John Flowers (footballer)

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John Flowers
Personal information
Full name John Edward Flowers[1]
Date of birth (1944-08-26) 26 August 1944 (age 79)[1]
Place of birth Edlington, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1966 Stoke City 8 (0)
1966–1971 Doncaster Rovers 164 (4)
1971–1972 Port Vale 34 (0)
Eastwood
Total 206 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Edward Flowers (born 26 August 1944) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Stoke City, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, and Eastwood in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] He scored four goals in 206 league games in a nine-year career in the Football League,[3] with the bulk of these appearances coming at Doncaster, where he won the Fourth Division title in 1968–69. He is the younger brother of Ron Flowers,[4] and the nephew of George Flowers.

Career[edit]

Flowers was born in Edlington into a sporting family and he followed in their footsteps joining Stoke City in 1963.[1] He spent most of his time at the Victoria Ground in the reserves and after making just nine first-team appearances in three seasons he was sold to Third Division Doncaster Rovers for £10,000.[5] In his first season at Belle Vue the newly-promoted "Donny" suffered relegation back into the Fourth Division. They finished 10th in 1967–68 before winning the title in 1968–69 under the stewardship of Lawrie McMenemy. Flowers was an ever-present in 1969–70 playing in all of Rovers' 52 fixtures. He played 33 times in 1970–71 as Doncaster were again relegated to the Fourth Division. Flowers scored four goals in 186 first-team games in his five years at Belle Vue. He was signed by Port Vale manager Gordon Lee for a "small fee" in August 1971.[6] He played 37 league and cup games in the 1971–72 season but was handed a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1972 on account of his "mixed form"; apparently this inconsistency was caused by his other job as a pub licensee.[6] He moved on to non-League Eastwood.[6]

Personal life[edit]

He is the younger brother of Ron Flowers who played for England.[4] His uncle was George Flowers who also played for Doncaster Rovers.[7] He was married to Maureen Flowers, a former world champion of darts.[4]

Career statistics[edit]

Source:[8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1963–64 First Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
1964–65 First Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1965–66 First Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Doncaster Rovers 1966–67 Third Division 11 0 0 0 4 0 15 0
1967–68 Fourth Division 34 1 4 0 1 0 39 1
1968–69 Fourth Division 42 1 3 0 2 0 47 1
1969–70 Third Division 46 2 4 0 2 0 52 2
1970–71 Third Division 31 0 2 0 0 0 33 0
Total 164 4 13 0 9 0 186 4
Port Vale 1971–72 Third Division 34 0 2 0 1 0 37 0
Career total 206 4 15 0 11 0 232 4

Honours[edit]

Doncaster Rovers

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Williams, Tony; Peskett, Roy, eds. (1971). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1971–72 (2nd ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0362000948.
  3. ^ John Flower Stats at Neil Brown stat site
  4. ^ a b c Sherwin, Phil (15 October 2011). "Sam's late strike sees Vale in to next round". The Sentinel: The Way We Were. p. 16.
  5. ^ "John Flowers". Doncaster Rovers.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 103. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
  7. ^ "Flowers family loyal-ties facing tough test". express and star. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  8. ^ John Flowers at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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