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John Bethune (footballer)

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John Bethune
Bethune while with Bristol Rovers in 1921.
Personal information
Full name John Bethune[1]
Date of birth (1888-10-19)19 October 1888
Place of birth Milngavie, Scotland
Date of death 23 January 1955(1955-01-23) (aged 66)[2]
Place of death Sittingbourne, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1908–1909 Milngavie Allander
1909–1910 Vale of Clyde
1910–1911 Ashfield
1911–1912 Heart of Midlothian 3 (0)
Hamilton Academical
0000–1912 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1912 Darlington
1912–1920 Barnsley 103 (1)
1920–1921 Bristol Rovers 30 (0)
1921–1922 Brentford 10 (0)
1922–1927 Sittingbourne
1927–? Sittingbourne Paper Mills
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Bethune (19 October 1888 – 23 January 1955), also known as Jack Bethune and Jock Bethune,[1][3] was a professional association footballer, who played in both the Scottish Football League and The Football League.

Born in Milngavie near Glasgow, Bethune began his career by playing local football in the Glasgow area for Ashfield.[4] He joined Edinburgh-based side Heart of Midlothian in 1912, for whom he played three times in the Scottish League in a brief spell with them before moving to English clubs Darlington and then Barnsley still within 1912.[3] He settled in Barnsley for almost eight years in a period that was interrupted by the First World War, making over 100 Football League appearances for them.[1]

Bethune, who was known to have a quick temper,[3] joined Bristol Rovers in 1920 for their first season as a Football League club but left for a trial with Brentford in 1921.[5] He played six League games during his trial, and a further four after signing for them permanently, but an injury suffered on Boxing Day that year ended his League career.[3]

He went on to play non-League football for Sittingbourne and Sittingbourne Paper Mills and after retiring as a footballer represented England at indoor bowls in 1936 and 1938.[1][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 25. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. ^ "Bristol Rovers Memorabilia – Football League Players Index". Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
  4. ^ "Bethune Jack Image 1 Bristol Rovers 1921". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  5. ^ Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club – The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. p. 115. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.