*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 Munday
Appearances: 33+5 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 13th February 1970
Position: Defender / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1987/88
Season of last appearance: 1988/89
Also played for: Crystal Palace (0), Herne Bay, Ramsgate, Sheppey United and Folkestone Invicta
Left-sided, locally-born older brother of Mark Munday whose first involvement with Thanet United came when he played for the club's Under-14 side during the 1982/83 season. At that time John was a pupil at Dane Court Grammar School in Broadstairs and during his time there he played for Kent. In 1984 John signed schoolboy forms for Crystal Palace aged 14 and the Eagles' manager at the time was Alan Mullery.
After leaving school and Palace John played in some friendly matches for Herne Bay in the summer of 1986, including one against Thanet on 26.7.86.
He returned to Hartsdown Park for the 1987/88 season and played regularly for the reserves throughout the campaign. On 12.12.87 John made his first team debut in a 2-0 win at Andover and the Thanet Times said he was "invariably prominent in midfield". The Isle of Thanet Gazette felt he had "played exceptionally well". John kept his place for United's next two games but then returned to the reserves before being given a run of four games in the senior side from late January to early March 1988. He was in and out of the side for the remainder of the season, usually playing in midfield but also turning out at left-back on two occasions. John finished the campaign having made 14 first team appearances (four as sub) without scoring and he played 23 games for the reserves, scoring twice.
John started the 1988/89 season as a regular in the first team, playing in 17 of United's first 18 matches. He played at left-back initially but then settled into a midfield role and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he "showed up well" there in a 2-0 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown on 29.8.88. On 22.10.88 John was the first of four Thanet players to be sent off in the second half of an infamous FA Trophy tie against Leatherhead at Hartsdown. The Gazette said that he was dismissed for "a woeful foul" and John had to serve a three match ban as a result. After returning from his suspension he was in and out of the side for the remainder of the season and again played a few games as a left-back. In December 1988 John was sent off in a reserve team game against Dover and had to serve a 21 day ban that took effect during February and March of 1989. The last time John played for the first team appearance was on 1.5.89 as Thanet lost 5-0 at Sheppey. It was his 24th appearance (one as sub) of the season and John didn't manage to score. He also played 12 games for the reserves without scoring. In the summer of 1989 John left the club and joined Ramsgate for the 1989/90 season.
He stayed with the Rams until October 1991 when he moved on to Herne Bay in a straight swap for Paul Hill. John made over 70 appearances there until going back to Ramsgate in December 1993. Later in the 1993/94 season he scored a hat-trick as Ramsgate beat Crockenhill 9-1 in a Kent League Cup tie at Southwood.
Towards the end of 1994/95 John left the Rams and joined Sheppey. He then linked up with Folkestone Invicta for the 1995/96 season but returned to Ramsgate for the 1996/97 campaign.
In July 1996 John scored twice as the Rams drew 3-3 with Margate in a friendly and on 29.7.97 he was sent off after half an hour as Ramsgate lost 3-1 at Margate in the Link Music Cup. John was dismissed for kicking Paul Sykes and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was "a witless foul". His third spell with the Rams lasted until November 2000 when he rejoined Herne Bay.
He retired due to injury early in 2002 as the early stages of arthritis were starting in the joints of his feet.
In 2005 John was still living locally and had happy memories of his time with Crystal Palace as a youngster. Youth team games at Selhurst Park kicked off at 5.30 pm after the first team match had finished and many supporters stayed behind to watch. John recalled "I used to sit in the players lounge before home games and watch people like Vince Hilaire come and eat their pre-match meals. It was like a different world." John also said that one of his fondest memories was playing at The Valley before it was closed and Charlton started to groundshare. He also met John Toshack when he played against Swansea and the legendary Welshman presented John with a medal for scoring the only goal of the game when being marked by Toshack's son.
During the 2012/13 season John coached Ramsgate's Under-15's side.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1987/88 (TUFC) |
10 (56) |
4 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2QR |
GR |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1988/89 (TUFC) |
23 (52) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (20TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |