John Mahoney (footballer)

John Mahoney
Personal information
Full name John Francis Mahoney[1]
Date of birth (1946-09-20) 20 September 1946[1]
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1964 Ashton United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (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)
Total 499 (32)
National team
1967–1983 Wales 51 (1)
Teams managed
1984–1986 Bangor City
1988–1989 Newport County
1989–1992 Bangor City
1996–1998 Carmarthen Town

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


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]

Career

Mahoney was born in Cardiff and grew up in Manchester as his father played Rugby league with Oldham Roughyeds. 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 Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 1965–66 Fourth Division 110000—11
1966–67 Fourth Division 1744110—225
Total 185411000236
Stoke City 1966–67 First Division 1130000—113
1967–68 First Division 2862020—326
1968–69 First Division 2620021—283
1969–70 First Division 200000—20
1970–71 First Division 180400040260
1971–72 First Division 294206021395
1972–73 First Division 342102020392
1973–74 First Division 353104010413
1974–75 First Division 394105020474
1975–76 First Division 381511000442
1976–77 First Division 220002000240
Total 282251612417133328
Cleveland Stokers (loan) 1967 USA 120———120
Total 120———120
Middlesbrough 1977–78 First Division 3715140—462
1978–79 First Division 4002020—440
Total 771716000901
Swansea City 1979–80 Second Division 2612041—322
1980–81 Second Division 3501010—370
1981–82 First Division 250101010280
1982–83 First Division 240103030310
Total 11015091401281
Career Total 4993232340215158638
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the UEFA Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Italian Cup and Anglo-Scottish Cup.

Honours

Stoke City
Swansea City

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. 1 2 Football League Career Stats at Neil Brown
  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.
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