Jump to content

John Wark: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎References: further reading
Line 85: Line 85:


==International playing career==
==International playing career==
From 1979, Wark was selected to play for his country, usually as a defender,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wark|chapter=Scotland the Brave|page=139}}</ref> eventually winning 29 caps for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and scoring seven goals.<ref name=stats/> [[Jock Stein]] was the Scotland manager who gave him his debut, in a game held on 19 May 1979, a [[1979 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]] match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at [[Ninian Park]]; Scotland lost 3–0.<ref name="PFA">{{cite web|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-centenary/pfa-centenary-auction---more-tributes-to-the-stars|title=PFA Centenary Auction - more tributes to the stars featured in this unique collection|last=Nannestad|first=Ian|date=2007-11-14|publisher=Professional Footballers' Association|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/international_fixture_details.cfm?page=463&matchID=57471|title=Jock Stein: Wales 3–0 Scotland|publisher=Scottish Football Association|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Wark's first international goal came a week later on 26 May, again in a British Home Championship game, this time against [[England national football team|England]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. Unfortunately for Scotland, Wark's opening effort was not enough, as Scotland were defeated 3–1.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wark|chapter=International football|page=172}}</ref>
From 1979, Wark was selected to play for his country, usually as a defender,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wark|chapter=Scotland the Brave|page=139}}</ref> eventually winning 29 caps for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and scoring seven goals.<ref name=stats/> [[Jock Stein]] was the Scotland manager who gave him his debut, in a game held on 19 May 1979, a [[1979 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]] match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at [[Ninian Park]]; Scotland lost 3–0.<ref name="PFA">{{cite web|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-centenary/pfa-centenary-auction---more-tributes-to-the-stars|title=PFA Centenary Auction - more tributes to the stars featured in this unique collection|last=Nannestad|first=Ian|date=2007-11-14|publisher=Professional Footballers' Association|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/international_fixture_details.cfm?page=463&matchID=57471|title=Jock Stein: Wales 3–0 Scotland|publisher=Scottish Football Association|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Wark scored his first international goal a week later on 26 May, again in a British Home Championship game, this time against [[England national football team|England]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. Wark's opening effort was not enough, as Scotland were defeated 3–1.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wark|chapter=International football|page=172}}</ref>


After a 3–1 home defeat by [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in December 1979, Wark was not selected again for his country until February 1981 for the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]] qualifying match away against [[Israel national football team|Israel]].<ref name=stats/> Following a successful qualification campaign,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=133 | title=World Cup History | accessdate = 2009-06-01|publisher = Scottish Football Association}}</ref> Wark was included in the Scotland squad that went to the World Cup in Spain under Stein's leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/teams/team=43967.html|title=1982 FIFA World Cup Teams: Scotland|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Wark played three games and scored two goals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=59816/index.html|title=FIFA Player Statistics: John Wark|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> both of which were in a single match against [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]], a game Scotland won 5–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/results/matches/match=1051/report.html|title=1982 FIFA World Cup Spain: Scotland – New Zealand|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Scotland were knocked out in the group stage.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/results/index.html | publisher = Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) | accessdate = 2009-04-29 | title = 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain}}</ref>
After a 3–1 home defeat by [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in December 1979, Wark was not selected again for his country until February 1981 for the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]] qualifying match away against [[Israel national football team|Israel]].<ref name=stats/> Following a successful qualification campaign,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=133 | title=World Cup History | accessdate = 2009-06-01|publisher = Scottish Football Association}}</ref> Wark was included in the Scotland squad that won the World Cup in Spain under Stein's leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/teams/team=43967.html|title=1982 FIFA World Cup Teams: Scotland|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Wark played three games and scored two goals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=59816/index.html|title=FIFA Player Statistics: John Wark|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> both of which were in a single match against [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]], a game Scotland won 5–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/results/matches/match=1051/report.html|title=1982 FIFA World Cup Spain: Scotland – New Zealand|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)|accessdate=2009-04-25}}</ref> Scotland were knocked out in the group stage.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=59/results/index.html | publisher = Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) | accessdate = 2009-04-29 | title = 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain}}</ref>


