John Durnin
Encyclopedia
John Paul Durnin is an English
footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.
He began his career at Liverpool
in 1986, but made just three minor cup appearances for the first team before he was allowed to join Oxford United
for a £225,000 fee in February 1989, having previously gained experience on loan at West Bromwich Albion
. He spent four years with Oxford, playing close to 200 games, before he was sold on to Portsmouth
for £200,000 in 1993. In six years with "Pompey" he made around 200 appearances, before he was loaned out to Blackpool
, and then allowed to leave permanently for Carlisle United
in 1999. In 2000 he signed with Kidderminster Harriers
, before he briefly entered the Welsh football circuit with Rhyl
in 2001. Later that year he returned to the Football League with Port Vale
, before he joined Conference side in Accrington Stanley
2003. He retired in 2004.
in 1986, when he was signed from local non-league side Waterloo Dock for £500. A midfielder or striker, he was a regular in the Liverpool Reserves but couldn't break into the first team, making only two appearances, both in the Football League Cup
. In October 1988 he was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion
, and moved permanently to Oxford United
for a £225,000 fee the following February. He spent four and a half years with Oxford, amassing over 150 league appearances and becoming a cult hero amongst the fans (who affectionately gave him the nickname "Johnny Lager"), before he was snapped up by Portsmouth
for £200,000 in 1993. He spent seven seasons with "Pompey", making almost 200 appearances for the club.
His final season at Portsmouth saw him loaned out to Blackpool
and then Carlisle United
. He signed a permanent deal with Carlisle in February 2000 but was released the following summer. He spent the following season with Football League
newcomers Kidderminster Harriers
, before joining League of Wales side Rhyl
as player-coach in July 2001. By December he was back in the English Football League, linking up with his former manager Brian Horton
at Port Vale
. He stayed at Vale Park
for eighteen months, also helping out in a coaching capacity, before he left in May 2003. He then spent one season with Conference
side Accrington Stanley
, before he retired in 2004.
but left in October of that year.
team.
He has a son, Oscar, born to wife Karen.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.
He began his career at Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in 1986, but made just three minor cup appearances for the first team before he was allowed to join Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
for a £225,000 fee in February 1989, having previously gained experience on loan at 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...
. He spent four years with Oxford, playing close to 200 games, before he was sold on to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
for £200,000 in 1993. In six years with "Pompey" he made around 200 appearances, before he was loaned out to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, and then allowed to leave permanently for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in 1999. In 2000 he signed with Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, before he briefly entered the Welsh football circuit with Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
in 2001. Later that year he returned to the Football League with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, before he joined Conference side in Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
2003. He retired in 2004.
Playing career
Durnin's career began with LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in 1986, when he was signed from local non-league side Waterloo Dock for £500. A midfielder or striker, he was a regular in the Liverpool Reserves but couldn't break into the first team, making only two appearances, both in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. In October 1988 he was loaned out to 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...
, and moved permanently to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
for a £225,000 fee the following February. He spent four and a half years with Oxford, amassing over 150 league appearances and becoming a cult hero amongst the fans (who affectionately gave him the nickname "Johnny Lager"), before he was snapped up by Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
for £200,000 in 1993. He spent seven seasons with "Pompey", making almost 200 appearances for the club.
His final season at Portsmouth saw him loaned out to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and then Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
. He signed a permanent deal with Carlisle in February 2000 but was released the following summer. He spent the following season with Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
newcomers Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, before joining League of Wales side Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
as player-coach in July 2001. By December he was back in the English Football League, linking up with his former manager Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He stayed at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
for eighteen months, also helping out in a coaching capacity, before he left in May 2003. He then spent one season with Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
, before he retired in 2004.
Coaching career
In July 2006, he joined the coaching staff of SouthportSouthport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
but left in October of that year.
Personal life
He is now a regular for the Liverpool MastersMasters Football
Masters football is a 6 a-side indoor football competition in the United Kingdom, where players over the age of 35 are chosen by the Masters Football Selection Committee to represent a senior club which they played for. Regional heats are held, and the winners of each go forward to a national...
team.
He has a son, Oscar, born to wife Karen.
External links
- Stats at Neil Brown's statistics site