John Oswald Spuhler (18 September 1917 – 7 January 2007) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He played in the Football League for Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Darlington.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Oswald Spuhler[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 1917 | ||
| Place of birth | Sunderland, England | ||
| Date of death | 7 January 2007 (aged 89) | ||
| Place of death | Middlesbrough, England | ||
| Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1936–1939 | Sunderland | 35 | (5) |
| 1945–1954 | Middlesbrough | 216 | (69) |
| 1954–1956 | Darlington | 67 | (19) |
| Spennymoor United | |||
| Total | 318 | (93) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| Spennymoor United | |||
| 1958 | Shrewsbury Town | ||
| West Auckland Town | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Football career
editSpuhler was born in Fulwell, Sunderland in 1917.[2] He won two caps for the England schoolboys team.[2] He worked both in the office at Sunderland AFC and as a joiner before signing professional terms with Sunderland in September 1934.[3] Arsenal offered Sunderland £2,000 for Spuhler in 1937, but he turned down the transfer.[2] Spuhler scored 5 times in 35 matches prior to the onset of World War Two.[1] During the Second World War, Spuhler appeared as a guest player for Middlesbrough and transferred to the club in October 1945 for a fee of £1,750.[3] He broke his nose in a match against Blackpool in 1950, which he eventually required hospital treatment for.[3] He scored 69 goals in 216 league matches for the club before transferring to Darlington in 1954 for a fee of £1,000 after Middlesbrough's relegation.[3] He scored 19 times in 67 league matches for Darlington.[1] He became player-manager at non-League club Spennymoor United in 1956 and later held a managerial role at Shrewsbury Town, and a coaching role at Stockton.[3] He also coached the Army in Germany, and managed the West Auckland Town side which reached the 1961 FA Amateur Cup final.[2]
Style of play
editSpuhler played as a centre forward. He was noted for his speed and heading ability, rather than technique on the ball.[3]
Personal life
editSpuhler married his wife Nancy in November 1939, and the couple had two children.[2] After retirement from football, Spuhler worked as a sub-postmaster in Yarm before retiring at 55.[2] He died on 7 January 2007 at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough following a short illness.[4][5]
References
edit- General
- Johnny Spuhler at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Johnny Spuhler, The Stat Cat at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-07-06)
- Specific
- ^ a b c "Johnny Spuhler". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Spuhler - a Boro star on £12 a week". The Northern Echo. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Glasper, Harry (1989). Middlesbrough : a complete record, 1876-1989. Derby : Breedon Books Sport. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-907969-53-2.
- ^ "Boro legend Johnny Spuhler dies aged 89". Teesside Live. 9 January 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Football hero dies aged 89". The Northern Echo. 9 January 2007.