Wark's final appearance for Scotland came in September 1984, under Stein;<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/international_fixture_details.cfm?page=463&matchID=57685| title = Scotland v Yugoslavia|publisher = Scottish Football Association| accessdate=2009-05-26}}</ref> he was replaced in favour of [[Paul McStay]] at half-time in a 6–1 victory over [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]].<ref name=stats/>
Wark's final appearance for Scotland came in September 1984, under Stein;<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/international_fixture_details.cfm?page=463&matchID=57685| title = Scotland v Yugoslavia|publisher = Scottish Football Association| accessdate=2009-05-26}}</ref> he was replaced in favour of [[Paul McStay]] at half-time in a 6–1 victory over [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]].<ref name=stats/>

Revision as of 21:46, 23 June 2009

John Wark
Personal information
Full name John Wark
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder

John Wark (born 4 August 1957) is a Scottish former footballer who spent most of his playing time with Ipswich Town, for whom he won a record four Player of the Year awards before becoming one of the four inaugural members of the club's Hall of Fame. Wark had long spells at the club, which bookended his career, and a third, briefer interlude dividing his short periods at Liverpool and Middlesbrough. A versatile player, Wark played most of his professional games as a midfielder, although he sometimes played as a central defender and on occasion as a striker.

Born in Glasgow, Wark represented Scotland in international football, winning 29 caps and scoring seven goals. This included selection for Scotland in the 1982 FIFA World Cup: he made three appearances and scored twice.

During his playing career, Wark appeared in the film Escape to Victory. Since retiring as a player, Wark has continued to work for Ipswich Town. He has written an autobiography, published in 2009. As of April 2009, he works in the corporate hospitality department at Ipswich Town.

Early life

Wark was born on 4 August 1957, in Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital to parents Alex and Helen. The third of four children, he has an older sister Wilma, older brother Alex and younger brother Andrew.[2] The family lived in a four-storey tenement block in Partick. The family was impoverished: Wark's parents could not afford a cot and as a small child, he slept in a drawer from a sideboard.[3] Although christened John, Wark was soon referred to by his family as Johnny, a diminutive which stuck throughout his footballing career.[4]

The family moved to another tenement block, this time in Scotstoun, and Wark's father secured employment at nearby Albion Motors. The new home accommodated a back yard in which Wark played football from the age of six. Wark says "[f]ootball seemed to occupy 99 per cent of my time as a youngster"[5] and he tried to emulate his brother Alex, who had become a professional at St. Mirren.[6] Wark attended Scotstoun Primary School, where he became captain of the football team. When he moved to secondary school, he was selected for the Glasgow Schools representative team.[7] He also played for Drumchapel Amateurs at the under-14 level, where he was, for a period, managed by David Moyes' father, also named David.[8]

During Wark's time at Drumchapel, he attracted the attention of Celtic. He trained with the club at their Parkhead ground, before being invited to sign schoolboy forms for the club. As a lifelong Rangers fan (with whom Celtic have a notable rivalry)[9] and with interest from "several English clubs", including Bristol City, Manchester City and Ipswich Town, Wark stalled on the offer.[10] Wark trialled with both Ipswich Town and Manchester City, and selected Ipswich when the latter remained non-committal. On arrival at Portman Road, Town manager Bobby Robson, whom Wark later described as the person in football "who had the single biggest influence on [him]",[11] personally welcomed him and Wark signed with the club as an apprentice.[12]

Domestic playing career

First spell at Ipswich

Bobby Robson – a reassuring first manager

Wark started his career at Ipswich in the youth team, playing initially at left back before moving to the centre of defence and occasionally occupying the right back position.[13] He signed as a professional for the club on his 17th birthday.[14] Selected for the senior squad as a replacement for the injured Kevin Beattie, Wark made his first-team debut on 27 March 1975 in the 3–2 FA Cup 6th round (3rd replay) victory over Leeds United;[15][nb 1] the game was played at Leicester City's Filbert Street.[17] A nervous and homesick Wark was reassured by manager Robson:

"My debut was in the quarter-final of the FA Cup against the Leeds team of Giles and Bremner. He [Robson] said, 'I wouldn't put you in the team if I didn't think you were good enough'. He was a father figure as well because I was homesick. If it hadn't been for the boss I would have been straight back to Glasgow."[18]

