He was born in Lewisham on 20 July 1947.

He played as a junior for Tonbridge, and then for Maidstone United. With both clubs he played as an outside left.

He was transferred to Arsenal on 15 October 1964 after being given a trial by them. He did not play in any League or Cup matches for them.

On 2 July 1965 he was given a free transfer to Fulham and he played for them in 55 League and Cup matches, scoring 1 goal.

On 4 July 1969 they gave him a free transfer to Luton Town. He played in 303 League and Cup matches for them, scoring 11 goals. While with them he won the Kent Open Amateur Golf Championship, playing off a handicap of 3.

Signed from Luton Town

He was transferred from Luton Town to Norwich City on 17 August 1976 for a reported fee of £42,000. [The date is as reported; City’s administrative records show his signing on 16 August.]

5’ 11”; 11st 8lb;

A fullback, later a midfield player. He was awarded the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for being voted Norwich City’s ‘player of the
season’ for 1977/78 by the club’s supporters.

Move to the US

On 26 May 1978 City refused his request to be ‘transfer listed’, and on 9 June 1978 he signed a new 1 year contract.

City announced on 7 January 1979 that he was available for transfer. The ‘Eastern Evening News’ of 12 February 1979 said that he had agreed to a £70,000 transfer from City to Seattle Sounders in the United States of America. The transfer became effective from 5 March 1979. City were to have the option of bringing him back on loan during the American close season.

He played 26 matches for Seattle Sounders, scoring 12 goals, during the summer, and then returned to play for Norwich City in 1979/80. He returned to play another 30 matches, scoring 6 goals, for Seattle Sounders in the summer of 1980.

Seattle to Sheffield

On 24 September 1980 he was transferred from Seattle Sounders to Sheffield United. He played in 69 League and Cup matches for them, scoring 2 goals.

They transferred him to Manchester City (where John Bond was manager) in August 1982. He played for them in 19 League matches, with no Cup
appearances, without scoring. He also coached Manchester City’s youth team until he was dismissed from the position on 1 July 1983, immediately after
the appointment of Billy McNeill as manager.

On 28 August 1983 he was transferred from Manchester City to Stockport County where he also coached. He played in 4 League and Cup matches for them, without scoring.

They transferred him to Chester City [renamed from ‘Chester’ in the summer of 1983] on 28 September 1983, where he also continued to coach. He played in 4 League matches for them, with no Cup appearances, without scoring.

Player/Manager at Cambridge United

On 20 January 1984 he was transferred to Cambridge United and was appointed as their player/manager. He played in 6 League and Cup matches for them, without scoring. Under his management they won 7, drew 9, and lost 33 of 49 League and Cup matches. He was dismissed from his position with them on 25
February 1985.

He then returned to become player/coach at Maidstone United. He became their assistant manager in 1986.

He then left football to work in his family’s haulage business and obtained his Heavy Goods Vehicle licence.

In September 1991 he became manager of Sittingbourne. He then became manager of Dover Athletic in February 1995. He was dismissed by them
November 1995. He then managed Dulwich Hamlet. He left them in December 1997 and set up a soccer school sponsored by the Kent Football Association. He then worked as a coach in the South East of England for the Professional Football Association. In 2001 he left them to become director of youth development for the Thailand Football Association in Bangkok.

John is now retired and living in Spain