John Maddock (24 November 1896 – 27 October 1972) was an English footballer, noted for his 'rifle shot'. He played in the right-back position for Stoke between 1919 and 1921 before signing with Port Vale following two years at Macclesfield Town. He spent eight years with Vale before joining Crewe Alexandra in 1931. He later played for non-League sides Nantwich and Audley United. He won the Third Division North title with Port Vale in 1929–30.

Jack Maddock
Personal information
Date of birth (1896-11-24)24 November 1896[1]
Place of birth Audley, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death 27 October 1972(1972-10-27) (aged 75)[1]
Place of death Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Bignall End
Audley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1919–1921 Stoke 23 (4)
1921–1923 Macclesfield Town 6 (0)
1923–1931 Port Vale 173 (10)
1931–1933 Crewe Alexandra 41 (6)
Nantwich
Audley United
Total 243 (20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Maddock played for local teams Bignall End and Audley before being spotted by Stoke. He played for them during the war years, playing three games in 1916–17, 23 games in 1917–18, and 14 games in 1918–19. He then established himself in the right-back role as the Second Division continued after the war. He scored three goals, all penalties at the Victoria Ground, in 15 games in the 1919–20 campaign. After making eight appearances in the 1920–21 season, a serious knee injury seemingly ended his career. Unable to continue working in his former role as a carpenter in his father's factory, let alone play professional football, he spent 75 guineas of his money to pay for surgery to remove his damaged cartilage; the operation was a success, and allowed him to make occasional appearances for Macclesfield Town.[3]

Spotted in August 1923 playing cricket by Joe Schofield, former Stoke secretary now secretary of Second Division Port Vale, Maddock was given a trial with the club.[4] He impressed and played 21 league games in the 1923–24 season, converting one penalty .[1] He again scored one penalty in 21 league games in the 1924–25 season.[1] He became a key first-team player in the 1925–26 season, converting five penalties in 30 league and cup games; this tally included a goal in a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup.[1] He scored three goals in 42 appearances in the 1926–27 season, though lost his touch from the penalty spot as he accomplished the dubious feat of missing two penalties in one game against Nottingham Forest on 18 December, as Vale lost 2–0 at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] He scored two penalties in 35 matches in the 1927–28 campaign, before featuring 25 times in the 1928–29 relegation season.[1] He lost his place in the side by April 1929. He featured just four times as the "Valiants" won the Third Division North title 1929–30.[1] After just three appearances in the 1930–31 season, he was transferred to Crewe Alexandra in July 1931.[1] He helped the "Railwaymen" to finish sixth and tenth in the Third Division North in 1931–32 and 1932–33, and scored six goals in 43 league and cup games at Gresty Road. He later played for Nantwich and Audley United.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[5][6]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke 1919–20 Second Division 15 3 0 0 15 3
1920–21 Second Division 8 1 0 0 8 1
Total 23 4 0 0 23 4
Macclesfield Town 1922–23 Cheshire County League 6 0 0 0 6 0
Port Vale 1923–24 Second Division 21 1 0 0 21 1
1924–25 Second Division 21 1 2 0 23 1
1925–26 Second Division 29 4 1 1 30 5
1926–27 Second Division 39 3 2 0 41 3
1927–28 Second Division 32 1 3 1 35 2
1928–29 Second Division 24 0 1 0 25 0
1929–30 Third Division North 4 0 0 0 4 0
1930–31 Second Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 173 10 9 2 182 12
Crewe Alexandra 1931–32 Third Division North 21 3 2 0 23 3
1932–33 Third Division North 20 3 0 0 20 3
Total 41 6 2 0 43 6
Career total 243 20 11 2 254 22

Honours

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Port Vale

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 181. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "Football's advent. Stoke". Athletic News. Manchester. 15 August 1921. p. 6.
  3. ^ "Profile". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Parish Sporting Heroes John (Jack) Maddock" (PDF). Audley Community News. June 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Jack Maddock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.