Making four more first-team appearances in place of injured regulars, Wark ended the season still on the youth team, and experienced success in the final of the FA Youth Cup, defeating West Ham United 5–1.[19] He spent much of the 1975–76 season playing for the reserves, and was presented with the club's Young Player of the Year award, despite making just four appearances for the senior team.[20] Moving into midfield, Wark made over 30 appearances in the 1976–77 season, scoring his first goals for the club, (10, in all)[1] taking over penalty kicking duty; he also received his first red card.[21]

In the June of 1977, Wark was selected for the Scotland squad for the first time, for a friendly match against East Germany;[22] however, a torn hamstring sustained in pre-season training ended any chance of an international debut.[22] The injury also kept him out of first-team football until January 1978, when he returned for a match against Cardiff City in the third round of the 1977–78 FA Cup.[22]

Indifferent league performances that season meant that Ipswich finished just three points above the relegation zone,[23] but the season ended in success in the FA Cup. Wark scored in a 3–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the semi-final,[24] and appeared in the final at Wembley as part of a side that surprised favourites Arsenal,[25] winning the game 1–0.[26] Wark remarked, "We were underdogs but on the day we hammered them."[27] Wark did not touch the ball for the first 18 minutes of the match,[28] and as the players left the pitch at half-time, David Geddis said to Wark, "Make sure you hit it between the posts in the second-half. Avoid the white bits."[29] In the second half of the game, Wark "ignored Geddis' advice and hit Pat Jennings' right post twice with almost identical swerving right-foot shots from outside the penalty area".[30]

Twice in the three seasons that followed Ipswich came within one game of winning the League championship, but finished as runners-up to Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively. However, Ipswich did win a European trophy, the club's only,[31] when they lifted the UEFA Cup in 1981. Wark set a competition record by scoring 14 goals, including two, one in each leg, in the final as Ipswich overcame Dutch side AZ 67 Alkmaar 5–4 on aggregate.[32] Wark's record equalled the long-standing scoring record in a European competition, set by Jose Altafini of A.C. Milan in the 1962–63 European Cup;[33][nb 2] Wark triumphed personally that year too, winning a European accolade, Young Player of the Year,[35] and gained the acclaim of his fellow professionals in England to earn the PFA Player of the Year award.[36] He ended the 1980–81 season with 36 goals.[1]

Wark continued to play for Ipswich, but, after Robson left to become England manager in 1982, the side was gradually broken up by new manager Bobby Ferguson.[37] Following a rejected demand for a wage increase, Wark submitted a transfer request, which was accepted.[38] He signed for Liverpool for £450,000 on 10 March 1984, seen as one of three replacements for Graeme Souness, who was leaving to play for Sampdoria in Italy that summer.[39] At the time, Liverpool had won the league title six times, the European Cup three times and the League Cup three times in the preceding eight seasons.[40]

Liverpool

The medical examination for Wark's transfer surprised him somewhat:

"I was rather taken aback when the doctor entered the Anfield boot room," Wark said.

"He was small in stature and I could not help but detect the smell of alcohol on his breath as he introduced himself to me. I was even more surprised when he announced we would stay put to conduct the medical examination.

"He took my blood pressure, looked at the reading and muttered 'that's fine'. Then something happened that to this day I still cannot get over. He asked me to bend down and touch my toes.

"Trying not to show my surprise, I did exactly as he asked and as I lifted my head he spoke again, this time to announce 'you've passed'. That was it, my Liverpool medical."[41]

Wark made his debut for the club on 31 March 1984 in a 2–0 league win against Watford at Vicarage Road,[42] and scored Liverpool's opening goal in the 58th minute.[43] Liverpool won the English league title that season, and Wark made sufficient appearances to earn himself a medal.[44] The unusual ability Wark possessed as a goalscoring midfielder was shown when he finished the 1984–85 season as the club's top goalscorer, ahead of prolific striker Ian Rush,[45] with a tally of 27 goals in 62 appearances—a goal every 2.3 games.[1] Wark's season included three hat-tricks, one each in the League, the FA Cup and the European Cup.[46] Liverpool qualified for the the 1985 European Cup Final but the match was overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium Disaster, a tragedy Wark remembers as "a nightmare memory".[47]

