John Mahoney (footballer)

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John Mahoney
Personal information
Full name John Francis Mahoney [1]
Date of birth (1946-09-20) 20 September 1946 (age 76) [1]
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales [1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1964 Ashton United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1965–1967 Crewe Alexandra 18 (5)
1967–1977 Stoke City 282 (25)
1967 → Cleveland Stokers (loan) 12 (0)
1977–1979 Middlesbrough 77 (1)
1979–1983 Swansea City 110 (1)
Total499(32)
International career
1967–1983 Wales 51 (1)
Managerial career
1984–1986 Bangor City
1988–1989 Newport County
1989–1992 Bangor City
1996–1998 Carmarthen Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Francis Mahoney (born 20 September 1946) is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a midfielder between the 1960s and 1980s for Crewe Alexandra, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Swansea City. He attained 51 caps for Wales. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Mahoney was born in Cardiff and grew up in Manchester as his father played Rugby league with Oldham R.L.F.C. Mahoney began playing non-league football with Ashton United before signing for Crewe Alexandra in March 1966. With Liverpool showing a big interest in Mahoney, Crewe's former Stoke player Johnny King recommended him to Stoke manager Tony Waddington and he duly took his advice and signed him for £19,500 in March 1967. [3] A rough diamond at first, Mahoney regularly lost possession by 'over-elaborate dribbling'. [3] Waddington taught him the art of pass and move and he became a quality midfielder sitting just in front of his defence his task was to win the ball back and play in his wingers or forwards. Due to competition for places he was subject of a £50,000 offer from Millwall in February 1972 but rejected the chance to move to London. His patience was rewarded with a substitute appearance in the 1972 Football League Cup Final as Stoke beat Chelsea 2–1. [3]

Sensing that Mahoney had matured into the player he wanted him to be Waddington sold his major rival for a place in Stoke's midfield, Mike Bernard, to Everton for £140,000 in May 1972. He developed a fine understanding with Alan Hudson which saw a strong Stoke side nearly win the league title in 1974–75. [3] In January 1976 a severe storm in Stoke-on-Trent caused considerable damage to the Victoria Ground and in order to pay for the repairs the club sold off their players. This meant that Stoke struggled in 1976–77 and were relegated to the Second Division. [3] Mahoney joined Middlesbrough in July 1977 for £90,000. "I didn't want to leave but when I looked at the fixture list and Stoke were away at Mansfield and Middlesbrough at home to Liverpool, I knew I had to go." He spent two seasons at Ayresome Park making 90 appearances helping "Boro" to two mid-table finishes. [3] He then moved on to Swansea City with whom helped gain promotion in 1980–81 and finish 6th in their first season in the top-flight. [3] But Swansea suffered relegation in 1982–83 and Mahoney's career was ended on 1 March 1983 in a match against Brighton & Hove Albion he was on the receiving end of a crushing tackle which left him with a permanent limp. [3]

After leaving Swansea City, he became player-manager at Bangor City. [2] With the "Citizens" Mahoney took them into the 1985–86 European Cup Winners' Cup beating Norwegians Fredrikstad FK and losing a respectable 3–0 to Atlético Madrid. [3] He then spent a short time at the reformed Newport County before an unsuccessful three years back to Bangor. The later coached Carmarthen Town. [3]

International career

Whilst at Stoke Mahoney gained his first international cap for Wales, with a debut against England on 21 October 1967. However, it took him five years to win his first four caps, but by 1973 he had become a regular in the Welsh side, and in total he went on to make 51 appearances for his country. His final game was also against England in a British Home Championship match on 23 February 1983. [4]

Career statistics

Club

Source: [5]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 1965–66 Fourth Division 110000—11
1966–67 Fourth Division1744110—225
Total1854110—236
Stoke City 1966–67 First Division 1130000—113
1967–68 First Division2862020—326
1968–69 First Division2620021—283
1969–70 First Division200000—20
1970–71 First Division18040004 [lower-alpha 1] 0260
1971–72 First Division29420603 [lower-alpha 2] 1405
1972–73 First Division34210202 [lower-alpha 3] 0392
1973–74 First Division35310404 [lower-alpha 4] 0443
1974–75 First Division39410502 [lower-alpha 3] 0474
1975–76 First Division3815110—442
1976–77 First Division2200020—240
Total2822516124115133728
Cleveland Stokers (loan) 1967 United Soccer Association 120———120
Middlesbrough 1977–78 First Division3715140—462
1978–79 First Division4002020—440
Total7717160—902
Swansea City 1979–80 Second Division 2612041—322
1980–81 Second Division3501010—370
1981–82 First Division25010101 [lower-alpha 5] 0280
1982–83 First Division24010303 [lower-alpha 5] 0310
Total11015091401282
Career total4993232340219159038
  1. ↑ Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in Texaco Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ↑ One appearances in Texaco Cup and three appearances in Watney Cup
  5. 1 2 Appearance in European Cup Winners' Cup

International

Source: [6]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 196710
196910
197110
197210
197360
197460
197561
197650
197780
197840
197980
198120
198210
198310
Total511

Honours

Stoke City
Swansea City

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN   0-9524151-0-0.
  2. 1 2 John Mahoney at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN   1-874287554.
  4. ↑ "Player: John Mahoney". European Football: national team matches 1872–1999 database. eu-football.info. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  5. ↑ John Mahoney at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ↑ Mahoney, John at National-Football-Teams.com
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