John McCue (footballer)

John William McCue (22 August 1922 – 19 November 1999) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Oldham Athletic and Stoke City.[1][2]

John McCue
Personal information
Full name John William McCue[1]
Date of birth 22 August 1922[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 19 November 1999(1999-11-19) (aged 77)[1]
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) Full back
Youth career
1937–1940 Longton Council School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1960 Stoke City 502 (2)
1960–1962 Oldham Athletic 56 (0)
1962–1963 Macclesfield Town 7 (0)
Total 565 (2)
International career
England B 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

McCue was born in Stoke-on-Trent and was spotted playing for Longton schools and joined Stoke as an amateur in 1937.[2] He signed professional forms in 1940 and due to his wartime occupation as a physical training instructor he remained local and made the left back spot his own from 1942–43 onwards, missing only one game from February 1943 to May 1945.[2] The left-footed McCue's style was uncompromising, described as a 'grand kicker of the ball' and should an opposing winger get the better of him he would not averse the odd kick or two to rectify the situation.[2] This earned him the nickname 'chopper' amongst his Stoke teammates.[2] His impetuous tackling did lead to mistakes and a one such occasion McCue slipped as the attempted to tackle Sheffield United's Walter Rickett on the final day of the 1946–47 season, Stoke lost 2–1 and missed out on their first league title.[2]

After being demobbed, McCue played as a part-time professional working for the British Coal Corporation as a PT instructor. He trained intensely on a Tuesday's and Thursday's and his regimes were very army orientated.[2] By 1948 Stoke's team-spirit was beginning to fall apart, with the loss of the title in 1947 and the departure of Stanley Matthews coupled with a number of big-name transfer failings caused rumbles of discontent with manager Bob McGrory. McCue along with five other players handed in transfer requests, each of which was rejected but the downward spiral continued which led to Stoke being relegated in 1952–53.[2]

Under new manager Frank Taylor McCue retained his consistency as he remained a vital part of the "Potters" team for seven seasons in the Second Division.[2] He eventually gave way to the younger Tony Allen and ended his 23-year association with Stoke City in 1960 joining Oldham Athletic at the age of 35. By the time he left Stoke McCue had set a club record of appearances of 542 with 675 including war time appearances. But War League matches are considered unofficial and therefore he lies 2nd on Stoke's all-time appearance list.[2] He ended his career with Fourth Division Oldham Athletic making 64 appearances under "Latics" manager Jack Rowley.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1945–46 — —80—80
1946–47 First Division 36050—410
1947–48 First Division 23000—230
1948–49 First Division 39010—400
1949–50 First Division 35000—350
1950–51 First Division 39040—430
1951–52 First Division 42140—461
1952–53 First Division 36020—380
1953–54 Second Division 36030—390
1954–55 Second Division 41100—411
1955–56 Second Division 36030—390
1956–57 Second Division 39010—400
1957–58 Second Division 33050—380
1958–59 Second Division 42020—440
1959–60 Second Division 25020—270
Total 5022400—5422
Oldham Athletic 1960–61 Fourth Division 3503020400
1961–62 Fourth Division 2103000240
Total 5606020640
Macclesfield Town 1962–63 Cheshire League 7010—80
Career total 5652470206142

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. John McCue at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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