Born: Hampstead, 15 March 1946
Died: 9 November 2024
Position: Centre back; centre forward
Nationality: Irish
International caps: 21
International goals: 1
Signed: 1 July 1964
Fulham debut: Fulham 3-3 Millwall, 9 January 1965
Fulham appearances: 171
Fulham goals: 8
Sold: 1 January 1969 to Chelsea (£70,000)
Irish international John Dempsey replaced Bobby Keetch in the Fulham defence in 1965, becoming an ever-present until April 1968 when the Whites were on the cusp of being relegation from the First Division. He scored a superb hat-trick against Northampton Town in the League Cup in 1965 when playing as a makeshift centre forward, but became a mainstay at centre back.
Dempsey, who won 21 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, was sold to Chelsea in January 1969. He won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup at Stamford Bridge, before playing in the United States and returning home qualifier as a teacher and supporting disabled adults in Edgware for many years. Dempsey passed away in November 2024, aged 78.
