John Friar

John Friar
Personal information
Full name	John Friar
Date of birth	18 July 1911
Place of birth	Cambusnethan, Scotland
Date of death	22 May 1979 (aged 67)
Place of death	Bathgate, Scotland
Position(s)	Right-winger
Youth career
	Carluke Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team
1929–1931	Bradford City
1931–1932	Hibernian
1932–1933	Portsmouth
1933–1934	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
1934	Port Vale
1934–1936	Preston North End
1936–1939	Norwich City
1939	Ipswich Town
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Friar (18 July 1911 – 22 May 1979) was a Scottish footballer who played on the right-wing. He represented Carluke Rovers, Bradford City, Hibernian, Portsmouth, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Port Vale, Preston North End, Norwich City, and Ipswich Town.

Playing career

Friar played for Carluke Rovers and Bradford City, before joining Hibernian. He made his debut on 8 August 1931, in a 1–0 win over Alloa Athletic at Easter Road, and scored his first goal for "Hibs" ten days later in a 3–1 win over Arbroath.^[2] He scored a total of 11 goals in 25 Second Division appearances in the 1931–32 season.^[2] He moved back to England in April 1932 when he signed with Portsmouth. In 1933, he and Jack Surtees were traded to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, with Len Williams moving in the opposite direction. He joined Port Vale in July 1934 and scored on his debut on 25 August; a 2–0 win over Sheffield United at The Old Recreation Ground.^[1] He went on to score braces in home wins over Southampton, Manchester United and Bury, and boasted a total of ten goals in the opening 18 Second Division games of the season.^[1] This record led him to be snapped up by First Division side Preston North End in December 1934, in exchange for Edward Critchley and a cash balance.^[1] He later played for Norwich City and Ipswich Town.^[1]

Sourced from John Friar at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bradford City	1929–30	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Portsmouth	1932–33	First Division	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	1933–34	Third Division South	34	11	2	0	2	2	38	13
Port Vale	1934–35	Second Division	18	10	0	0	0	0	18	10
Preston North End	1934–35	First Division	23	8	6	1	0	0	29	9
	1935–36	First Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		26	8	6	1	0	0	32	9
Norwich City	1935–36	Second Division	12	2	2	0	0	0	14	2
	1936–37	Second Division	13	3	0	0	0	0	13	3
	1937–38	Second Division	34	10	1	0	0	0	35	10
	1938–39	Second Division	23	3	1	0	0	0	24	3
	Total		82	18	4	0	0	0	86	18
Ipswich Town	1939–40		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career Total			161	48	12	1	2	2	175	51

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 107. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
^ ^a ^b "Friar, John". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 19 September 2012.