John Fitzpatrick (footballer, born 1946) facts for kids

John Herbert Norton Fitzpatrick (born August 18, 1946 – died December 21, 2020) was a Scottish football player. He played for the famous English club Manchester United. John was a versatile player, meaning he could play in different positions on the field, like a wing half, a forward, or a full-back. He joined Manchester United when he was just 15 years old and worked his way up through the club. Sadly, a knee injury forced him to stop playing football when he was only 26.

John Fitzpatrick's Football Journey

Starting Out in Scotland

John Fitzpatrick was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He began his football journey with a local youth club called Thistle Lads' Club. In September 1961, scouts from Manchester United noticed his talent. He was invited to Old Trafford, Manchester United's home stadium, for trials.

Before moving to Manchester, John wanted to play one last game for his old club. During that match, he broke his leg. This injury delayed him from officially joining Manchester United until July 1962. While he recovered, he worked as part of the club's ground staff, helping to look after the football pitches. He became a professional player in September 1963.

Making His Mark at Manchester United

In April 1964, John was part of the Manchester United team that won the FA Youth Cup. This was a big achievement for young players. Some of his teammates in that winning squad included future stars like John Aston, David Sadler, and George Best.

John made his first professional appearance for Manchester United in February 1965. He was 18 years old. He stepped in for an injured player, Nobby Stiles, playing as a left-half. His debut match was an away game against Sunderland, which Manchester United lost 1–0.

On October 16, 1965, John Fitzpatrick made history for Manchester United. He became the club's first-ever substitute in a Football League match. He came on to replace Denis Law during a game against Tottenham Hotspur.

For the next two seasons, John played only now and then, mostly as a wing-half. It was hard for him to get a regular spot because other great players like Nobby Stiles and Pat Crerand played in similar positions.

Finding His Position and Facing Challenges

The 1967–68 season saw John play more often in different roles, even sometimes as a forward. But in February 1969, he found his best position: a right-sided full-back. He filled in for the injured Shay Brennan.

His season ended a bit early when he was sent off (given a red card) in a European Cup semi-final match against Milan. After this, he needed a police escort to the changing rooms. This incident led to John being suspended from playing for eight weeks.

John kept his place in the team at the start of the 1969–70 season. However, he got another injury against Tottenham on November 22, 1969. This kept him out of action for the next four months. He managed to return for the last seven matches of that season.

After Shay Brennan left the club, John became a regular player in the 1970–71 season, missing only seven league games.

Battling Injuries and Retirement

In the 1971–72 season, John only played one game. This was because his knee cartilage problem, which he had experienced two years earlier, came back. He needed four operations to try and fix it.

Even though he was able to return for the start of the 1972–73 season, he only played six matches for the first team and two for the reserve team. He then had to retire from football on medical advice. He was only 26 years old.

During his career, John Fitzpatrick played nearly 150 games for Manchester United and scored 10 goals. To thank him for his nine years of service, Manchester United gave him a cheque for £20,000. They also held a special dinner in his honor, which raised an extra £1,000.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, John Fitzpatrick moved back to his hometown of Aberdeen. There, he started a new career as a wine importer.

He passed away in December 2020 at the age of 74.