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Johnny Haynes facts for kids

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Johnny Haynes was a famous English football player, known for his amazing skills as an "inside forward." People called him "the Maestro" because he was so good at passing the ball with both feet and had a great vision for the game. He played for Fulham for 20 years, which is a very long time for one club! He also played 56 times for the England national team and was their captain 22 times. Johnny Haynes was the first footballer in Britain to earn £100 a week, which was a lot of money back in 1961!

Quick facts for kids
Johnny Haynes
Johnny Haynes crop.jpg
Haynes with England in 1959
Personal information
Full name John Norman Haynes
Date of birth (1934-10-17)17 October 1934
Place of birth Kentish Town, London, England
Date of death 18 October 2005(2005-10-18) (aged 71)
Place of death Edinburgh, Scotland
Playing position Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1970 Fulham 594 (146)
1951 Wimbledon (loan) 6 (4)
1961 → Toronto City (loan) 5 (1)
1970–1971 Durban City 24 (9)
1972–1973 Wealdstone 3 (0)
Total 632 (160)
National team
1955–1957 England U23 8 (8)
1954–1962 England 56 (18)
Teams managed
1968 Fulham (caretaker)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Fulham FC 1958
Fulham in 1958 with Johnny Haynes second from right in the front row

A Young Football Star

Born in Kentish Town, London, Johnny Haynes loved football from a young age. He joined Fulham when he was just 15 years old in 1950. He made his first team debut for Fulham at 18 in 1952.

Johnny first played for the England national team in October 1954. He scored a goal in his very first game against Northern Ireland. He became England's captain in 1960 and played in two World Cups.

Life at Fulham

Johnny Haynes played in his first FA Cup semi-final in 1958. Fulham was knocked out by Manchester United. Fulham then got promoted to the top division in 1959. In the 1959–60 season, Fulham finished 10th, which was their best league position for a long time.

In 1961, a big change happened in English football. The rule that limited how much players could earn was removed. Johnny Haynes became the first player in Britain to earn £100 a week! He played in another FA Cup semi-final in 1962 but lost to Burnley. During the English off-season in 1961, he also played for Toronto City in Canada.

A Difficult Accident

In August 1962, Johnny was in a car accident in Blackpool. He broke bones in both his feet and badly injured his knee. He missed almost the whole season because of this. Before the accident, he had been England's captain 22 times. He was only 27 and many expected him to lead England in the 1966 World Cup. However, he was never chosen to play for the national team again after his injury.

Fulham was relegated in 1968. Johnny Haynes briefly took charge of Fulham as a caretaker manager for 18 days. He didn't want to be a coach in the long term. His last game for Fulham was in January 1970. In total, he played 657 games for Fulham and scored 157 goals.

Later Career and Retirement

In 1970, at 35, Johnny Haynes retired from English football. He then joined Durban City in South Africa. He played there for one season and won the 1970–71 National Football League. This was the only major trophy he won in his football career. Later, in the 1972–73 season, he played a few games for a non-league club called Wealdstone.

After retiring from playing, Johnny Haynes became a bookmaker. He sold his business in 1976. In 1985, he moved to Edinburgh to live with his partner, Avril. They ran a laundry business together. He also enjoyed playing golf and watching local football club, Heart of Midlothian. He and Avril got married in 2004.

His Passing

On October 17, 2005, his 71st birthday, Johnny Haynes was driving his car with Avril when he suffered a serious brain injury. His car crashed into a van. He passed away the next day, on October 18, 2005. Many famous football players and friends attended his funeral.

Remembering a Legend

Johnny Haynes at Craven Cottage
Statue of Haynes outside Craven Cottage

In 2002, Johnny Haynes was one of the first players to be added to the English Football Hall of Fame. This was to honor his amazing football skills and how much he influenced the game in England.

After his death, many people shared tributes to him. Alan Mullery, another former Fulham and England player, said Johnny was his hero. He called him "the best passer of a ball I have ever seen."

The Stevenage Road Stand at Fulham's stadium, Craven Cottage, was renamed The Johnny Haynes Stand in his honor.

George Cohen, who won the World Cup with England in 1966 and played with Johnny at Fulham, remembered his incredible skill. He said Johnny could make a perfect pass even on a wet field.

Bobby Moore, England's captain from 1964 to 1973, said he loved watching Johnny play. He added that Johnny "was always available, always hungry for the ball, always wanting to play." Even Pelé, one of the greatest footballers of all time, said he had "never seen a better passer of the ball" than Haynes.

The Fulham Supporters Trust helped raise money to create a lasting tribute to Johnny. A statue of Johnny Haynes was unveiled outside Craven Cottage on October 18, 2008.

Honours

Durban City

  • National Football League: 1970–71

Individual

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Johnny Haynes para niños

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