Gurdev Singh Gill

Gurdev Singh Gill

Personal information
Full name	Gurdev Singh Gill[1]
Date of birth	20 April 1950
Place of birth	Kharar Acharwal, Punjab, India[2]
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	East Bengal Club
Number	3
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1970-1973	Leaders Club, Jalandhar
1974–1990	Punjab Police FC
1978	East Bengal Club
1979–1990	Punjab Police FC
National team
1970–1979	India	109	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Gurdev Singh Gill is a former Indian football player. He hails from Punjab. He was honoured with Arjuna Award, the highest sports award in India in the year 1978 for his achievements as a football player. He is one of the three Punjabi football players to have received this prestigious award. He retired as a Commandant from Punjab Police in 2008. Settled now in Jalandhar and occasionally in Canada.

Club career

• Leaders Football Club, Jalandhar : 1970 to 1973
• Punjab Police Football Club, Jalandhar : 1974 to 1990
• East Bengal Football Club Calcutta : 1978

Early career

• Played for Rajput High School, Village Binjon, Distt. Hoshiarpur.
• Graduated from Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Mahilpur.
• Represented Indian Football team while studying at SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur.

Professional career

• Played for Leaders Football Club, Jalandhar : 1970 to 1973
• Joined Punjab Police : 1974
• Played for Punjab Police Football team : 1974 to 1990
• Played for East Bengal Football Club, Calcutta : 1978
• Coach Punjab Police Football team : 1990 to 2000
• Coach Indian Police Football team at World police games, Nepal : 2001 (bronze medal)
• Santosh Trophy : 1970 Punjab won it
• Santosh Trophy held at Jalandhar : 1974 Punjab beat Bengal 6-0 in the finals (record still holds till today)
• Retired as Superitendent of Police, Punjab Police : 2008

International career

• Asia Cup : 1970
• Asian Games Tehran, Iran : 1974
• Asian Games Bangkok, Thailand : 1978 (Captain)
• Agha Khan Gold Cup, Indonesia : 1977 (hattrick against Bangladesh)
• Kings Cup, Seoul, South Korea (goal against South Korea, 45 yards)
• Meddreka Soccer, D'jakarta : 1976
• World Police Games, Nepal : 2001 (Coach) : bronze medal
• Afghan Jashan Celebration tournament, Kabul : 1975
• Pre-olympics in Rangoon, Burma : 1972
• President Gold Cup, Singapore : 1976

Life outside football

• He retired as a Commandant of Police from Punjab Police in 2008.
• Served as Sports Secretary of Punjab Police from 2000–2004.
• Coached Punjab Police Football team that won All India Police Games between 2000-2006.
• Member Punjab Football Association Selection Committee.
• Organises a big Football tournament at his village Kharar Achharwal, every year.

Family

• Father - S. Kishan Singh Gill deceased in 2009.
• Mother - Smt. Chanan Kaur Gill deceased in 2007.
• Wife - Gurdev Kaur Gill deceased in 1995.
• Sons - Surjeet Singh Gill and Ajitpal Singh Gill (Canada).
• Daughter in law - Ramandeep Kaur Gill (Canada), Mandip Kaur Gill (Canada)
• Grandsons - Angad Singh Gill, Arjan Singh Gill, Kishan Singh Gill (Canada)

Honours

• Recipient of Arjuna Award : 1978
• Recipient of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award : 1984
• Recipient of President Police Medal for Meritorious Service : 2000
• Footballer of the Millennium by Delhi Sports Journalists’ Association : 2000

References

1. Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 59. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
2. "IndianFootball.com Profile". IndianFootball.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.

External links

• - Recipients Of Arjuna Award
• Profile at Chabbewal-Mahilpur.com
• - Official site of Punjab Football Association (PFA)
• Interview at Surrey Soccer Tournament on YouTube
• - Achievements of Punjab Police football
• - Article about Punjabi Football Players in East Bengal & Mohan Bagan
• - Old data about Punjabi Football Players in various International tournaments
• - Indian Football Hall Of Fame