[1] Gemmell was born in Glasgow and played for Duntocher Hibernian and Clyde before joining Sunderland in 1900.
He made his debut for Sunderland on 8 December 1900 against Sheffield Wednesday in a 1–0 win at Roker Park.
[2] He was at Sunderland in two different spells; in 1900–07 and 1910–12 respectively, separated by a stay at Leeds United.
[3] During his first stay at Sunderland, he won the 1902 English Football League Championship.
[4] Gemmell made 213 league appearances for Sunderland, scoring 46 goals.