.gif)
John Angus (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Angus is a retired English footballer who played his entire club career as a right back
for Burnley
between 1956 and 1972, helping them win the Football League title in 1960. He also made a single appearance for England
in 1961.
as an amateur in 1954. A year later, he was signed as a professional on his 17th birthday.
At first, he struggled to win a place in the reserve team with the quality of players then at Turf Moor
and was less than a week away from his 18th birthday before his reserve team debut. A week after that debut, however, he was called into the first team after the club were hit with a number of injuries and he performed well in a 2–1 victory against Everton
on 3 September 1956 giving international winger Tommy Eglington
a difficult time.
Over the next two seasons he made a number of appearances in the first team but in 1958 new manager Harry Potts
made Angus the regular right back, displacing Dave Smith. Angus was a superb defender and became an integral part of the Burnley side which won the Football League title in 1960, and were runners-up in both the league and FA Cup
in 1962.
He was capped at youth level in 1957 and went on to win seven caps for the under 23s. His full cap came on 27 May 1961, when he and Burnley team mate Brian Miller
made their England debuts in the same game against Austria
in Vienna. Angus was played out of position having to play at left-back, replacing Ray Wilson. England were defeated by three goals to one (from Jimmy Greaves
). Unfortunately for Angus, England already had Jimmy Armfield
and then George Cohen
available at right back, and Angus was not selected again.
Angus continued his good form for Burnley as the title winning team was dismantled, and he had almost reached the age of 30 before his place was under threat. but the emergence of Fred Smith
saw him out of the side for spells. In 1971, Burnley were relegated from the First Division; Angus was in the Second Division
side for the first two games of the 1971–72 season before a tendon injury forced him out. Although he was hopeful of a recovery, this was not to be and he retired at the end of the season.
He had played in a total of 439 league games for Burnley and with cup games totalled 521 appearances. His four goals all came between 1964 and 1966.
played for Exeter City
from 1930 to 1948.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
between 1956 and 1972, helping them win the Football League title in 1960. He also made a single appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1961.
Career
Angus was born in Amble, Northumberland and played for the local boys’ club before being signed by BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
as an amateur in 1954. A year later, he was signed as a professional on his 17th birthday.
At first, he struggled to win a place in the reserve team with the quality of players then at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
and was less than a week away from his 18th birthday before his reserve team debut. A week after that debut, however, he was called into the first team after the club were hit with a number of injuries and he performed well in a 2–1 victory against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 3 September 1956 giving international winger Tommy Eglington
Tommy Eglington
Thomas Joseph Eglington was an Irish footballer who played as an outside-left for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. Eglington was also a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI.Eglington’s playing career followed a similar...
a difficult time.
Over the next two seasons he made a number of appearances in the first team but in 1958 new manager Harry Potts
Harry Potts
Harold "Harry" Potts was an English football player and manager.-Early life:Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, as was another well-known name in football, Bob Paisley. The duo spent much of their childhood playing various sports, but it was football that Potts loved most...
made Angus the regular right back, displacing Dave Smith. Angus was a superb defender and became an integral part of the Burnley side which won the Football League title in 1960, and were runners-up in both the league and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1962.
He was capped at youth level in 1957 and went on to win seven caps for the under 23s. His full cap came on 27 May 1961, when he and Burnley team mate Brian Miller
Brian Miller (footballer)
Brian George Miller was a former professional footballer and England international who played as a wing back....
made their England debuts in the same game against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in Vienna. Angus was played out of position having to play at left-back, replacing Ray Wilson. England were defeated by three goals to one (from Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves
James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -...
). Unfortunately for Angus, England already had Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
and then George Cohen
George Cohen
George Reginald Cohen MBE was the right back for England in the side which won the 1966 World Cup. He is the uncle of Rugby Union World Cup winner, Ben Cohen.-Football career:...
available at right back, and Angus was not selected again.
Angus continued his good form for Burnley as the title winning team was dismantled, and he had almost reached the age of 30 before his place was under threat. but the emergence of Fred Smith
Fred Smith (footballer born 1942)
Frederick Gregg "Fred" Smith is a retired English footballer who played at full back for Burnley and Portsmouth, in the 1960s and 1970s.-Burnley:...
saw him out of the side for spells. In 1971, Burnley were relegated from the First Division; Angus was in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side for the first two games of the 1971–72 season before a tendon injury forced him out. Although he was hopeful of a recovery, this was not to be and he retired at the end of the season.
He had played in a total of 439 league games for Burnley and with cup games totalled 521 appearances. His four goals all came between 1964 and 1966.
Family
His uncle, Jack AngusJack Angus (footballer born 1909)
Jack Angus was a footballer who played in the Football League for Exeter City. He spent all his Professional career at Exeter becoming a one-club man.-References:...
played for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
from 1930 to 1948.
Honours
BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
- Football League champions: 1959–60
- Football League runner-up: 1961–62
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalists: 1962