John Dennis Downie (19 July 1925 – 19 February 2013) was a Scottish footballer. He was born in Lanark,[1] and played as an inside forward. Downie played football as a member of the Lanark Air Training Corps, but joined Bradford Park Avenue as an amateur in August 1942. After spending time working in a colliery in Bradford, he turned professional in December 1944, and made his debut when football restarted after the Second World War.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Dennis Downie | ||
| Date of birth | 19 July 1925 | ||
| Place of birth | Lanark, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 19 February 2013 (aged 87) | ||
| Place of death | Tynemouth, England | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lanark ATC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1942–1949 | Bradford Park Avenue | 86 | (33) |
| 1949–1953 | Manchester United | 110 | (35) |
| 1953–1954 | Luton Town | 26 | (12) |
| 1954–1955 | Hull City | 27 | (5) |
| 1955–? | King's Lynn | ||
| ?–1958 | Wisbech Town | ||
| 1958–1959 | Mansfield Town | 18 | (4) |
| 1959–1960 | Darlington | 15 | (2) |
| 1960–1961 | Hyde United | ||
| 1961 | Mossley | ||
| 1961–1962 | Stalybridge Celtic | ||
| Total | 282 | (91) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
After 33 goals in 86 league appearances for Bradford Park Avenue, he joined Manchester United in March 1949 for a club record £18,000 as a replacement for the departing Johnny Morris.[2] Downie scored 37 goals (including five in the FA Cup) in 116 appearances for the club, before leaving for Luton Town for £10,000 in 1953.
Downie also played league football for Hull City, Mansfield Town and Darlington, and spent time in the non-league with King's Lynn, Wisbech Town, Hyde United, Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic. After retiring from football, Downie worked as a newsagent in Bradford. He later lived in Tynemouth and regularly watched local teams North Shields and Whitley Bay, and also played snooker. He died in Tynemouth on 19 February 2013.[2]
References
edit- ^ 1925 Births in the District of Lanark in the County of Lanark page 35 no 104
- ^ a b Butler, Cliff (21 February 2013). "Obituary: Johnny Downie". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
External links
edit- Johnny Downie at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- John Downie at StretfordEnd.co.uk
- Johnny Downie obituary at Manutd.com