John Osborne (footballer)

John Osborne
Personal information
Date of birth (1940-12-01)1 December 1940
Place of birth Barlborough, Derbyshire, England
Date of death 7 November 1998(1998-11-07) (aged 57)
Place of death Worcester, Worcestershire, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1966 Chesterfield 110 (0)
1966–1977 West Bromwich Albion 250 (0)
1972Walsall (loan) 3 (0)
1978 Shamrock Rovers 1 (0)
Total 367 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Osborne (1 December 1940 – 7 November 1998) was an English football goalkeeper. He played for Chesterfield, West Bromwich Albion and Shamrock Rovers. Osborne was a member of Albion's great cup side of the late 1960s which played in 5 cup finals from 1966 to 1970, including the 1968 FA Cup final. His nickname was Bionic due to the plastic joint inserted in his finger.

He made his Rovers debut at Milltown under his old teammate Johnny Giles on 10 September 1978. He played 3 games in the 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup keeping 2 clean sheets giving him a total of 4 appearances for the Hoops.

In 2004, he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.[1]

Osborne was the commercial manager of Worcestershire County Cricket Club from 1986 to 1995, and played a significant part in the county's signing of long-time major sponsor MEB.[2]

He died in Evesham Hospital, Worcestershire on 7 November 1998 from lung cancer.

Honours

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West Bromwich Albion

References

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  1. ^ "The wraps come off 125th anniversary mural". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 4 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  2. ^ "Obituaries". 1999 Yearbook, Worcestershire County Cricket Club
  3. ^ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 491. ISBN 0354 09018 6.
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