(Born in Glasgow 28/11/31 died on 27/7/24)
Very few coaches ever could point to having a more varied career than John Anderson.
Over his 92 years of life, he was the Chief Referee for the Television program ‘The Gladiators’ with his resonant Scottish voice, ringing out instructions. That was in the late 90’s and early in 2000’
Before that he had been a AAA’s National coach in England and Scotland. As a teacher it was not difficult for him to learn all about athletic events and, quite early on in his career he formed the Maryhill Ladies AC in Glasgow and, even before that, he was a schoolboy international playing soccer for Scotland.
However, something that struck me, when we first met in the 1960’s was he was passionate about athletics and for the many people he coached. He had so many ‘Olympic class athletes’ depending on him words of encouragement. To mention just three of the many names Liz McColgan , Judy Simpson and Sheila Carey plus more took his advice at the Coventry Godiva track. One person I met many times was ‘Charming’ athlete, Dave Moorcroft, a Commonwealth 1500 Champion( and a World record holder over 5000.
Dave Moorcroft said to me in 1976, after he made the Olympic 1500 Final in Montreal regarding John Anderson “ As a coach and a friend he is very enthusiastic and very committed, I think it is difficult to put into words when you feel very strongly for somebody, and without John I would never have progressed to the level I am now. In fact, from my point of view there is nobody in the World who could compare with him in any circumstance and’ there is no substitute for what John has done for me. That he has given me over the years. And the way he has devoted a lot of his time and a lot of his effort and his money towards helping me and other athletes. He is a very genuine person, dedicated, very able and a good friend”
Having said that John told me many weeks before Dave Moorcroft broke the 5000m record in Oslo (13:00.4 n 1982) “Were their signs specifically in his training sessions?. John replied to that “
“ There were a number of signs. First of all his training in general was going very, very, well. He had two significant races. The National Road relay where he ran inside Brendan Foster’s record – and that was a spectacular record by Brendan in 1974. David beat that brilliant record and it is significant also that Brendan went on to beat world records as well.
Dave went to Cleveland after that and ran a road race when he ran exceptionally well and yet, there was still something left in reserve, The fact that he had all the facets; stamina was there , speed=endurance was there, the sheer speed was there. The confidence was there, all the indicators suggested that the time was right.
‘We embarked on the program knowing very well that something good was going to come up. He ran his 5000 record in his third race. He went out there intending to run a fast time. Now How fast ? David is a much more modest individual and much less making predictions than I am. He would much rather to wait till after the event. And not to speculate. I think he is wise in that regard. But one of my weaknesses that I get so excited at times. I tend to anticipate the event and I did in fact speak to one or two people that I trusted and said, six or seven weeks prior to the record a fast time so the Board would know he was in form and therefor he would not have to race again.. That was the intention and that was the purpose of that race, the tactics was to run fast from the gun.”
I would like to point out John was married his wife Dorothy in 1988.
How did John Anderson, who achieved so many coaching awards, get pleasure out of coaching over the many years?
“ Very difficult to say because it is like trying to explain your whole being, your whole life. What does your whole life mean to you. In a sense it is difficult to differentiate the athletics from living It is part and parcel of me what I do, who I am, who I am, where I have been, all these thing come together.
It is not an easy to extract one or two thoughts from a whole living experience but there are certain elements that one has to look .The kind of background I came from on the less salubrious area of Glasgow, The kind of experiences I have undergone through living.”
“I entered athletics because I felt I had some talent in coaching. I realized I had very little as a performer but I felt I had been given a gift to help others.”.