*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 Kearns
Appearances: 22+1 Goals: 5
Date / Year of birth: 15th September 1952
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1970/71
Season of last appearance: 1971/72
Also played for: Epping Town
Well-built centre-forward who was the son of legendary Margate striker Freddie Kearns.
John joined Margate in the summer of 1970 and impressed in the reserves early in the 1970/71 season. In September 1970 he had a month's trial at Coventry.
John made his first team debut in a 3-0 win at Weymouth in the Southern League on 14.11.70 and had a good game, resulting in him signing professional forms soon after the match. The local paper described him as having "bags of heart" and his performance in Margate's 2-0 defeat at Dagenham in the FA Cup 1st Round on 21.11.70 prompted the Thanet Times to say that he had "latent potential". John made a total of 11 appearances for the first team (one as sub) during the season and scored three times. His first goal for the club came in a 1-1 draw with Bexley at Hartsdown Park on 18.1.71.
During the summer of 1971 John had contact lenses fitted and although he continued to be a regular in the reserves he only made 12 first team appearances during the 1971/72 season. He scored twice, with both goals coming in a 4-0 win over Poole at Hartsdown Park on 9.10.71. The first of them was described by the Thanet Times as "a thunderous drive". On 20.11.71 John featured in Margate's infamous 11-0 defeat at Bournemouth & Boscombe in the FA Cup 1st Round. At the end of the season he was released.
He later had a spell with Epping Town that included the 1977/78 campaign.
In later years John returned to Thanet and played for local Sunday League side Westgate USC during the 1978/79 season. He also played locally for Dalby during 1981/82 and in 1987 he was still playing local football for Orb Strollers. Sometime after that he moved to the USA but by 2008 he was living in Thanet once more.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1970/71 (MFC) |
10 (72) |
1 |
3 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
QF |
GR |
| Played in FA Cup 1st Round (21.11.70 - lost 2-0 at Dagenham). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1971/72 (MFC) |
12 (69) |
0 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
2R |
GR |
| Played in FA Cup 1st Round (20.11.71 - lost 11-0 at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic). | |||||||||