Johnny Graham (footballer, born 1857)

John Graham (23 February 1857-23 February 1927) was a Scottish professional footballer of the 1880s. He was a player for Preston North End from 1884 until 27 March 1890 when he retired because of an injury.[1]

Johnny Graham
1889 sketch of Graham
Personal information
Full name John Graham
Date of birth 23 February 1857
Place of birth Coylton, Scotland
Date of death 23 February 1927(1927-02-23) (aged 70)
Position(s) Half-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1883–1884 Annbank
1884–1890 Preston North End 39 (0)
National team
1884 Scotland 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Johnny Graham was toughened by his job as a quarryman, joined Preston North End from Annbank. He played for Annbank, from 1883, in the Ayrshire Football Combination, and won one cap for the Scotland national football team in 1884. His one and only appearance for Scotland was in Scotland' first–ever British Home Championship match played on 26 January 1884 at Ulster Cricket Ground against Ireland. Scotland won 5–0. He joined Preston North End in season 1884–85. Johnny Graham played for Preston North End in the 1888 FA Cup Final against West Bromwich Albion at Kennington Oval on 24 March 1888. North End lost 2–1.[2][3]

Johnny Graham made his League debut on 8 September 1888 at wing-half for Preston North End against Burnley at Preston North End' Deepdale ground. Preston won 5–2. On his League debut Johnny Graham was the League' oldest player. One week later, 15 September 1888, Johnny Graham was replaced, as the League' oldest player by Joe Beverley of Blackburn Rovers. When Johnny Graham played as a wing – half on 6 October 1888 against Stoke, he was 31 years 226 days old; that made him, on that fifth weekend of League football, Preston North End' oldest player. Johnny Graham played in all of Preston' 22 League Championship matches. As a wing-half he played in a midfield that achieved a big (three goals or more) win on 12 separate occasions. Graham also played in all five FA Cup ties which included the semi–final and the final. The Final was played at Kennington Oval on 30 March 1889 and the Preston North End opponents were Wolverhampton Wanderers. Preston North End won 3–0 and Johnny Graham played at wing–half. Johnny Graham achieved League Championship and FA Cup winners medals.[4]

During the 1888-89 season his brother Willie Graham also played for Preston. He played 17 matches as he won his second League Championship winners medal. In the 1889-1890 season his football career was ended when he suffered a broken collarbone in a game. Though he never got on the score sheet for North end during their League days, he did create a number of goalscoring opportunities for the likes of John Goodall and Jimmy Ross with his long throws. He died on his 70th birthday.[5][6]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Soccer Data. p. 104. ISBN 1 899468 67 6.
  2. Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Preston North End. Breedon Books. p. 98. ISBN 1 85983 516 3.
  4. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 18 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
  5. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 18 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
  6. Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Preston North End. Breedon Books. p. 98. ISBN 1 85983 516 3.
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