John joined the Terrors from Charlton Athletic during the 1974-75 season after a distinguished career in the Football League.
He signed professional forms with Chelsea in 1962 and spent four years as understudy to Peter Bonetti at Stamford Bridge. He then moved onto Torquay United, Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic making a total of 262 appearances in the Football League.
Whilst at Sandy Lane he would play in our FA Cup ties against Swindon Town and Bradford City where we reached the 4th Round Proper of the competition in the 1975-76 season. One of his best games for the club without a shadow of doubt, was away at Romford in a FA Cup First Round tie in that 75-76 campaign. John would make some incredible saves in the tie as we edged through by a goal to nil.
In the 1974-75 campaign he was in the side which recorded our biggest ever Isthmian League victory when Clapton were hammered 9-0 at Sandy Lane and we would finish 4th in the Isthmian League Table behind the big three at that time Wycombe Wanderers, Enfield and Dagenham our best league position for many years.
He would make 150 appearances for Tooting & Mitcham and received Surrey Senior Cup Winners medal’s in April 1976 when Sutton United were beaten 2-1 in the Final and in April 1977 when Croydon were beaten by a goal to nil. A game he might want to forget was a league encounter in April 1977 when he was sent off against old rivals Dulwich Hamlet but he had the last laugh as we ended up winning the match 3-2.
In later years with us he became second string goalkeeper and assistant manager at the club before leaving in November 1980.
Article written by Ian Bullock TMUFC Members Club Vice President