John Scales
Encyclopedia
John Robert Scales is an English
former professional football player who played as a central defender
.
before earning a move to Wimbledon
in July 1987 after just two seasons at his original club.
that graced the top flight of English football and that won the FA Cup
in the famous 1988 final. Scales played as a substitute in the final, though unusually playing as a forward.
in September 1994, he says that the highlight of his time there was his 3 England caps and the game at Anfield when they beat Newcastle United
4-3 in April 1996. John has said that although the Liverpool
team he was in had the talent to win the Premiership they lacked the focus & discipline need to be champions, though they did win the Football League Cup
in his first season
there and were FA Cup
finalists
a year later, finishing fourth and then third in the FA Premier League
.
accepted an offer from Leeds United
for John and Tottenham Hotspur
also had an offer accepted so John decided to again join up with Tottenham Hotspur
manager Gerry Francis
who he had played for whilst at Bristol Rovers
. John had a disappointing time at Tottenham Hotspur
due to injuries, being in and out of the team and the instability of the club. He scored once during his time at Tottenham with his goal ironically coming against former club Liverpool in the League Cup in November 1998.
Later in his career, Scales went on to Coach the England Beach Soccer
team.
series Where are they now?, he is now a company chairman with an events management company "Be Sport" (http://www.besport.co.uk/). His company organise tournaments for schools. He has also co-commentated on football matches for BBC Radio 5Live.
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 football player who played as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Bristol Rovers
He started his career at Bristol RoversBristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
before earning a move to Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in July 1987 after just two seasons at his original club.
Wimbledon
He became part of the Wimbledon crazy gangCrazy Gang
The Crazy Gang is a nickname used by the English media to describe Wimbledon F.C. during the 1980s and the 1990s.The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho behaviour of...
that graced the top flight of English football and that won 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 the famous 1988 final. Scales played as a substitute in the final, though unusually playing as a forward.
Liverpool
John made a £3.5 million transfer to 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 September 1994, he says that the highlight of his time there was his 3 England caps and the game at Anfield when they beat 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...
4-3 in April 1996. John has said that although the 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...
team he was in had the talent to win the Premiership they lacked the focus & discipline need to be champions, though they did win 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 his first season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
there and were 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...
finalists
1996 FA Cup Final
The 1996 FA Cup Final was the 51st to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War and was held between two of the biggest rivals in English football, Manchester United and Liverpool.- Build-up :...
a year later, finishing fourth and then third in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
.
Tottenham Hotspur
In 1996 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...
accepted an offer from Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
for John and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
also had an offer accepted so John decided to again join up with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
manager Gerry Francis
Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.-Playing career:Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969...
who he had played for whilst at Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. John had a disappointing time at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
due to injuries, being in and out of the team and the instability of the club. He scored once during his time at Tottenham with his goal ironically coming against former club Liverpool in the League Cup in November 1998.
International career
He won 3 caps for the English national team in 1995.Coaching
He was England coach for the Danone Nations Cup in 2007.Later in his career, Scales went on to Coach the England Beach Soccer
England national beach soccer team
The England national Beach Soccer team represents England in Beach Soccer and is controlled by England Beach Soccer Association, the governing body for Beach Soccer in England. England is one of the oldest beach soccer nations in the world, having competed at the first World Championships in...
team.
Masters football
Scales is a member of the Wimbledon Old Players Association and has played for the AFC Wimbledon Masters XI.Life after football
John was featured on the Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
series Where are they now?, he is now a company chairman with an events management company "Be Sport" (http://www.besport.co.uk/). His company organise tournaments for schools. He has also co-commentated on football matches for BBC Radio 5Live.
Honours
- 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 1988FA Cup Final 1988The 1988 FA Cup Final took place on 14 May 1988 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Wimbledon, unfashionable and unfancied, and Liverpool, one of the dominant teams of the 1980s and newly-crowned league champions....
, Runner-up 1996 - League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
: 1995 - Charity Shield: Runner-up 19881988 FA Charity ShieldThe 1988 FA Charity Shield was the 66th Charity Shield, a football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Football League and FA Cup competitions...