In the 1985–86 season, Wark made 18 appearances, scoring six times,[1] but missed out on the club's run-in to their League and FA Cup "double", due to a broken ankle early in 1986, followed by an Achilles tendon injury.[48] Wark eventually regained his fitness but struggled to regain his place in the Liverpool team until injury to Steve McMahon allowed him back in.[48] Wark came on as a late substitute (but according to him, never touched the ball)[49] when Liverpool lost the 1987 League Cup Final to Arsenal. No longer a part of manager Kenny Dalglish's plans,[49] Wark was sold back to Ipswich on 4 January 1988 for £100,000.[50] In spite of more financially lucrative offers from both Watford and Coventry City, he followed Bobby Robson's advice: "Money isn't everything—go where you will be happiest."[51] Wark left the Merseyside club with a record of 42 goals in 108 appearances, a goal every 2.6 games.[1]

Second spell at Ipswich

Ipswich had been relegated 18 months before Wark's return to the club and were still playing in the second tier of English football.[51] During this second spell at Ipswich, Wark was close to being an ever-present in the side: he missed just two games in two seasons.[1] He was the club's equal top-scorer in the 1988–89 season, sharing the achievement with forwards Dalian Atkinson and Jason Dozzell.[52]

Following three seasons of mid-table finishes,[nb 3] manager John Duncan was sacked and replaced by John Lyall.[53] With his contract expiring, Wark received what he considered to be a "derisory"[54] offer from Lyall, which he declined. Once he became a free agent, Wark signed on a free transfer for Second Division rivals Middlesbrough in August 1990.[54] In his two additional seasons with Ipswich, Wark had scored 20 goals,[1] and won the club's Player of the Year award in both seasons.[55]

Middlesbrough

Wark signed for Middlesbrough, the first club to show "a definite interest" in him, on a two-year contract, moving back to play in the centre of defence.[56] He made regular appearances and helped the team to seventh place by the end of the season and qualification for the Second Division play-offs.[57] Following a 1–1 draw with Notts County at Ayresome Park, Wark was informed by manager Colin Todd that he would not be selected for the second leg. Wark was outraged; Middlesbrough lost the second leg 1–0.[58] Todd departed from the club and was replaced by Lennie Lawrence, who insisted that all players live "within an hour of Ayresome Park". Wark was still living in Ipswich at the time and following a "sensible agreement" with Lawrence, Wark's contract was terminated and he became a free agent again.[59]

Third spell at Ipswich

Remaining without a club before the start of the 1991–92 season, Wark trained with Ipswich to keep fit, and rejected interest in his services from Leyton Orient, Colchester United and Falkirk.[60] When Ipswich suffered a succession of injuries among their defenders, they offered him a contract, initially on a week-by-week basis, before securing a year-long deal.[60] Wark made 43 appearances in the first season of his third spell with the club.[1] Results early in the season were excellent; the club won seven of their first eleven matches in the league.[61] In the FA Cup, Ipswich progressed to a fifth round encounter against Liverpool; when the tie went to a replay at Anfield, Wark received a standing ovation from both sets of fans.[62] Ipswich lost the match, and their league form subsided somewhat thereafter, but they were still crowned Second Division champions and were promoted into the newly formed Premier League.[63] Wark ended the season as the club's Player of the Year for the third time.[55]

Wark agreed to a new one-year contract for the 1992–93 season and was asked to feature in a Sky Sports advertisement to promote the inaugural Premier League competition.[62] Ipswich were the only Premier League club to remain unbeaten after eight games (a sequence that included Wark's first Premier League goal in a 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur).[64] Ipswich were still in the top six at Christmas, but 13 consecutive games without a win resulted a 16th place finish in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.[65][66] Wark, now aged 37, secured yet another one-year contract shortly before the end of the 1993–94 season. Ipswich were saved from relegation in the last round of matches, courtesy of an injury time goal scored by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which ensured that Ipswich's fellow strugglers Sheffield United went down.[67] Wark went on to be voted the club's Player of the Year for a record fourth time.[55]

