone and his desire to prove people wrong at Anfield was only just escaping his thoughts.
“On the letter Bill Shankly sent and signed to my parents confirming that the club didn’t want me, it said something like I didn’t meet the required standard of skill for the club. Really, they thought I was a disruptive influence. I looked and sometimes acted more like a rockstar than a footballer.
“I still had people like Ronnie Moran to thank, though. Ronnie converted me from a winger to a right-back and had enough faith to put me in the reserves when nobody else would. I made my debut at Blackpool alongside Alec Lindsay and I did really well.
“I ended up signing for Aston Villa and really enjoyed my time there – earning an England cap. That’s when I really felt that I’d proven people wrong because international football back then was the highest playing field to perform on.
“Then I joined Everton against my better judgement and things didn’t go so well. So signing for United was a big moment for me – even though I was born and brought up as a Liverpool fan.”
Gidman joined United at a time when Liverpool were the most feared team in England and on the continent, but United’s highly paid stars were playing exciting football
“I wouldn’t say I wanted to beat Liverpool more because Liverpool Football Club, the people of Liverpool and Liverpool as a city is in my blood. I always want to see the club doing well no matter what because it was instilled into me from childhood.
“When we got a result against them, whatever team I played for, it always made me proud because it’s always good to beat someone of something you admire. It proves you’re doing something right in your own career.
“Liverpool were a brilliant side but we had a really good record against them, especially at Anfield. The big games against the best teams always brought the best out in us, but if we went to Coventry or Southampton on a Wednesday night, we’d always struggle.
“That was the way United were in the 80s and ultimately a big reason why we never really challenged in the league. United signed big players with big personalities for even bigger fees. In the 90s, the roles completely reversed and Liverpool were like United were in the 80s.”
Despite playing for United, Gidman remained living on Merseyside.
“At the time, it seemed like a good idea. I liked a drink but everyone knew me in Liverpool.
“Every Sunday without fail, I would meet Souey (Graeme Souness) and Warky (John Wark) for a pint. Souey lived in Cuckoo Lane in Woolton Village and John had a place in West Derby so we’d meet at Sammy Lee’s wine bar in Smithdown Road.
“In ’85 when we played the FA Cup semi at Goodison (Liverpool drew 2-2 with United) we met up that night. As we were coming off the pitch, Warky walked up the tunnel and shouted, ‘Giddy, I’ll give you a bell in a bit – we’re going for a Greek meal in town.’
“We had the replay the following Wednesday, but it didn’t matter and we went out with our wives at this restaurant.
“People sitting near us couldn’t believe that there was a Liverpool player and a United player who’d just played a semi-final in the FA Cup with a replay to come within days and they were having a nice dinner together.
“That was the way it was then.”
Gidman says that despite featuring for United and being a former Everton player, he didn’t receive too much abuse from Kopites whenever he returned to Anfield.
“Most Liverpool fans understood that I was a huge Red and the club had let me go years before. I’d already made my name with Villa even before the move to Everton so people were questioning why Liverpool let me move on.
“It was at a time when Liverpool were the best in Europe, so my appearance on the field for United didn’t matter too much because United were so far behind Liverpool.
“When I went back to Everton, the fans were very good to me on the whole. You get the typical Scouse humour, ‘Why didn’t you play like this for us.’”
Gidman enjoyed his best season in a United shirt in 1984/85 when he won the FA Cup and received player of the year awards from numerous supporter groups. It prompted calls for him to be given a chance in the England team ahead of the World Cup, which was to be held in Mexico a year later.
But after sustaining a broken leg, he was sold to Manchester City. Within four months, Ron Atkinson was sacked by the United board and replaced by Alex Ferguson.
“If I’d have played under Fergie, the hairdryer would have blown up by now,” Gidman jokes. “I’ve heard a lot from lads that played under him that things changed drastically.
“Atko was a man’s manager and liked to be close to the players. I think Fergie does but his management of younger players has been second to none.
“You hear stories about him going to Ryan Giggs’ house and gate crashing a party before ordering everyone out. Even the girls.
“If I’d have seen him marching down my path, I’d have hidden in the loft.
“I probably wouldn’t have lasted long under Fergie.”
Today, now living near Marbella in southern Spain, Gidman says his heart isn’t with Liverpool or United.
“Villa were the ones that gave me the chance. I have huge respect for Everton, United and Man City without maybe having the same kind of deeper affection. There was a lot of pressure at United and the fans treated me brilliantly and it was the same at Goodison and Maine Road.
“I’m still good mates with Andy Gray from my Villa days. Last season we had a bet on who would win the league. I backed Liverpool and watched all the games supporting them like I did when I was a kid.
“Unsurprisingly – Andy backed someone else.”
Sammy's wine bar was great. The list of wonderful people I met there is quite long.
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