Jack Maddock
Encyclopedia
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 a two years spell 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 played for them during the war years
and established himself in the right-back role until 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.
Spotted in August 1923 playing cricket
by former Stoke secretary, now secretary of Port Vale
, Joe Schofield
gave him a trial with the club. He impressed and played a few games until becoming a regular in the team from September 1925. During his time he accomplished the dubious feat of missing two penalties
in one game against Nottingham Forest
on 18 December 1926, as Vale lost at The Old Recreation Ground
2–0. He lost his place in the side by April 1929 and was transferred to Crewe Alexandra
in July 1931, later playing for Nantwich
and Audley United.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer, noted for his 'rifle shot'. He played in the right-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
position for Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
between 1919 and 1921, before signing with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
following a two years spell at Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. He spent eight years with Vale, before joining Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1931. He later played for non-league sides Nantwich
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
and Audley United.
Playing career
Maddock played for local teams Bignall End and Audley before being spotted by StokeStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. He played for them during the war years
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and established himself in the right-back role until a serious knee injury seemingly ended his career. Unable to continue working in his former role as a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
in his father's factory, let alone play professional football he spent 75 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
of his money to pay for surgery to remove his damaged cartilage
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
, the operation was a success.
Spotted in August 1923 playing cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
by former Stoke secretary, now secretary of Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, Joe Schofield
Joe Schofield
Joseph Alfred Schofield was an English footballer and later football manager.A winger, he played for Stoke between 1891 and 1899, winning himself three England caps in the process. He was later appointed as Stoke's manager in 1915, before he left the post in 1919 to take up the reigns at nearby...
gave him a trial with the club. He impressed and played a few games until becoming a regular in the team from September 1925. During his time he accomplished the dubious feat of missing two penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in one game against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 18 December 1926, as Vale lost at The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
2–0. He lost his place in the side by April 1929 and was transferred to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in July 1931, later playing for Nantwich
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
and Audley United.