Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 31 January 1950 | ||
Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Youth career | |||
Huyton Schoolboys | |||
Lancashire Schoolboys | |||
1965–1967 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1967–1981 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 407 | (0) |
1981–1982 | Sheffield United | 18 | (0) |
1982–1984 | Derby County | 58 | (1) |
Total | 483 | (1) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
John McAlle (born 31 January 1950) is a former professional footballer who spent the majority of his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he played over 500 games.
McAlle joined Wolves as an apprentice in July 1965, turning professional in February 1967. After a period playing in the reserve league, he made his first team debut on 29 April 1968, in a 1–0 defeat at Chelsea. He only appeared sporadically (mostly as a substitute) in the following years, but became a first-team regular in the 1970–71 season.
Known to his teammates as Scouse, McAlle was the club's first-choice centre-back throughout most of the 1970s. During this period he played in the 1972 UEFA Cup final and won the League Cup in 1974. He was also part of the side that won the Second Division championship in 1976–77, to immediately return Wolves to the top flight.
His position at Molineux was weakened by the arrival of Emlyn Hughes in 1979, after which he was largely used as a substitute. His career took a further downturn when he broke his leg coming on as a sub playing against Watford in February 1980, which kept him out for 11 months. He returned for the second half of the 1980–81 season and managed to retain his place in the starting line-up.
The defender's long association with Wolves finally ended in August 1981, when he joined Sheffield United for £10,000 after he was not offered a contract extension. In total McAlle played 508 games for the Midlanders, making him the fifth highest-serving player in their history.
After a brief spell at Bramall Lane, where he won the Fourth Division title, he moved to Derby County, where he finished his league career in the second tier. John's last ever professional match came for Derby against Barnsley in March 1984 wearing the number 10 shirt. He finished his playing career at non-league Harrisons FC, based in Wolverhampton.
McAlle moved into landscape gardening after football, but has since retired and lives in Brewood, South Staffordshire. [1]
In recognition of his outstanding service to Wolverhampton Wanderers he was inducted into their 'Hall Of Fame' in May 2015.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as Wolves, is a professional football club based in Wolverhampton, England, which competes in the Premier League. The club has played at Molineux Stadium since moving from Dudley Road in 1889. The club's traditional kit consists of old gold shirts and socks with black shorts. Since 1979, the kit has also featured the club's "wolf's head" logo. Long-standing rivalries exist with other clubs from the West Midlands, the main one being the Black Country derby contested with West Bromwich Albion.
Stephen George Bull is an English former professional footballer who is best remembered for his 13-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played there from 1986 until his retirement from playing in 1999, and holds the club's goalscoring record with 306 goals, which included 18 hat-tricks for the club.
Richard James Michael Stearman is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender. He is a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a centre half or right back.
William Harry McGarry was an England international association footballer and manager who spent 40 years in the professional game. He had a reputation for toughness, both as a player and as a manager.
Alexander Derek Dougan was a Northern Ireland international footballer, football manager, football chairman, pundit, and writer. He was also known by his nickname, "The Doog". He was capped by Northern Ireland at schoolboy, youth, Amateur, and 'B' team level, before he won 43 caps in a 15-year career for the senior team from 1958 to 1973, scoring eight international goals and featuring in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the Shamrock Rovers XI v Brazil exhibition match in July 1973, which he also helped to organise.
John Prescott McGovern is a Scottish former association football midfielder and manager. McGovern is most famous for captaining the Nottingham Forest side that won the European Cup twice under the management of Brian Clough, whom he played under at four clubs, and Peter Taylor.
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.
Wayne Clarke is an English former professional footballer.
Ronald Flowers was an English professional footballer, who played as a midfielder, and was most known for his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was a member of England's victorious 1966 World Cup squad. He was the elder brother of John Flowers.
Kevin David McDonald is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Bradford City.
Robert Joseph Hazell is a former professional footballer who made 266 league appearances in a 12-year career in the English Football League between 1977 and 1989. Born in Jamaica, he represented England at under-21 level. His nephew is the former Oldham Athletic defender Reuben Hazell, and his son Rohan is a non-League player.
John Griffiths was an English footballer who played at left-back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers, and Manchester United in the 1930s. He won promotion out of the Second Division three times, once with Wolves and twice with Manchester United.
Graham Norman Hawkins was an English football player and manager. During a sixteen year playing career in the English Football League he made a total of 502 league and cup appearances, scoring eleven goals. He spent fourteen years coaching and eight years in management, and spent the later years of his life working as a football administrator.
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.
Kenneth Hibbitt is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Bradford Park Avenue, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City and Bristol Rovers, and in the North American Soccer League for the Seattle Sounders. He was capped once for England at under-23 level. As a manager, he took charge of Walsall, Cardiff City and Hednesford Town. He is most known for his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he played from 1968 to 1984.
Colin James Brazier is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Lincoln City and Walsall, and in the North American Soccer League for the Jacksonville Tea Men.
Frederick James Goodwin is an English former footballer who scored 27 goals in 353 league games in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stockport County, Blackburn Rovers, Southport, and Port Vale in the 1960s and 1970s. He won the Fourth Division title with Stockport County in 1966–67, and played in all of the top four divisions of English football.
Graham Wilfred Newton was an English footballer and manager. A forward, he played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, the Atlanta Chiefs, Port Vale, Reading, Hednesford Town, Worcester City, and Stourbridge. He won the North American Soccer League with the Atlanta Chiefs in 1968. He briefly managed Worcester City in 1973.
Michael Edward Jacobs is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-winger for League One club Portsmouth.
Barry James Douglas is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań.
● Playfair football annuals 1968-69 to 1985-86