John Faulkner (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Faulkner is an English
former professional footballer who played as a defender for Leeds United and Luton Town
in the 1970s. Faulkner was born in Orpington
, Kent
, England
.
in 1969 from fellow minnows Cray Wanderers
and was playing for the non-league side when they met Leeds United in the fourth round of the FA Cup
in 1970. He effectively marked Leeds centre forward, Mick Jones, during the game and impressed Leeds manager, Don Revie
, sufficiently for Revie to sign him as cover for Jack Charlton
who was then in his mid-30s. Faulkner made his debut against Burnley
in April 1970, when he scored an own goal, and made his second appearance against Manchester City
, two weeks later, when he broke his kneecap in a collision with an opposing player. Charlton retained his place in the first-team in the following seasons and Faulkner made only two more appearances for Leeds against Lierse SK in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. In March 1972, he joined Luton Town
, for whom he made 209 appearances. Faulkner later played in the North American Soccer League
for the Memphis Rogues
and the California Surf
.
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...
former professional footballer who played as a defender for Leeds United and Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the 1970s. Faulkner was born in Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
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...
.
Playing career
Faulkner joined Sutton UnitedSutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
in 1969 from fellow minnows Cray Wanderers
Cray Wanderers F.C.
Cray Wanderers F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in Bromley, London. It is one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club was established in 1860 in the twin villages of St. Mary Cray and St Paul's Cray, near Orpington, then in the county of Kent.They currently play...
and was playing for the non-league side when they met Leeds United in the fourth round of the 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...
in 1970. He effectively marked Leeds centre forward, Mick Jones, during the game and impressed Leeds manager, Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
, sufficiently for Revie to sign him as cover for Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
who was then in his mid-30s. Faulkner made his debut against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in April 1970, when he scored an own goal, and made his second appearance 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...
, two weeks later, when he broke his kneecap in a collision with an opposing player. Charlton retained his place in the first-team in the following seasons and Faulkner made only two more appearances for Leeds against Lierse SK in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. In March 1972, he joined Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, for whom he made 209 appearances. Faulkner later played in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for the Memphis Rogues
Memphis Rogues
The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League. They operated in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.-History:...
and the California Surf
California Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
.
Playing statistics
| Club | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total |
| |Apps (goals) | Apps (goals) | Apps (goals) | Apps (goals) | Apps (goals) | |
| Leeds United | 2 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 4 (0) |
| Luton Town | 209 (6) |