Ipswich and Wark fared worse in the 1994–95 season. The club lost 9–0 to Manchester United during a season in which Ipswich "recorded fewer victories and suffered more defeats than in any campaign in the club's history".[68] Wark made fewer than 20 appearances in the following season, primarily because of a persistent foot injury.[68] Despite playing three more matches in the 1996–97 season, and a testimonial against Arsenal at Portman Road, Wark played his last professional match against Tranmere Rovers on 30 November 1996.[68] Of a total 826 league matches played by Wark as a professional, he made 679 appearances for Ipswich.[1] As of 5 June 2009, he is Ipswich Town's third-highest all-time scorer, with 179 goals scored for the club, despite rarely appearing as a striker.[1]

International playing career

From 1979, Wark was selected to play for his country, usually as a defender,[69] eventually winning 29 caps for Scotland and scoring seven goals.[1] Jock Stein was the Scotland manager who gave him his debut, in a game held on 19 May 1979, a British Home Championship match against Wales at Ninian Park; Scotland lost 3–0.[70][71] Wark scored his first international goal a week later on 26 May, again in a British Home Championship game, this time against England at Wembley. Wark's opening effort was not enough, as Scotland were defeated 3–1.[72]

After a 3–1 home defeat by Belgium in December 1979, Wark was not selected again for his country until February 1981 for the 1982 World Cup qualifying match away against Israel.[1] Following a successful qualification campaign,[73] Wark was included in the Scotland squad that won the World Cup in Spain under Stein's leadership.[74] Wark played three games and scored two goals,[75] both of which were in a single match against New Zealand, a game Scotland won 5–2.[76] Scotland were knocked out in the group stage.[77]

Wark's final appearance for Scotland came in September 1984, under Stein;[78] he was replaced in favour of Paul McStay at half-time in a 6–1 victory over Yugoslavia.[1]

Life outside football

Wark at Portman Road in 2007

Personal life

Wark has married twice—first to Toula, on 1 July 1981,[79] with whom he has a son, Andrew, born in June 1983.[80] He married Karen at Gretna Green in April 2009.[81] They currently reside in Onehouse near Stowmarket in Suffolk.[82]

Film appearance

In 1981, alongside other professional footballers including Bobby Moore and Pelé, Wark was recruited to act in the the Second World War football film Escape to Victory, which starred Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Max Von Sydow.[83] Wark played a character called Arthur Hayes,[84] but his only line had to be dubbed due to his broad Glaswegian accent.[83]

Since retirement as a player

Following his retirement from playing football professionally, Wark continued to live in Suffolk, like many other ex-Ipswich players, including Allan Hunter, Mick Mills, Roger Osborne and Mick Lambert.[85] Wark told local radio station Heart, "after my retirement from football I made a conscious decision to stay in Ipswich, as it has been my hometown for a major part of my life."[86] Despite his retirement from the professional ranks, Wark continued playing football as an amateur, including signing for Woodbridge Town in 1999 alongside former Ipswich team-mate Paul Mason.[87] He also played veterans football for Windsor and Eton,[87] played with Soccer AM's Badgers team at the Millennium Stadium,[88] and has represented the Liverpool veterans in the Sky Sports Masters series.[89]

In 2005, Wark was voted as the BBC television programme Football Focus' "all-time cult hero" by Ipswich Town fans.[90] In 2008 Radio Suffolk announced that he would join their commentary team as a summariser, alongside former team-mates Kevin Beattie and Bryan Hamilton.[91] As of April 2009, he currently works in the corporate hospitality department at Ipswich Town.[92]

Autobiography

Wark's autobiography Wark On was published on April 9, 2009.[93] The book contained material which gained media interest. It was reported that he made "a small fortune by flogging tickets for the FA Cup Final to a shady underworld ticket tout."[94] "Wark used his share of the cash to help pay for his wedding while a team-mate bankrolled a house extension. He added: "Other teams had done it, so why shouldn’t we? Nowadays it’s illegal but in those days it was regarded as a perk."[94] The report also highlighted "a dig" at the current "crop of stars" at Anfield. He said: "None of that lot would have been good enough in my time at Anfield."[94]

