Coaching legend John Anderson dies aged 92

Anderson guided world 5000m record-breaker Dave Moorcroft plus Sheila Carey, Liz McColgan, John Graham, Judy Simpson and many more during a stellar career

For many, John Anderson’s booming voice is synonymous with the original Gladiators. As the referee on the iconic television programme his catchphrase “Contender ready! Gladiator ready!” made him a household name in the 1990s.

Yet Anderson, who died in the early hours of Sunday (July 28) aged 92, first made his mark as a phenomenally gifted track and field coach who guided the careers of multiple Olympians in addition to helping countless club athletes reach their potential.

These included Dave Moorcroft, who he coached from the age of 16 and throughout a career that saw him break the world 5000m record with 13:00.41 in Oslo in 1982.

“I can’t speak too highly of John,” says Moorcroft. “He turned water into wine. At our club (Coventry Godiva) we’d never had anybody break four minutes for mile, but not only did I do it but Tim Redman, Colin Ridding and Steve James all broke four minutes.

“I don’t think any of them would describe themselves as world beaters but John just got the best out of people.”

Among the many athletes he coached, Anderson guided Olympic heptathlete Judy Simpson, Olympic middle-distance finalist Sheila Carey and he helped Liz McColgan win Olympic 10,000m silver in 1988. Scottish endurance runners John Graham and Lynne MacDougall also benefited from his advice whereas he even helped the distance running legend Dave Bedford for a spell.

John Anderson (Mark Shearman)

Born and bred in Glasgow, he lived in Nuneaton for a period and later moved to Corby. Such was his ability to spot and attract talent, a number of top-class athletes suddenly emerged in Corby, including sprint hurdler Will Sharman, due to his presence there.

Similarly, while living in Nuneaton he noticed his next door neighbour’s daughter enjoyed throwing things. The girl in question was Karen Pugh and after taking her to the local athletics club he later steered her to Commonwealth bronze in the discus in 1986.

Moorcroft sums up the essence of Anderson’s coaching ability, saying: “I’m certain that I would never have been a decent athlete if it wasn’t for John. Not just because of the training he gave me, but he took a shy kid who didn’t believe in himself and just had that amazing ability to believe in me and others.”

On Anderson’s larger than life personality, Moorcroft adds: “I also got his humour. I loved all that bravado and brashness and his loud voice and everything because I knew it was all done tongue and cheek.

“He would die for his athletes and he never took a step backwards. He was a fighter in everything he did.

“He coached me from the age of 16 and never took a penny. It cost him a fortune for the privilege of working for nothing.”

John Anderson with Liz McColgan (Mark Shearman)

Anderson implemented training techniques in the 1970s with Moorcroft and others that were considered unusual at the time. During an era when it was felt athletes should largely run lots of slow mileage in the winter, Anderson insisted on his athletes running fast.

“John used to say that if you want to play the violin, you don’t play the cello during the winter,” says Moorcroft.

“He built his training philosophy around principles that in many respects he established. And also he kind of took you on a on a risky journey, but you knew exactly where you stood.

“So you trained hard and you did some stuff that maybe was, in hindsight, a bit over the top, and there was always a danger that you could break down, but there was also a danger that you’d end up breaking a world record or something.”

John Anderson (Mark Shearman)

Anderson had a teaching background and became one of the early National Coaches for the AAA of England. He was especially close to fellow National Coaches Wilf Paish and Tom McNab. Of the trio, sadly only McNab now remains.

“There was a great line of Michelangelo,” says Moorcroft. “We’re getting a bit heavy here, but he said ‘I saw the angel in the stone and carved until I set him free’. And I think that’s what John did.

“He could spot talent and spot resilience and he could spot mental toughness. And then he just went for it.”

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