John Ritchie (footballer, born 1941) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Henry Ritchie | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 1941 | ||
| Place of birth | Kettering, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 February 2007 (aged 65) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1960–1962 | Kettering Town | 76 | (40) |
| 1962–1966 | Stoke City | 110 | (64) |
| 1966–1969 | Sheffield Wednesday | 89 | (34) |
| 1969–1975 | Stoke City | 159 | (71) |
| Total | 434 | (209) | |
| National team | |||
| 1965 | United Kingdom | 1 | (1) |
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John Henry Ritchie (born July 12, 1941 – died February 23, 2007) was a famous English footballer. He is best known as Stoke City's top goal scorer of all time!
Ritchie started his football journey with his local team, Kettering Town. He then joined Stoke City in 1962. In his first full year as a professional, he scored an amazing 30 goals! He scored 81 goals in 135 games for Stoke.
In 1966, he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday. After scoring 45 goals there, Stoke's manager, Tony Waddington, realized he made a mistake. He bought Ritchie back in 1969. John continued to score many goals for Stoke City. He helped them win their first big trophy, the 1972 Football League Cup. His career ended in 1974 due to a broken leg. He scored a total of 176 goals for Stoke in 351 matches, making him their record goalscorer.
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Playing Career Highlights
John Ritchie was born in Kettering. He is still Stoke City's all-time leading goal scorer. He scored 176 goals in 351 games during his two times at the club. His first period was from 1962 to 1966, and his second was from 1969 to 1975.
Joining Stoke City
In September 1961, Stoke City manager Tony Waddington heard about John Ritchie. He learned that Ritchie was a strong striker who had scored 40 goals for Kettering Town. Waddington was impressed and signed Ritchie right away, even without seeing him play! John actually took a pay cut to join Stoke. He had been working in a shoe factory and playing football part-time. In his first season at Stoke, Ritchie played only a few games.
Goal-Scoring Streak
Three months into the 1963–64 season, John got his chance to play. He scored two goals in a 4–3 win against Bolton Wanderers. This started an amazing streak where he scored 15 goals in nine games! He even scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) against Sheffield Wednesday.
Ritchie also set a record in the League Cup, scoring ten goals. His goals helped Stoke reach their first ever cup final in 1964. They played against Leicester City and lost 4–3. John scored four goals in a single match twice. This happened against Sheffield Wednesday in 1965 and Northampton Town in 1966.
Moving to Sheffield Wednesday
John scored 30 goals in his first full season and 29 the next. He was a huge favorite with the fans. So, it was a big surprise when he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in November 1966 for £80,000. Manager Tony Waddington later said that selling Ritchie was a mistake.
John's time at Hillsborough was okay, but not as great as his time at Stoke. After two good seasons, he had a tough year in 1968–69. The new Wednesday manager thought he was past his best. This gave Waddington a chance to fix his mistake. He bought John back for £28,000.
Return to Stoke City
When John Ritchie came back to Stoke, Jimmy Greenhoff also joined the team. The two players formed a great partnership. Local newspapers even said they had a "telepathic" connection. Ritchie was Stoke's top scorer in the 1970–71, 1971–72, and 1973–74 seasons.
He helped Stoke reach the FA Cup semi-finals twice, in 1971 and 1972. They lost both times to Arsenal. But Stoke did reach the 1972 Football League Cup Final and beat Chelsea 2–1. This was Stoke's first major trophy!
John continued to play for Stoke until he broke his leg in September 1974. This injury sadly ended his career. He scored a club record 176 goals in 351 games for Stoke.
Life After Football
John Ritchie's football career ended in 1975 because of a double leg fracture. After he stopped playing, he focused on his pottery business in Stoke. John Ritchie passed away on February 23, 2007, at 65 years old. His son, David, also played for Stoke in the late 1980s.
Playing Style
John Ritchie was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed about 12 stone 4 pounds. Stoke fans called him 'Big' John Ritchie. He was a strong and fast player who used his size well. He could easily push past defenders. He was known for his direct style of play, like other famous forwards such as Freddie Steele and Tommy Lawton.
Legacy
John Ritchie is remembered with a special bust behind the Boothen End at Stoke's Bet365 Stadium. A plaque on the bust tells his story:
John Henry Ritchie was born on July 12, 1941, in Kettering. He started his football life playing for his hometown club, Kettering Town. He was signed by Tony Waddington for Stoke City in May 1962. His wife, Shirley, remembers crying when they moved, but they settled happily in Stoke.
In April 1963, he played his first professional game alongside Sir Stanley Matthews. In his first season, Stoke was promoted to the top league of English football. Playing in the First Division was a challenge John met very well, scoring 30 goals that season. His brave performances made him a fan favorite. He scored many goals in the next three seasons.
Even after scoring 30 goals in 47 games, he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday in 1966. He played 89 games there and scored 34 goals. After three seasons, fans were thrilled when John rejoined Stoke City in 1969. He repaid their love with more goals and heroic performances. He led the attack for six more years, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals twice. He also helped Stoke win the League Cup trophy in 1972.
John's career ended in 1974 due to a double leg fracture. He scored an incredible 176 goals in 351 games for Stoke. He is Stoke City's top goal scorer of all time. He lives on in our hearts as one of Staffordshire's greatest sports heroes.
Honours
- Stoke City
- Football League Second Division champion: 1962–63
- Football League Cup winner: 1972
- Football League Cup runner-up: 1964
- Watney Cup winner: 1973
