John joined Tooting & Mitcham United during the 1962-63 season from Corinthian Casuals, before having to retire due to a bad knee injury at the end of the 1968-69 campaign.

 

He could play centre half or full-back and earned many England Amateur International Caps whilst with us, he played 25 times for his country some as skipper.

 

John made over 300 appearances for the Club scoring 7 times. His representative honours included playing for the Great Britain Olympic Team, London FA, Surrey FA, Isthmian League, FA X1, FA Amateur X1 and RAF. He was a member of our excellent 1962-63 side which went close to lifting the Isthmian League Title finishing third behind runners up Kingstonian and Champions Wimbledon.

 

In that team were goalkeeper Alex Stepney who would go onto play for Manchester United winning the European Cup with them and playing once for the Full England team. Together with Gordon Holden and Micky Browning who would both earn England Amateur International Caps, not forgetting Brian Bennett and Albert Grainger from the great 1958-59 Terrors side which reached the FA Cup Third Round Proper losing to eventual Winners of the competition Nottingham Forest.

 

During John’s second season with us we reached the FA Cup First Round Proper going down 2-1 at home to Gravesend & Northfleet despite taking the lead before a crowd of 5,000.

 

In the 1968-69 season John played in our joint club record victory when we beat Hounslow Town 11-0 in the Premier Midweek Floodlight League at old home Sandy Lane. He would make a return visit to Imperial Fields during the 2022-23 season when there was a reunion of former Tooting & Mitcham United players.

 

John was renowned for his sportsmanship as well as his outstanding ability and was a local lad.

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Article written by Ian Bullock TMUFC Members Club Vice President