Roy John (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William Ronald John[1] | ||
Date of birth | 29 January 1911 | ||
Place of birth | Briton Ferry,Wales[1] | ||
Date of death | 12 July 1973[1] | (aged 62)||
Place of death | Port Talbot,Wales[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
?–1927 | Briton Ferry Athletic | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1927–1928 | Swansea Town | 0 | (0) |
1928–1932 | Walsall | 88 | (0) |
1932–1934 | Stoke City | 71 | (0) |
1934 | Preston North End | 0 | (0) |
1934–1936 | Sheffield United | 29 | (0) |
1936–1937 | Manchester United | 15 | (0) |
1937 | Newport County | 10 | (0) |
1937–1939 | Swansea Town | 40 | (0) |
International career | |||
1931–1938 | Wales | 14 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
William Ronald"Roy"John(29 January 1911 – 12 July 1973) was aWelshinternationalfootballerwho played as agoalkeeperforManchester United,Newport County,Sheffield United,Stoke City,Swansea TownandWalsallas well as theWales national team.[2][1]
Football career
[edit]Born inBriton Ferry,John began his career withBriton Ferry Athleticbefore joiningSwansea Townin 1927. At this time he was an outfield player, originally a full-back (where he was "not greatly appreciated" )[3]before initially moving forward to play as a half-back, where he gained a reputation as "a resolute tackler with a useful kick".[3]He left Swansea in May 1928, having not played aFootball Leaguegame for them.
He then joinedWalsall,where he played for the reserve side as a half-back. Following the departure ofFred BiddlestonetoAston Villain January 1930 and an injury to the reserve goalkeeper, managerSid Scholeyasked John to try out for the custodian's shirt. John did so well in a practice match that he was quickly promoted to first-team goalkeeper.[3]Within months he made his international debut, when he played forWalesagainstIrelandon 22 April 1931. His debut match ended in a 3–2 victory to the Welsh.[4]One writer of the time described him as "dashing and daring – a gay cavalier who laughs fortune in the face".[3]
After 88 league games for Walsall, he was transferred toStoke Cityin April 1932, where he was part of the team which won theFootball League Second Divisiontitle in1932–33.[1]The local media described John's performances during that season as "simply brilliant".[1]He struggled though in theFirst Divisionand was sold to Preston in the summer of 1934.[1]After six months atPreston North End,John moved toSheffield Unitedin December 1934, for atransfer feeof £1,250. He made 29 League appearances for the Blades,[5]before he was sold toManchester Unitedin June 1936, for a fee of £600. His debut for the club finished in a 1–1 draw withWolverhampton Wandererson 29 August 1936. He transferred toNewport Countyin March 1937, having made 15 appearances for United.[2]
He moved back to Swansea Town four months after joining Newport. In 1938, he helped Swansea reach the final of theWelsh Cup,where they were defeated byShrewsbury Townin a replay.[6]He remained at theVetch Fieldclub until theSecond World Warcut his career short. He officially retired on 11 November 1939, when he became a hotel manager.[3]
During the war, John guested for several clubs in the north-west of England, includingSouthport,and in September 1942 he played for a Wales XI against theR.A.F.[3]
International career
[edit]John made 14 appearances for Wales in full internationals, helping Wales win theBritish Home Championshipin1933and1934.[3]During his time as the Wales goalkeeper, he alternated withBert GrayandLen Evans.[7]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]Source:[8]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Walsall | 1928–29 | Third Division North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
1929–30 | Third Division North | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
1930–31 | Third Division North | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
1931–32 | Third Division North | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
Total | 88 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 93 | 0 | ||
Stoke City | 1931–32 | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
1932–33 | Second Division | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
1933–34 | First Division | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
Total | 71 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 76 | 0 | ||
Sheffield United | 1934–35 | Second Division | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
1935–36 | Second Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
Manchester United | 1936–37 | First Division | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Newport County | 1936–37 | Third Division South | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Swansea Town | 1937–38 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
1938–39 | Second Division | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
Total | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
Career Total | 253 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 267 | 0 |
International
[edit]Source:[9]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Wales | 1931 | 1 | 0 |
1932 | 3 | 0 | |
1933 | 3 | 0 | |
1934 | 2 | 0 | |
1935 | 1 | 0 | |
1936 | 2 | 0 | |
1938 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 14 | 0 |
Honours
[edit]- Football League Second Divisionchampions:1932–33
- Welsh Cupfinalists: 1938
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghMatthews, Tony (1994).The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City.Lion Press.ISBN0-9524151-0-0.
- ^abGraham, Mark."William John".Manchester United A-Z players.Mufcinfo.com.Retrieved13 May2011.
- ^abcdefgDavies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991).Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players.Bridge Books. p. 100.ISBN1-872424-11-2.
- ^"Wales 3 Ireland 2".Welsh Football Data Archive. 22 April 1931.Retrieved26 October2011.
- ^Joyce, Michael (2004).Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939.Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 139.ISBN1-899468-67-6.
- ^"Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Swansea Town".Welsh Cup Final replay.Welsh Football Data Archive. 19 September 1938.Retrieved26 October2011.
- ^"Goalkeepers (in chronological order)".welshfootballonline.com. 2008.Retrieved26 October2011.
- ^Roy Johnat the English National Football Archive(subscription required)
- ^John, Royat National-Football-Teams.com
External links
[edit]- 1911 births
- 1973 deaths
- Sportspeople from Briton Ferry
- Welsh men's footballers
- Wales men's international footballers
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- English Football League players
- Swansea City A.F.C. players
- Walsall F.C. players
- Stoke City F.C. players
- Preston North End F.C. players
- Sheffield United F.C. players
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Newport County A.F.C. players
- Wales men's wartime international footballers
- Southport F.C. wartime guest players
- 20th-century Royal Air Force personnel
- Briton Ferry Athletic F.C. players
- Royal Air Force airmen
- Military personnel from Neath Port Talbot