*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 Wickens
Appearances: 67+10 Goals: 6
Date / Year of birth: 13th October 1944
Position: Midfielder / Striker
Season of first appearance: 1969/70
Season of last appearance: 1971/72
Also played for: Manchester United (0), Bexley United, Herne Bay, Canterbury City, Dover, Deal Town, Slade Green and Crockenhill
Hard-working player with a stocky build who was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire. John started his career as a junior at Manchester United and then played for Bexley during the 1963/64 and 1964/65 seasons.
In the summer of 1965 John joined Herne Bay and spent five seasons with them up to and including 1969/70. He was their captain for much of that time and played for Kent. John also played for Minnis Bay in the Thanet Premier Sunday League.
During the 1969/70 season John made three appearances (one as sub) for Margate in Kent Floodlight Cup ties, making his debut in a game at Sheppey on 8.10.69, although he continued to play for Herne Bay in the Kent League too.
However in the summer of 1970 he officially signed for Margate and he went on to make 42 appearances (three as sub) during the 1970/71 season. John scored two goals, one of which was a 25 yard effort in a Southern League Cup tie at Ashford on 26.8.70. On 21.11.70 he played as Margate lost 2-0 at Dagenham in the FA Cup 1st Round.
During the 1971/72 season he made a further 32 appearances (six as sub), playing either in midfield or as a striker. On 20.11.71 John featured in Margate's infamous 11-0 defeat at Bournemouth & Boscombe in the FA Cup 1st Round. He scored twice in a 3-2 defeat at Dover on 12.1.72 and one of John's goals was a cracking 20 yard effort. He scored four goals in total during the season but in May 1972 he was released by the club.
John joined Canterbury for the 1972/73 campaign and led City's scoring charts with 17 Southern League goals in 38 appearances (one as sub) during the season. He also scored a hat-trick as Canterbury beat Margate 3-2 in a Kent Senior Cup tie at Kingsmead on 23.1.73. John went on to spend three more seasons with City and by the time he left the club in the summer of 1976 he'd made a total of 144 Southern League appearances and scored 45 goals. He was City's top scorer for a second time during his last season there.
John joined Dover for the 1976/77 season and scored twice before moving on to Deal for the 1977/78 campaign.
He later had short spells with Slade Green and Crockenhill before returning to Herne Bay during 1978/79.
John became the Bay's player-manager in February 1980 aged 35 and during the 1982/83 season his assistant was former Margate player Graham Sawyer. At the end of that campaign John was sacked and by then he'd made over 300 appearances as a player for Herne Bay.
John started 1983/84 in charge of Thanet Premier Sunday League side Dalby and in November 1983 he became Thanet United's manager, taking over from Alan Fagan. Graham Sawyer again linked up with John to assist with training.
After generally improving Thanet's fortunes John was sacked in March 1987 after a bad run of results. Just before his dismissal John's old Margate team-mate Dai Yorath had told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "I would advise him to instill the same dedication and effort he always showed on the field into his own players."
John returned to Herne Bay for a second stint as manager a few months after leaving Thanet and was in charge there until March 1988 before moving to Portugal where he sadly died on 8.10.93 aged only 48. A minutes' silence was held for him before Margate's home game with Erith & Belvedere on 23.10.93.
John was a builder by trade and his brother Bob played alongside him at Herne Bay, Margate, Canterbury and Dover.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1969/70 (MFC) |
2 (72) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
3QR |
3R |
RU |
RU |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1970/71 (MFC) |
39 (72) |
3 |
2 |
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) |
26 (69) |
6 |
4 |
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). | |||||||||