Playing style and personality

Wark played as a central defender,[95] midfielder and occasionally as a striker.[96] Wark was an unusual player, able to play as a defensive midfielder, yet break forward to score; according to former team-mate Terry Butcher, this was because his colleagues would drop back to cover for him: "I played with John Wark, who was a sitting midfielder but was one of the top scorers in England and Europe. If you see it, then do it, as long as the others spot it and cover for you."[97]

Wark was not a "supremely talented" player, but, according to football journalist Jim White, one who espoused team-work and team spirit: "There is no question that the 'one-for-all, all-for-one' mentality generated in the Anfield dressing room was the engine that drove the great team. With players such as Alan Kennedy, John Wark, Sammy Lee and Craig Johnston, nobody could claim this was a collection of top-notch operators in the manner, say, of the current Real Madrid. Every week, they played as an entity greater than the sum of its parts."[98] He has been described as "a defensive midfielder with an astonishing goalscoring record".[99]

While playing, Wark retained the ability to be humorous and friendly even with the fiercest of rivals. Former Norwich City goalkeeper Bryan Gunn recalls one of his most "memorable derby moments":

"one of the best was in the ... 1995–96 season, when referee Kevin Lynch awarded [Ipswich] Town their second penalty of the game ... John Wark and I were having a bit of a laugh. I asked him where he was going to put his penalty and he said 'In the back of the net'."[100]

Furthermore, Wark remained modest and able to take a joke at his own expense, for example in this story recounted by former Scotland team mate, Gordon Strachan:

"Jock ... said to John Wark one day ... 'John, is it fair to say if you're no' scoring goals you're nae use to us?' and John just sat there and said 'aye, have to agree'."[101]

Over the years, Wark has become closely associated with his moustache. Owen Slot described the player as "Ipswich's immortal moustache",[102] while Wark himself notes "... it is something of a trademark, even if people are always calling me Bruce ..."[103]

Honours

In 2006 Wark gained the final place in the poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, which was conducted by the liverpoolfc.tv website.[104] The list was compiled as a result of a fan survey: "Over 110,000 supporters all nominated their own personal Top 10 players in order of impact made".[104] In 2007, the Professional Footballers Association polled fans of all Football League clubs, as to "their No 1 player" as part of the "centenary celebrations of the players' union"; Wark was the choice of Ipswich fans.[105] In the same year, Wark was one of four Ipswich Town players to be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.[106]

Ipswich Town

Winner

Runner up

Liverpool

Winner

Runner up

Scotland national team

  • 1979–84 29 caps, 7 goals
All honours referenced by:[1]

Career statistics

Club performances, by season[1]
Club Season Appearances Goals
Football
League 		FA Cup League
Cup 		Other
Ipswich Town 1974–75 3 2 0 0 0
1975–76 3 1 0 0 0
1976–77 33 3 2 0 10
1977–78 18 7 0 1 7
1978–79 42 5 1 7 9
1979–80 41 4 2 3 15
1980–81 40 7 5 12 36
1981–82 42 3 8 2 23
1982–83 42 3 2 2 23
1983–84 32 2 4 0 11
Subtotal 266 37 24 27 134
Liverpool 1983–84 9 0 0 0 2
1984–85 40 7 3 12 27
1985–86 9 4 3 2 6
1986–87 11 2 3 1 7
1987–88 1 0 1 0 0
Subtotal 70 13 10 15 42
Ipswich Town 1987–88 7 0 0 2 2
1988–89 41 1 3 4 13
1989–90 41 2 1 3 10
Subtotal 89 3 4 9 25
Middlesbrough 1990–91 32 2 5 0 2
Subtotal 32 2 5 0 2
Ipswich Town 1991–92 37 5 1 3 3
1992–93 37 4 7 0 7
1993–94 38 5 3 0 4
1994–95 26 2 0 0 4
1995–96 14 2 1 2 2
1996–97 2 0 1 0 0
Subtotal 154 18 13 5 20
Grand total 611 73 56 56 223
International performances, by calendar year[1]
National team Season Apps Goals
Scotland 1979 9 1
1980 0 0
1981 3 1
1982 8 4
1983 6 1
1984 3 0
Total 29 7

Notes

  1. ^ Ipswich and Leeds United had already featured in three draws in the sixth round of the FA Cup 1974–75. The third match was played at Filbert Street, a neutral venue, with the fourth match, the third replay, taking place at the same location two days later.[16]
  2. ^ The tally was exceeded by Jurgen Klinsmann, who scored 15 in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup.[34]
  3. ^ Including the season before Wark's return to Ipswich.

