John Poppitt (20 January 1923 – 12 February 2014) was an English footballer who played as a

right back In the sport of association football, a defender is an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categ ...

The Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...

for

Derby County Derby County Football Club () is a professional association football club in Derby, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. One of the 12 founder members of the English Football ...

and

Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers Football Club, commonly abbreviated to QPR, is a professional association football club based in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English f ...

between 1947 and 1954 and also played for several

non-League Non-League football describes association football, football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is ...

clubs. He made over 100 League appearances for Queens Park Rangers.

Playing career

Born in West Sleekburn,

Northumberland Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...

, Poppitt played for local club West Sleekburn Welfare before joining

in May 1945, the Second World War having prevented him from signing earlier. Although usually a

, he made his first team debut for Derby in February 1947 as a

centre forward In the sport of association football, a forward (attacker or striker) is an outfield position which primarily plays further up the pitch than midfielders and defenders. As with any attacking player, the role of the forward relies heavily on be ...

. With Bert Mozley as the regular right back, Poppitt played mainly for the reserve team, but did make 16

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...

appearances for Derby before being transferred to

(QPR) in September 1950. He went on to make 106 League appearances for QPR before leaving the club in 1954. Poppitt went on to have a long career in

non-League football Non-League football describes association football, football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is ...

, firstly with Chelmsford City, who he joined in July 1954. He later signed for

Burton Albion Burton Albion Football Club is a professional association football club in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system. The club moved its home g ...

in June 1955, Banbury Spencer in May 1957,

Corby Town Corby Town Football Club is a football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Steel Park. History The club was established in 1948, taking over from Stewarts & Lloyds as the main team i ...

in June 1958 and Long Eaton United in January 1960. He was also player-coach of

Matlock Town Matlock Town Football Club is a association football, football club based in Matlock, Derbyshire, Matlock, Derbyshire, England. Nicknamed 'the Gladiators', they are currently members of the and play at Causeway Lane. History The club was esta ...

for two years from May 1965. After retiring from football, Poppitt settled in

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

, where he worked for the

East Midlands Electricity Board The East Midlands Electricity Board (EMEB) was formed in 1947 as one of the United Kingdom's twelve area electricity boards specified under the Electricity Act 1947. In 1990 it was floated on the stock market as East Midlands Electricity plc, ...

. He died in Derby on 12 February 2014, aged 91.

References

External links

* 1923 births 2014 deaths English men's footballers Derby County F.C. players Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Men's association football fullbacks English Football League players People from Choppington Footballers from Northumberland West Sleekburn Welfare F.C. players Chelmsford City F.C. players Burton Albion F.C. players Banbury United F.C. players Corby Town F.C. players Long Eaton United F.C. players Matlock Town F.C. players 20th-century English sportsmen {{England-footy-defender-1920s-stub