Jackie Marsh (footballer)

John Henry Marsh (born 31 May 1948) is an English former footballer who played for Stoke City. He played as a right back.[1][2]

Jackie Marsh
Personal information
Full name John Henry Marsh[1]
Date of birth (1948-05-31) 31 May 1948[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
1964–1967 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1979 Stoke City 355 (2)
1976–1977 → Los Angeles Aztecs (loan) 15 (1)
1979–1980 Bulova SA
– Northwich Victoria
Total 370 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marsh began his career with his local club Stoke City making his debut in 1967. He soon became a member of Tony Waddington's first team in the 1970s as Stoke enjoyed their most successful period in their history. March played in the 1972 Football League Cup final as Stoke beat Chelsea 2–1 to claim their first major honour. He also played for the club the UEFA Cup. In total Marsh made 440 appearances for Stoke in 12 seasons he spent at the Victoria Ground.

Career

Marsh was born in Stoke-on-Trent and was a star performer in the youth teams at Stoke City.[2] A boyhood Stoke fan Marsh realised his dream making his debut against Arsenal on the opening day of the 1967–68.[2] He made the right back position his own the following season making 30 appearances. Marsh was a combative right-back who had good control and a fair turn of speed for a small chunky player. He specialised in hard low crosses into the box which allowed forwards to flick on to others or volley towards goal. Jimmy Greenhoff recalls: "Jackie was so skilful, I am sure if he had played for Manchester United he would have played for England. He was a defender who played like a midfielder."[2] He played 47 times in 1970–71 as Stoke reached the semi-final of the FA Cup losing out to Arsenal.[2] He then played in 69 matches during the hectic 1971–72 season which saw Stoke again lose to Arsenal at the semi-final stage but they did beat Chelsea 2–1 in the 1972 League Cup final earning the "Potters" their first major trophy.[2]

He remained a solid and consistent performer for Stoke at right-back under Tony Waddington throughout the 1970s. In January 1976 a severe storm in Stoke-on-Trent saw the Victoria Ground badly damaged and as a result the club had to sell their players to fund the repair costs.[2] Marsh resisted any move away but a threadbare squad suffered relegation 1976–77.[2] They gained a quick return to the top tier in 1978–79. Marsh was given a free transfer in the summer of 1979 and he went on to play for Los Angeles Aztecs and joined Terry Conroy in Hong Kong with Bulova SA. He returned to England to play for non-league Northwich Victoria.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1967–68 First Division 400010—50
1968–69 First Division 3014010—351
1969–70 First Division 3603010—400
1970–71 First Division 36080205[lower-alpha 1]0510
1971–72 First Division 410801208[lower-alpha 2]1691
1972–73 First Division 38010302[lower-alpha 3]0440
1973–74 First Division 31000405[lower-alpha 4]0400
1974–75 First Division 38110402[lower-alpha 3]0451
1975–76 First Division 2604010—310
1976–77 First Division 1701020—200
1977–78 Second Division 3402010—370
1978–79 Second Division 2400030—270
Total 35523203502214443
Los Angeles Aztecs (loan) 1976 North American Soccer League 151———151
Career total 37033203502214594
  1. Four appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup and one in Texaco Cup
  2. Four appearances and goal in Anglo-Italian Cup and four appearances in Texaco Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. Two appearances in Texaco Cup and three in Watney Cup

Honours
Stoke City

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  3. Jackie Marsh at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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