John Rogers (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Charles Rogers is an English
former footballer who played as a centre-forward.
He moved from Burscough
to Wigan Athletic
, then competing in the Northern Premier League
, in 1972. In four years with the club he scored 77 goals in 174 league appearances and helped them to win the league title; his performances earned him a move to Port Vale
in October 1976, where he turned semi-professional. He refused to become a full-time professional, and instead was sold on to Altrincham
in July 1977. He maintained an average goal ratio of a goal every two games in his time at Moss Lane, helping the club to two Alliance Premier League
titles and triumph in the Cheshire Senior Cup
, FA Trophy
and Conference League Cup
competitions. He had a brief spell back in the Football League
with Wigan Athletic in 1982–83, before he saw out his career at Altrincham, Barrow
, and Runcorn.
He also won five caps as an England semi-pro international.
before moving to Northern Premier League
club Wigan Athletic
in the 1971–72 season, where he played in the same side as John King. He was the club's top goalscorer for two consecutive seasons, scoring 24 goals in the 1974–75 season, and another 25 goals in the following season. Wigan were crowned the league's champions in 1974–75, improving on their second place finish in 1973–74, though they were not promoted. In four and a half years at the club, he made 174 league appearances, scoring 77 goals. He spent a brief spell in America in 1976
, playing for the Portland Timbers; he scored twice in fourteen appearances.
He joined Third Division
Port Vale
as a part-time professional in October 1976 and scored a goal on his debut; a 2–1 home win over Northampton Town
on 8 October 1976. Earlier in the day, he went about his regular job rewiring council house
s in Liverpool. He became a regular in the first team, playing 26 league games and scoring six goals in the 1976–77
campaign. He was sold on to Northern Premier League side Altrincham
for £2,000 in July 1977, as the "Vale" management were unhappy at his refusal to become a full-time footballer.
He joined the "Robins" for the start of the 1977–78 season and made his debut in the 0–0 home draw with former club Wigan Athletic. He scored his first goal for the club in the next game, a 2–2 away draw at Bangor City
. In his first season he reached Wembley, and scored one of the goals in Altrincham's 3–1 defeat of Leatherhead
in the Trophy Final. The following season was his most prolific as he notched 35 goals. In the 1979–80 campaign he scored the winning goal at Gravesend & Northfleet that secured the inaugural Alliance Premier League
title; he also scored both of Altrincham's goals in the Conference League Cup
final defeat against Northwich Victoria
. The following season he picked up his second championship medal, and helped the club to League cup success over Kettering Town
. The next season his goals against Wycombe Wanderers
in the FA Trophy
semi-final secured Altrincham's place in the Trophy Final at Wembley against Enfield; he also helped the club to lift the Cheshire Senior Cup
. The following season (1982–83), the last of his Altrincham career, he started on trial back at Wigan Athletic, who were now in the Football League
, and scored twice in six games. On his return to Moss Lane
he was unable to find his scoring touch and failed to dislodge Graham Bennett. Overall he totalled 133 goals in 276 games for Altrincham.
He then moved to Barrow
and later had a short spell at Runcorn. His performances there earned him five semi-pro international caps in 1981 and 1982.
with Altrincham
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...
former footballer who played as a centre-forward.
He moved from Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, then competing in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
, in 1972. In four years with the club he scored 77 goals in 174 league appearances and helped them to win the league title; his performances earned him a move to 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...
in October 1976, where he turned semi-professional. He refused to become a full-time professional, and instead was sold on to Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in July 1977. He maintained an average goal ratio of a goal every two games in his time at Moss Lane, helping the club to two Alliance Premier League
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
titles and triumph in the Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
, FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
and Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
competitions. He had a brief spell back in the 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...
with Wigan Athletic in 1982–83, before he saw out his career at Altrincham, Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
, and Runcorn.
He also won five caps as an England semi-pro international.
Playing career
Rogers started his career at BurscoughBurscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
before moving to Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
club Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in the 1971–72 season, where he played in the same side as John King. He was the club's top goalscorer for two consecutive seasons, scoring 24 goals in the 1974–75 season, and another 25 goals in the following season. Wigan were crowned the league's champions in 1974–75, improving on their second place finish in 1973–74, though they were not promoted. In four and a half years at the club, he made 174 league appearances, scoring 77 goals. He spent a brief spell in America in 1976
1976 Portland Timbers season
The 1976 Portland Timbers season was the second season for the Portland Timbers in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.- Squad :The 1976 squad- Pacific Conference, Western Division standings :...
, playing for the Portland Timbers; he scored twice in fourteen appearances.
He joined Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
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...
as a part-time professional in October 1976 and scored a goal on his debut; a 2–1 home win over Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on 8 October 1976. Earlier in the day, he went about his regular job rewiring council house
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
s in Liverpool. He became a regular in the first team, playing 26 league games and scoring six goals in the 1976–77
1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1976–77 season was Port Vale's sixty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their seventh successive season in the Third Division. In the FA Cup, Vale reached the Fifth Round for the first time since 1961–62, after progressing past two Second Division clubs...
campaign. He was sold on to Northern Premier League side Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
for £2,000 in July 1977, as the "Vale" management were unhappy at his refusal to become a full-time footballer.
He joined the "Robins" for the start of the 1977–78 season and made his debut in the 0–0 home draw with former club Wigan Athletic. He scored his first goal for the club in the next game, a 2–2 away draw at Bangor City
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
. In his first season he reached Wembley, and scored one of the goals in Altrincham's 3–1 defeat of Leatherhead
Leatherhead F.C.
Leatherhead F.C. is a football club based in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. The club is nicknamed The Tanners and plays home at Fetcham Grove.-History:...
in the Trophy Final. The following season was his most prolific as he notched 35 goals. In the 1979–80 campaign he scored the winning goal at Gravesend & Northfleet that secured the inaugural Alliance Premier League
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
title; he also scored both of Altrincham's goals in the Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
final defeat against Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
. The following season he picked up his second championship medal, and helped the club to League cup success over Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. The next season his goals against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
semi-final secured Altrincham's place in the Trophy Final at Wembley against Enfield; he also helped the club to lift the Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
. The following season (1982–83), the last of his Altrincham career, he started on trial back at Wigan Athletic, who were now in the 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...
, and scored twice in six games. On his return to Moss Lane
Moss Lane
Moss Lane is a multi-purpose stadium in Altrincham, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Altrincham and Manchester United Reserves...
he was unable to find his scoring touch and failed to dislodge Graham Bennett. Overall he totalled 133 goals in 276 games for Altrincham.
He then moved to Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
and later had a short spell at Runcorn. His performances there earned him five semi-pro international caps in 1981 and 1982.
Honours
with Wigan Athletic- Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
champion: 1974–75 - Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
runner-up: 1973–74
with Altrincham
- FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
winner: 1978 - Northern Premier LeagueNorthern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
runner-up: 1978–79 - Alliance Premier LeagueFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
champion: 1979–80 & 1980–81 - Conference League CupConference League CupThe Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
runner-up: 1980 - Conference League CupConference League CupThe Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
winner: 1981 - FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
runner-up: 1982 - Cheshire Senior CupCheshire Senior CupThe Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
winner: 1982