References

General
  • Wark, John. Wark On - The Autobiography of John Wark. Know the Score Books. ISBN 978-1-84818-511-1.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wark. "Career statistics". pp. 171–176. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Wark. "I belong to Glasgow". p. 16. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ Wark. p. 17. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Wark. p. 19. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ Wark. pp. 22–24. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ Wark. "On trial". p. 26. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ Wark. p. 28. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ Wark. pp. 29–30. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "A rivalry tied up in religion". BBC News. 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  10. ^ Wark. pp. 30–31. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ Wark. p. 36. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ Wark. p. 33. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Wark. pp. 33–37. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ Wark. p. 43. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Ipswich 1974/1975 results and fixtures". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  16. ^ "Ipswich 1974/1975 results and fixtures". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  17. ^ Wark. "Work hard play hard". pp. 38–39. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ "Tributes to Sir Bobby Robson". Daily Telegraph. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  19. ^ Wark. pp. 43–44. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ Wark. pp. 45–46. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ Wark. pp. 47–49. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ^ a b c Wark. "To cap it all". pp. 51–52. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ^ "Final 1977/1978 English Division 1 (old) Table". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  24. ^ "Ipswich's 1978 FA Cup story in video". BBC Suffolk. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  25. ^ Leach, Conrad (1999-12-14). "Richards closes the door on Ipswich". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  26. ^ "1978 - Osbourne's year". BBC Sport. 2000-05-10. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  27. ^ Winter, Henry (1993-03-06). "Football: FA Cup: Arsenal fearful of a Baker's dozen: Henry Winter looks forward to the FA Cup quarter-finals". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  28. ^ Wark. p. 58. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ^ "1978 FA Cup Winners (10)". BBC Suffolk. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  30. ^ "1978 FA Cup Winners (11)". BBC Suffolk. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  31. ^ "Club honours". Ipswich Town F.C. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  32. ^ "1980/81: Ipswich thankful for Thijssen". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  33. ^ "Altafini reflects on Milan marvel". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  34. ^ "Love conquers all in UEFA Cup goal race". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  35. ^ Clements, Derek (2004-11-07). "Caught in Time: Ipswich Town win the Uefa Cup, May 1981". The Times. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  36. ^ "Only here for the peers". BBC Sport. 2001-04-20. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  37. ^ Wark. "Goodbye Robson, Hello Wark". p. 81. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ^ Wark. pp. 80–84. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. ^ "Who is the new Mr Irreplaceable?". Sydney Morning Herald. 1984-08-23. Retrieved 2009-06-20. The other two were Jan Mølby and Kevin MacDonald.
  40. ^ "The Liverpool FC Trophy Cabinet". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  41. ^ Pearce, James (2009-04-16). "John Wark's big fear - I may not get a game for Liverpool p.1". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  42. ^ "English Division One (old) - Watford 0–2 Liverpool". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  43. ^ Wark. p. 88. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. ^ Wark. p. 89. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ^ "Paisley's opinion on John Wark". bobpaisley.com. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  46. ^ "All hat-tricks in official matches since 1892". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  47. ^ Wark. p. 100. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  48. ^ a b Wark. p. 103. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  49. ^ a b Wark. p. 104. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. ^ Pearce, James (2009-04-16). "John Wark's big fear - I may not get a game for Liverpool p.2". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  51. ^ a b Wark. "Back home". p. 115. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  52. ^ Wark. p. 119. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  53. ^ "Club history". Ipswich Town F.C. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  54. ^ a b Wark. p. 123. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  55. ^ a b c "Players of the Year". Ipswich Town F.C. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  56. ^ Wark. p. 124. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  57. ^ "Final 1990/1991 English Division 2 (old) Table". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  58. ^ "English Div 2 (old) Play-Off 1990/1991". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  59. ^ Wark. p. 125. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  60. ^ a b Wark. "Renaissance man". pp. 126–127. