A product of the City’s nursery team, Modern Machines in the late 1940s full-back John struggled to get first team recognition due to the consistent form of Dick Mason. Then in 1951 he was called up for his National Service only to receive an injury in Korea. Subsequently demobbed he returned to Highfield Road and got his chance as a stand-in when Mason was injured. After just three appearances he was back to reserves and was released in 1954 and joined non-league Cheltenham Town.