Jock Rutherford
Encyclopedia
John "Jock" Rutherford also known as Jackie Rutherford, was an English
football
er.
, Rutherford was known for his longevity; he played nearly six hundred Football League and FA Cup
matches, despite four seasons of football being cancelled due to World War I
. He started his career at Newcastle United
, making his debut in 1902 against West Bromwich Albion
, scoring twice. Nicknamed "the Newcastle flyer", he spent ten seasons at the Magpies, as a right winger
renowned for his pace and close control. Newcastle were a dominant force at the time; Rutherford picked up three First Division
medals, and played in no fewer than five FA Cup finals (1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 and 1911), though Newcastle only won the 1910 final against Barnsley
, winning 2–1 in a replay after a 1–1 draw; Rutherford himself scored the equaliser in the first match, in the very last minute of normal time.
While at Newcastle, Rutherford also played for England
, making his debut against Wales
on 9 April 1904. He went on to win eleven caps for his country and score three goals, making his last appearance against Bohemia
(a country that technically did not exist at the time) in 1908.
At the start of the 1913–14 season, Rutherford fell out with the Newcastle management over his wages, and he was promptly sold to Woolwich Arsenal
, who had just been relegated to the Second Division
. He made his Arsenal debut against Nottingham Forest
on 1 November 1913 and scored twice in a 3–2 win, and quickly became a regular at the side. When the First World War broke out, Rutherford continued to guest for Arsenal in wartime matches, and despite being 35 when first-class football resumed in 1919, he continued to play regularly for Arsenal (who had been promoted back to the First Division) for another four seasons.
In March 1923, Rutherford left Arsenal to become manager of Stoke City
, but he only stayed at the club for four weeks, overseeing just ten matches; his tenure at Stoke remains a club record for the shortest ever managerial stint to this day. The 39-year-old Rutherford re-signed for Arsenal in September, and played over twenty matches in each of the next two seasons. He retired in the summer of 1925, but found the temptation to play football too much, and promptly signed for Arsenal for a third time in January 1926, and played for the remainder of that season. He played his final match for the Gunners against Manchester City
on 20 March 1926, at the age of 41 years and 159 days. With that, Rutherford set a record, as Arsenal's oldest ever first-team player, which still stands to this day.
Rutherford left Arsenal for a final time in the summer of 1926; in all, he played 232 matches and scored 27 goals for the club. He spent a single season at Clapton Orient
before finally hanging his boots up in 1927. In 1928 he came out of retirement and signed for Tunbridge Wells Rangers, playing in only one game in the FA Cup. After retiring he settled in Neasden
and ran an off-licence.
is an athlete who won the long jump
silver medal for the United Kingdom
at the 2006 European Athletics Championships
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Football career
Born in Percy Main, NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, Rutherford was known for his longevity; he played nearly six hundred Football League and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
matches, despite four seasons of football being cancelled due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He started his career at Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, making his debut in 1902 against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, scoring twice. Nicknamed "the Newcastle flyer", he spent ten seasons at the Magpies, as a right winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
renowned for his pace and close control. Newcastle were a dominant force at the time; Rutherford picked up three First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
medals, and played in no fewer than five FA Cup finals (1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 and 1911), though Newcastle only won the 1910 final against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, winning 2–1 in a replay after a 1–1 draw; Rutherford himself scored the equaliser in the first match, in the very last minute of normal time.
While at Newcastle, Rutherford also played for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, making his debut against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 9 April 1904. He went on to win eleven caps for his country and score three goals, making his last appearance against Bohemia
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
(a country that technically did not exist at the time) in 1908.
At the start of the 1913–14 season, Rutherford fell out with the Newcastle management over his wages, and he was promptly sold to Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, who had just been relegated to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. He made his Arsenal debut against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 1 November 1913 and scored twice in a 3–2 win, and quickly became a regular at the side. When the First World War broke out, Rutherford continued to guest for Arsenal in wartime matches, and despite being 35 when first-class football resumed in 1919, he continued to play regularly for Arsenal (who had been promoted back to the First Division) for another four seasons.
In March 1923, Rutherford left Arsenal to become manager of Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, but he only stayed at the club for four weeks, overseeing just ten matches; his tenure at Stoke remains a club record for the shortest ever managerial stint to this day. The 39-year-old Rutherford re-signed for Arsenal in September, and played over twenty matches in each of the next two seasons. He retired in the summer of 1925, but found the temptation to play football too much, and promptly signed for Arsenal for a third time in January 1926, and played for the remainder of that season. He played his final match for the Gunners against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 20 March 1926, at the age of 41 years and 159 days. With that, Rutherford set a record, as Arsenal's oldest ever first-team player, which still stands to this day.
Rutherford left Arsenal for a final time in the summer of 1926; in all, he played 232 matches and scored 27 goals for the club. He spent a single season at Clapton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
before finally hanging his boots up in 1927. In 1928 he came out of retirement and signed for Tunbridge Wells Rangers, playing in only one game in the FA Cup. After retiring he settled in Neasden
Neasden
Neasden is an area in northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent.-History:The area was recorded as Neasdun in 939 AD and the name is derived from the Old English nēos = 'nose' and dūn = 'hill'. It means 'the nose-shaped hill' referring to a well-defined landmark of this area...
and ran an off-licence.
Family
His brothers, Sep and Bob, were also professional footballers, and his son, John "J. J." Rutherford, was on Arsenal's books at the same time as his father, but he only ever played one League match for the club. His great-grandson, Greg RutherfordGreg Rutherford
Gregory James "Greg" Rutherford is an English athlete from Milton Keynes who competes in long jump and 100 metres. His home club is Marshall Milton Keynes AC.Rutherford competed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games for England...
is an athlete who won the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
silver medal for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the 2006 European Athletics Championships
2006 European Championships in Athletics
The 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
.
Career statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
March 1923 | April 1923 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
Honours
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
- Football League championship: 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19101910 FA Cup FinalThe 1910 FA Cup Final was the 39th FA Cup final. It was contested by Barnsley and Newcastle United. It took two matches to determine a winner. The first took place at Crystal Palace in south London on 23 April 1910 and the second on 28 April at Goodison Park in Liverpool.-Barnsley:Home teams listed... - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 1908, 19111911 FA Cup FinalThe 1911 FA Cup Final was the 40th FA Cup final. It was contested by Bradford City and Newcastle United. The first game resulted in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace...