John Denby

For other people named John Denby, see John Denby (disambiguation).
John Denby
Personal information
Full name John Denby
Date of birth Not known
Place of birth Sutton-in-Ashfield, England
Date of death Not known
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Half back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
19??–1911 Chesterfield
1911–1915 Southampton 127 (8)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


John Denby was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton in the Southern League from 1911 to 1915.

Football career

Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield he started his career with Chesterfield. In the summer of 1911 Southampton's new manager George Swift spent £820 recruiting 11 new players including a return to his former club to sign Denby. Denby made his "Saints" debut in the opening match of the 1911–12 season, a 1–1 draw with Millwall.[1]

Playing alongside Bert Lee and Jim McAlpine, he became an integral part of the team's defence up to the suspension of football in 1915. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints", Denby was "a strong, reliable player (who) played in all three half-back positions with equal merit and was the team's defensive pivot."[2]

His steady influence had a considerable effect on team performances and an improvement in their defensive play. He continued to give the club sterling service up to the outbreak of World War I when he retired from professional football.

References

  1. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 50–51. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  2. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
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