Johnny Paton facts for kids
John Aloysius Paton (born April 2, 1923 – died October 2, 2015) was a talented Scottish football player, manager, coach, and scout. He even became a professional snooker referee later in his life! Johnny, as he was known, started his football journey in Scotland with Celtic, the team he loved as a boy. He then played in England for big clubs like Chelsea, Brentford, and Watford. After hanging up his boots, Paton also managed Watford and Arsenal's 'A' team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Aloysius Paton | ||
| Date of birth | 2 April 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 2 October 2015 (aged 92) | ||
| Place of death | Stanmore, England | ||
| Playing position | Outside left | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St. Mungo's Academy | |||
| St. Mary's Calton | |||
| Dennistoun Waverley | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1942–1949 | Celtic | 52 | (12) |
| → New York Americans (guest) | |||
| 1945 | → Leeds United (guest) | 4 | (0) |
| 1946–1947 | → Chelsea (loan) | 18 | (3) |
| 1949–1952 | Brentford | 90 | (14) |
| 1952–1955 | Watford | 84 | (17) |
| National team | |||
| Scotland Schoolboys | |||
| 1940 | Scotland Juniors | 1 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1955–1956 | Watford | ||
| 1961–1965 | Arsenal 'A' | ||
|
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Contents
Playing Career: A Football Journey
Starting at Celtic F.C.
Johnny Paton was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He joined his favorite team, Celtic, in May 1942 during the Second World War. He played as an outside left, which is a forward player who plays on the left side of the field. His first game for Celtic was a 2–0 win against St Mirren in January 1943.
During the war, regular football competitions were stopped. Because of this, Johnny played as a "guest" for several teams. He played for New York Americans in the United States while he was stationed there. He also played for Leeds United in 1945, and even for big clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City.
Johnny scored for Celtic in the special Victory in Europe Cup match in May 1945. This game celebrated the end of the war in Europe. After the war, he played 77 games for Celtic and scored 16 goals. He left the club in 1949 after a disagreement about his wages. His last game for Celtic was a 3–1 win in the 1949 Glasgow Cup Final.
Loan Spell at Chelsea
In November 1946, Johnny Paton moved to Chelsea on a loan. This meant he played for Chelsea for a short time before returning to Celtic. He played 23 games for Chelsea and scored three goals before going back to his home club in May 1947.
Joining Brentford F.C.
In September 1949, Johnny signed permanently for Brentford for £5,000. He had a fantastic start at his new club, scoring a goal in his very first game against Bradford Park Avenue. He scored again in the next match against Blackburn Rovers!
However, Johnny faced a challenge when he got an injury in October 1949. He said his leg felt "gammy" for two years. Luckily, he had a successful operation and recovered fully. He continued to play for Brentford until 1952, making 94 appearances and scoring 16 goals in total.
Moving to Watford F.C.
In July 1952, Johnny Paton and his Brentford teammate Jimmy Bowie joined Watford. He played 91 games for Watford and scored 17 goals before he played his last professional match in 1955.
Playing for His Country
Johnny Paton also represented his country, Scotland, at different levels. He played for the Scotland Schoolboys team when he was younger. He also played for the Scotland Juniors team. During the Second World War, he played for the RAF team, where he even played alongside famous footballer Stanley Matthews.
Life Beyond Playing: Coaching and More
After his playing career, Johnny Paton became very interested in coaching. He felt that coaching in England in the 1950s wasn't very good. So, he and his Brentford teammates Ron Greenwood and Jimmy Hill joined the very first coaching course run by FA (the Football Association).
In the early 1960s, Johnny worked as a scout for Rotherham United, looking for new talent in Scotland. In 1961, he was offered a scouting role and became the manager of Arsenal's 'A' team. He led Arsenal's 'A' team to win the Metropolitan League Cup in 1961–62 and the Metropolitan League title in 1962–63. He left Arsenal in 1965.
Managerial Role at Watford
Johnny Paton also had a short time as a manager for Watford. He became the manager in October 1955. He started well, but then he had to go to hospital for an operation on both his knees. While he was away, the team's performance dropped. He was manager for only four months, winning just two out of 15 games.
Personal Life
Johnny Paton came from a family who loved Celtic. His grandfather had a season ticket, and his father even played for the club for a short time. Besides football, Johnny was also a good amateur boxer and athlete when he was young. During World War II, he served as a navigator in the RAF.
Later in his life, Johnny decided to try different careers outside of football. He worked as a press photographer, a snooker referee, and even as a sales representative selling chocolate biscuits! Johnny Paton passed away in October 2015, at the age of 92.
Honours
As a player
- Celtic
- Victory in Europe Cup: 1945
- Glasgow Cup: 1948–49
As a manager
- Arsenal 'A'
- Metropolitan League: 1962–63
- Metropolitan League Cup: 1961–62
