John Poole (footballer, born 1932) facts for kids

John Arthur Frederick Poole (born 12 December 1932 – died 17 November 2020) was an English football goalkeeper. He played 33 league games for Port Vale in the Football League between 1953 and 1961. After leaving Port Vale, he also played for other teams like Macclesfield Town and Werrington.

John Poole's Football Journey

John Poole was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, on 12 December 1932. He loved football from a young age. He played for several youth teams, including Ashley, Penkhull Youth Club, and the youth team of Stoke City.

Starting His Professional Career

John joined the junior team at Port Vale. In September 1953, he signed his first professional contract with the club. During this time, he also completed his national service. He served in the military in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

His first game for Port Vale was on 28 April 1956. The team won 3–2 against Middlesbrough at their home ground, Vale Park. John was usually the backup goalkeeper to Ray King. He played a few games in the 1956–57 season when Port Vale was relegated.

Playing for Port Vale

In the 1957–58 season, John played three more games. The new manager, Norman Low, brought in a new main goalkeeper, Keith Jones. John didn't play in the 1958–59 season when Port Vale won the Fourth Division.

However, he got to play more games in the 1959–60 season. One memorable game was an FA Cup match against Aston Villa. John played in front of a huge crowd of 49,768 fans at Vale Park, which was a record for the stadium. Port Vale lost that game 2–1.

In November 1959, John became the main goalkeeper for a while. But he had a tough break on 25 April 1960. He fractured his nose during a game against Mansfield Town, which Port Vale lost 6–3. After this injury, Ken Hancock became the club's main goalkeeper.

John played only three more games in the 1960–61 season. In May 1961, he left Port Vale on a free transfer.

Life After Port Vale

After leaving Port Vale, John played for Macclesfield Town and then Werrington. He stopped playing football professionally in 1963.

John Poole's Playing Style

John Poole was known as a very brave and smart goalkeeper. He was good at guessing where the ball would go. He even played one game with a broken wrist, showing how tough he was!

John Poole's Life Off the Pitch

After retiring from football, John became a big fan of Port Vale. He even helped start the club's Ex-Players Association with his former teammate, Ken Hancock. Outside of football, he worked as a motor mechanic.

John was married to Pat, who was named Miss Port Vale in 1954. They had two sons, Greg and Duncan, and two grandchildren, Reece and Katie. John's uncle, Tom Davis, also played for Port Vale in the 1920s. Port Vale announced John Poole's passing on 19 November 2020.

Career Statistics

Here's a summary of John Poole's professional football career: