John Craven (footballer)

John Craven

Personal information
Full name	John Roland Craven
Date of birth	May 15, 1947
Place of birth	Lytham St Annes, England
Date of death	December 14, 1996 (aged 49)
Place of death	United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1965–1971	Blackpool	163	(24)
1971–1973	Crystal Palace	63	(14)
1973–1977	Coventry City	89	(8)
1976–1978	Plymouth Argyle	45	(3)
1978–1980	Vancouver Whitecaps	70	(10)
1981	California Surf	19	(0)
Total		360	(49)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Roland Craven (May 15, 1947 – December 14, 1996) was an English professional football player. He began his playing career as a defender, but also played as a centre-forward on occasion.

Career

After leaving behind a career as a car mechanic, Craven made his professional debut at left-back in Blackpool's 4–0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on August 27, 1965. At first, he teamed up with skipper Jimmy Armfield, but after failing to displace Tommy Thompson, he switched to half-back. After a period in the forward line alongside Gerry Ingram and Alan Skirton, he was put back in the heart of defence by Ron Suart.

It was Les Shannon who converted Craven to the forward line on a permanent basis, and it was his partnerships with Fred Pickering and Mickey Burns that helped Blackpool to promotion in 1969–70.

During the 1970–71 season, during which Jimmy Armfield's appearances became sporadic as his playing career wound down, Bob Stokoe gave Craven the captain's armband.

Craven led Blackpool to success in the Anglo-Italian Cup Final, scoring the equalising goal as they went on to beat Bologna in the Italian city.

In 1971, Craven was voted Blackpool's Player of the Year, but that September he asked for a transfer and moved to Crystal Palace.

After two years with Palace, for whom he played mainly as a forward, he was transferred by Malcolm Allison to Coventry City. He subsequently played for Plymouth Argyle before moving to Canada to play three seasons for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He was the captain of the Whitecaps when they won the NASL Championship in 1979. He finished his career with California Surf in 1981.

Death

Craven died of a heart attack while in Orange, California in 1996.

References

• Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

• John Craven Stats at neilbrown.com