John Ritchie (footballer, born 1944)

John Ritchie (10 April 1944 – 16 February 2012) was an English footballer who played as a full-back for Whitley Bay, Port Vale, Preston North End, Bradford City, and Stafford Rangers in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a "tough, uncompromising full-back".^[2] After leaving the game Ritchie worked at HM Prison Werrington.^[2]

John Ritchie

Personal information
Full name	John Ritchie[1]
Date of birth	(1944-04-10)10 April 1944[1]
Place of birth	Ashington, England[1]
Date of death	16 February 2012(2012-02-16) (aged 67)
Position(s)	Full-back
Youth career
	Whitley Bay
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1965–1967	Port Vale	50	(3)
1967–1972	Preston North End	94	(5)
1972	Bradford City	20	(0)
	Stafford Rangers
Total		164+	(8+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965.^[1] He made 22 Fourth Division appearances in the 1965–66 season, and scored his first goal in the Football League on 26 February, in a 3–1 win over Darlington at Vale Park.^[1] He scored three goals in 32 matches for Jackie Mudie's "Valiants" in the 1966–67 season, and scored a memorable 40 yards (37 m) "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win over Bradford City at Valley Parade in an FA Cup First Round match on 26 November.^[1] He was sold to Jimmy Milne's Preston North End for a £17,500 fee in April 1967.^[1] The "Lilywhites" finished one place above the Second Division zone in 1967–68, before rising up to 14th place in 1968–69. They were relegated in last place in 1969–70 under the stewardship of Bobby Seith, before new boss Alan Ball took Preston straight up as champions of the Third Division in 1970–71. Ritchie scored five goals in 93 league games at Deepdale. Both Ritchie and Gerry Ingram were traded to Bryan Edwards's Bradford City for a £15,000 fee, who were relegated to the Fourth Division in 1971–72.^[3] He later played in the Northern Premier League for Stafford Rangers.

Career statistics

Source:^[4]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1965–66	Fourth Division	22	1	0	0	0	0	22	1
	1966–67	Fourth Division	28	2	3	1	1	0	32	3
	Total		50	3	3	1	1	0	54	4
Preston North End	1966–67	Second Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	1967–68	Second Division	32	4	2	0	1	0	35	4
	1968–69	Second Division	16	0	0	0	3	0	19	0
	1969–70	Second Division	32	1	2	0	1	0	35	0
	1970–71	Third Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1971–72	Second Division	16	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
	Total		94	5	4	0	9	0	107	5
Bradford City	1971–72	Third Division	16	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
	1972–73	Fourth Division	4	0	0	0	3	0	7	0
	Total		20	0	0	0	3	0	23	0
Career total			164	8	7	1	13	0	184	9

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 251. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. The Valiants: official Matchday Magazine. 7 February 1996. p. 4.
3. "John Ritchie". pneformerplayers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
4. John Ritchie at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)