Good judges rated Gordon one of the most highly promising centre-halves City had ever had, but after learning his trade as understudy to Matt Gillies and claiming a regular first-team spot 1955/56, he was stricken by serious injuries, and only managed one more subsequent League appearance for the club, with Tony Knapp and Ian King vaulting over him in the queue.
Gordon was able, however, to partially rebuild his career at Plymouth Argyle, become third division champions in his first season, and play many games there alongside former Filbert Street club mates Dave MacLaren and John Newman.
After leaving Plymouth Argyle he joined Luton Town, and spend two years at Kenilworth Road before moving to South Africa, signing for Port Elizabeth City FC. Fincham was a key player in the team that won the championship in 1967 and ended runners-up the season before. Fincham years in South Africa is not much documented, and referred to as almost non existence, and seen as an early retirement or just written down as emigration.
Port Elizabeth FC also signed other notable English League footballers such as Kevin Lewis, Terry Mancini, Stan Steel, Dennis Snowden and Leicester born Micky Boot. Boot was a promising forward in his younger years with Arsenal, playing with former foxes such as George Armstrong, Frank McLintock and Jon Sammels before moving to Port Elizabeth CIty FC and being there with Gordon Fincham at the time they won the title. Boot moved back to England and continued playing non-league football, representing a number of clubs one of them Nuneaton Borough. Gordon Fincham was never again seen in English league football.
Fincham and Boot were grand heroes in the NFL, a professional league few would like to hear anything about at the time, due to that countries regime and rules. From a footballing perspective a grand phenomena as those teams attracted large crowds and had more followers than the best teams in Europe.
Gordon Fincham moved back to England and resided in his native area of Peterborough, sadly passing away in 2012 at the age of 77.
- FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Gordon Richard Fincham
- Position: Defender
- Date of Birth: 08.01.1935
- Birthplace: Peterborough
- Nation: England
- Caps / Goals: –
- Major League Career:
- 1952-58, Leicester City (50/0)
- 1958-63, Plymouth Argyle (136/4)
- 1963-65, Luton Town (117/6)
- 1965-?, Port Elizabeth City (?/?)
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