John Impey
Encyclopedia
John E. Impey is an English former professional football player and manager. As player, he made 461 appearances in the Football League
representing Cardiff City
, A.F.C. Bournemouth
, Torquay United
and Exeter City
, and spent a season in the North American Soccer League
with the Seattle Sounders
. As manager, he led Torquay United to promotion
from the Football League Fourth Division
. He represented England
at Schools and Youth level.
as a 14-year-old after being spotted playing at Barnstaple
for Exeter Schools against North Devon Schools. He turned professional with Cardiff in August 1972, moving on to A.F.C. Bournemouth
in July 1975 where he established himself as a central defender
. He spent the summer of 1979 on loan with the Seattle Sounders
in the North American Soccer League
. He made a total of 284 league appearances for Bournemouth before leaving to join Torquay United
in August 1983.
He moved to Exeter City
in July 1985 for a season but returned to Torquay in July 1986 and was appointed as captain by new manager Cyril Knowles
a year later as Torquay almost reached the play-offs. He retired from full-time football after one more season, and joined Conference
club Weymouth
as player-assistant manager, spending a brief period as caretaker manager
in early 1989. In the 1989–90 season he played in the Western Football League
for Tiverton Town
.
Impey remained at Torquay United as youth coach under first Knowles and then Dave Smith. Smith was sacked in April 1991 after Torquay's promotion push appeared to be falling apart and Impey was appointed manager, the first to be appointed by chairman Mike Bateson
, guiding them to the play-offs by finishing in seventh place in the Fourth Division. They beat Burnley
in the play-off semi-final and on 31 May 1991 Impey led his side out at Wembley for the final against Blackpool
. The game went to a penalty shootout, which went to sudden death. Goalkeeper Gareth Howells scored Torquay's sixth penalty, Blackpool forward Dave Bamber
missed, and Torquay were in the Third Division
for the first time in 19 years. Impey was sacked in October 1991 after Torquay had lost seven of the first eight games of the season.
In July 1999 he was appointed manager of Totnes Town, a position he still held in April 2000. In May 2001, the Herald Express reported that Impey was still living in Torquay
.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
representing Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
and 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...
, and spent a season in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
. As manager, he led Torquay United to promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. He represented 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...
at Schools and Youth level.
Career
Impey joined Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
as a 14-year-old after being spotted playing at Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
for Exeter Schools against North Devon Schools. He turned professional with Cardiff in August 1972, moving on to A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in July 1975 where he established himself as a central defender
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....
. He spent the summer of 1979 on loan with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He made a total of 284 league appearances for Bournemouth before leaving to join Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in August 1983.
He moved to 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...
in July 1985 for a season but returned to Torquay in July 1986 and was appointed as captain by new manager Cyril Knowles
Cyril Knowles
Cyril Barry Knowles was a footballer who played full-back for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He was the brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Knowles.- Early career :...
a year later as Torquay almost reached the play-offs. He retired from full-time football after one more season, and joined Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
as player-assistant manager, spending a brief period as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
in early 1989. In the 1989–90 season he played in the Western Football League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
for Tiverton Town
Tiverton Town F.C.
Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...
.
Impey remained at Torquay United as youth coach under first Knowles and then Dave Smith. Smith was sacked in April 1991 after Torquay's promotion push appeared to be falling apart and Impey was appointed manager, the first to be appointed by chairman Mike Bateson
Mike Bateson
Mike Bateson is an English businessman and former chairman of Torquay United Football Club.Bateson was brought up in Blackpool and after a spell in the Scots Guards made his fortune selling double glazing in the South-West of England...
, guiding them to the play-offs by finishing in seventh place in the Fourth Division. They beat 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...
in the play-off semi-final and on 31 May 1991 Impey led his side out at Wembley for the final against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. The game went to a penalty shootout, which went to sudden death. Goalkeeper Gareth Howells scored Torquay's sixth penalty, Blackpool forward Dave Bamber
Dave Bamber
John David Bamber is an English former professional footballer.His nicknames included Bambs and Dipper Bamber, the latter for the way in which he lurched forward to head the ball....
missed, and Torquay were in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
for the first time in 19 years. Impey was sacked in October 1991 after Torquay had lost seven of the first eight games of the season.
In July 1999 he was appointed manager of Totnes Town, a position he still held in April 2000. In May 2001, the Herald Express reported that Impey was still living in Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
.
External links
- 1979 Seattle Sounders roster
- NASL stats
- League stats at Neil Brown's site