John Hunter (footballer, born 1878)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Bryson Hunter | ||
| Date of birth | 6 April 1878 | ||
| Place of birth | Johnstone, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 12 January 1966 (aged 87) | ||
| Place of death |
Motherwell , Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) |
Centre forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Westmarch XI | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1897–1899 | Abercorn | 20 | (14) |
| 1899–1902 | Liverpool | 37 | (10) |
| 1902–1904 | Heart of Midlothian | 43 | (14) |
| 1904–1905 |
Woolwich Arsenal | 22 | (4) |
| 1905–1907 | Portsmouth | 37 | (11) |
| 1907–1910 | Dundee | 61 | (46) |
| 1910–1911 | Clyde | 17 | (4) |
| Total | 237 | (103) | |
| International career | |||
| 1909 | Scotland | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1911–1946 | Motherwell | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John Bryson Hunter (6 April 1878 – 12 January 1966), also known as "Sailor" Hunter, was a Scottish
Playing career
Hunter was born in
In 1904 he joined
Managerial career
Two months later, in April 1911, Hunter was appointed secretary-manager at
Hunter had a replacement for Ferguson in Willie MacFadyen, who would more than justify the managers faith in him. Motherwell finished fifth that season and for the next eight seasons they would not finish lower than third, with a League title in 1931–32. Hunter would remain as manager at Fir Park until 1946 when George Stevenson, inside left and playmaker of the team which won the Championship would take over. Sailor found it hard to leave Fir Park and remained as club secretary until his retirement in 1959 at the age of 80. The club granted him a weekly pension upon his retirement. He died in January 1966.
On 9 November 2016, Motherwell FC renamed the East Stand at Fir Park the 'John Hunter Stand' with the club saying at the time:
We currently honour and remember a number of our legends from yesteryear with the Joe Wark Lounge, the Phil O’Donnell & Davie Cooper Stands and the Martis, Weir, Humphrey and Paton Boxes in the South Stand.
In future years, we want young fans to ask who John Hunter was so his incomparable half-century contribution to Motherwell FC and his amazing story can be kept alive and well for every generation.[2]
On 4 November 2020, it was announced that Hunter was to be inducted into the Motherwell F.C. Hall of Fame.[3]
Honours
As a player
- Scottish Cup: 1910; Runner-up 1903
As a manager
- Scottish First Division(Level 1): 1932
- Scottish Cup: Runner-up 1931, 1933, 1939
References
- ^ John Litster (October 2012). A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. Scottish Football Historian magazine.
- ^ "The John Hunter Stand". motherwellfc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "John Hunter inducted to Hall of Fame". motherwellfc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- Smith, Alex (2004). Motherwell, Champions of Scotland 1931–32. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-87428-773-2.
- Lamming, Douglas (1987). A Scottish Soccer Internationalists Who's Who, 1872–1986. Hutton Press. ISBN 0-907033-47-4.
- Matthews, Tony (2006). Who's Who of Liverpool. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-84596-140-4.