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  61. ^ "Ipswich 1991/1992 results and fixtures". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  62. ^ a b Wark. pp. 128–129. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  63. ^ Dart, Tom (2009-04-24). "Hopes that glory years will return to Ipswich". The Times. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  64. ^ "Results - English Premier - Ipswich 1 - 1 Tottenham". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  65. ^ Wark. p. 130. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  66. ^ "Final 1992/1993 English Premier Table". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  67. ^ Haylett, Trevor (1994-05-09). "Football / Premiership Relegation Focus: Blades lose the final battle: Trevor Haylett reports on Sheffield United's 3-2 defeat at Chelsea which ensured their relegation". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  68. ^ a b c Wark. p. 136. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  69. ^ Wark. "Scotland the Brave". p. 139. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  70. ^ Nannestad, Ian (2007-11-14). "PFA Centenary Auction - more tributes to the stars featured in this unique collection". Professional Footballers' Association. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  71. ^ "Jock Stein: Wales 3–0 Scotland". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  72. ^ Wark. "International football". p. 172. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  73. ^ "World Cup History". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  74. ^ "1982 FIFA World Cup Teams: Scotland". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  75. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics: John Wark". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  76. ^ "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain: Scotland – New Zealand". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  77. ^ "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  78. ^ "Scotland v Yugoslavia". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  79. ^ Wark. p. 159. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  80. ^ Wark. p. 159. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  81. ^ Henderson, Mel (2009-04-29). "Where are they now? Sportsmail tracks down Ipswich's UEFA Cup heroes of 1981". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  82. ^ Wark. "I am what I am". p. 158. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  83. ^ a b Gordon, Phil (2009-03-31). "Terry Butcher calls for Scott Brown to walk in John Wark's footsteps". The Times. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  84. ^ Wark. p. 157. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  85. ^ Wark. p. 61. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  86. ^ "Have a Heart patrons". Heart Network. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  87. ^ a b Metcalf, Rupert (1999-02-19). "Football: Non-League Notebook: Wark eyes Wembley". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  88. ^ Wark. p. 164. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  89. ^ Smith, Ewan (2005-03-13). "Football: Butcher can give Gers the chop Says John Wark". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  90. ^ "Ipswich's cult heroes". BBC Sport. 2005-04-08. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  91. ^ "Radio Suffolk names expert team". BBC Sport. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  92. ^ Clements, Derek (2008-09-28). "Caught in Time: Field day for Tractor Boys". The Times. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  93. ^ "Wark on: The Autobiography of John Wark (Hardcover)". Amazon. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  94. ^ a b c Tait, Gordon (2009-03-16). "Wark: My secret is tout". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  95. ^ Allsop, Derick (1996-01-17). "Brave Ipswich rely on the Wright stuff". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  96. ^ Wark. pp. 121–122. ... I had a brief run as a makeshift striker alongside Chris Kiwomya... {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  97. ^ McGowan, Stephen (2009-03-31). "My war cry to rouse a nation: Butcher calls for Scotland to ice the Icelanders". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  98. ^ Bolchover, David. The 90-minute manager. Prentice Hall. p. 209. ISBN 0273693840.
  99. ^ Benammar, Emily (2008-04-28). "PFA Player of the Year winners 1974-2007". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  100. ^ Gunn, Bryan (2009-04-17). "It was an Ullathorne own goal, okay! Say no more". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  101. ^ "From Celtic to Cardiff a new chapter unfolds". The Scotsman. 2005-09-11. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  102. ^ Slot, Owen (1994-02-18). "Spectator sport: Turning his back on the football field, Julian Germain takes photographs of aspiring fanatics. Owen Slot calls the shots". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  103. ^ Wark. p. 166. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  104. ^ a b "100 PWSTK - The Definitive List". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  105. ^ "Best footballers: Shearer a hero on two fronts". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  106. ^ "Fab Four are guests of club". Ipswich Town F.C. 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2009-06-06.

Further reading

  • Hayes, Dean. The Who's Who of Ipswich Town. Breedon Books. ISBN 1859835155.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Wark&oldid=298210284"