*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
John Fraser
Appearances: 47 Goals: 20
Date / Year of birth: 15th September 1938
Position: Winger
Season of first appearance: 1961/62
Season of last appearance: 1961/62
Also played for: Distillery (Northern Ireland), Glentoran (Northern Ireland), Sunderland (22,1), Portsmouth (1,0), Watford (29,4), Durban City (South Africa), Westview Apollon (South Africa), Germiston Callies (South Africa) and Corinthians (South Africa)
Pacy Belfast-born winger who started his career with Distillery and Glentoran in Northern Ireland before moving to England and joining Sunderland in February 1959.
John made his first team debut for Sunderland in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield at Roker Park on 28.2.59 and in November 1959 he played for Northern Ireland's 'B' team in a game against France. John had previously been a youth international too.
After making 22 first team appearances for Sunderland John moved to Portsmouth in June 1960 but only made one senior appearance there before joining Margate in the summer of 1961.
John made his debut in a 3-2 win over Rugby in the Southern League at Hartsdown Park on 23.8.61 and turned in numerous brilliant performances during the 1961/62 season. On 21.10.61 he set up three goals and scored two as Margate beat Guildford 6-2 in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The local paper described the game as "a Fraser classic". John was particularly adept at dribbling and his ball control led the paper to say that he "seemingly had glue on the toes of his boots".
In total he played 47 times during 1961/62 and scored an impressive 20 goals. They included a great strike in a famous 3-0 FA Cup 1st Round win at Bournemouth & Boscombe on 4.11.61 and on 25.11.61 John played in the 2nd Round tie against Notts County at Hartsdown Park which ended in a 1-1 draw. He then featured in the replay at Notts County on 30.11.61 which the home side won 3-1. On 30.12.61 he scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Ashford at Hartsdown Park.
John would have been virtually ever-present but for a freak injury sustained in February 1962. He slipped on one of his daughter's toys whilst fitting curtains and damaged his ankle. He was out for several weeks as a result.
In July 1962 John left Margate and moved back into the Football League. He signed for 3rd Division club Watford where he made 29 senior appearances during 1962/63 and 1963/64. He also befriended future Northern Ireland goalkeeping great Pat Jennings who was on Watford's books at the time.
In 1964 John emigrated to South Africa, initially joining Durban City. During his three seasons there (1964-1966) the club won the South African Bowl and Cup.
John moved on to Westview Apollon during the 1966 campaign before linking up with Germiston Callies for the 1967 season. In 1968 one of his team-mates there was former Margate striker John Fahy.
John's next move took him to Corinthians for the 1969 campaign and he then became assistant manager of his old club Durban City in 1971. He left Durban in 1974 and John then had a period out of football before taking over as manager of Berea FC for the 1977 season.
He was a welder by trade and worked for an engineering firm in St.Peters whilst with Margate.
In 2004 John was still living in Durban but later in the 2000's he moved to the Republic of Ireland.
John died in Waterford on 13.3.11 aged 72 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and his widow Joan told the Sunderland Echo "I know he retained a great affection for Sunderland. He loved playing at Roker Park".
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
|
|
1961/62 (MFC) |
47 (66) |
N/A |
20 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 20) |
2R |
RU |
SF |
W |
|
| Played and
scored in FA Cup 1st Round (04.11.61 - won 3-0 at Bournemouth
& Boscombe Athletic). Played in FA Cup 2nd Round (25.11.61 - drew 1-1 at home to Notts County). Played in FA Cup 2nd Round replay (30.11.61 - lost 3-1 at Notts County). | |||||||||