John Middleton (footballer born 1956)
John Middleton ( born December 24, 1956 in Lincoln ) is an English former football goalkeeper. The three-time English U-21 national team was instrumental in the rise of Nottingham Forest in the Zweitligaison 1976/77, before he was replaced by Peter Shilton and moved to Derby County. His professional career ended prematurely due to injury problems at the age of just 23 years.
Sports career
At the beginning of the 1970s to Middleton joined the youth wing of Nottingham Forest. From a young age he developed there after the jump into the professional division for first-choice goalkeeper. He rose in the 1976/77 season under manager Brian Clough as part of a defense with the second fewest goals against, and also won the Anglo - Scottish Cup. To this end, he graduated from the end of May / beginning of June 1977 against Finland (1-0 in Helsinki) and Norway ( 2-1 in Bergen ) two European Championship qualifying matches for the English U- 21 team.
Despite these positive signs acting coach Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor took the view need to be replicated at the goalkeeper position. The ambitions were big and athletic line committed to already in the English national team actively gewesenen Peter Shilton, who " would win games," in contrast to Middleton and ultimately making up the difference between a middle - and top-level team. In September 1977, he left "Forest" in the direction of Erstligakonkurrenten Derby County and until then five appearances he had only a small proportion of the surprising league title in 1978. Component of the transfers was an exchange transaction with Archie Gemmill, who hired in Nottingham in return.
Already in October 1977 displaced Middleton in Derby the former main goalkeeper Colin Boulton. After 34 Erstligaeinsätzen in the season 1977/78 followed 19 consecutive league games at the start of season 1978/79. Persistent injury problems finally attended in November 1978 and in April 1979 for a long recovery periods in which it took David McKellar. He returned at the start of the 1979/80 season and again completed the first 13 league games, overtook him before the next forced breaking and he eventually ended his professional career. The last competitive match was on 27 October 1979, a 2:3 defeat to Stoke City.
Title / Awards
- Anglo - Scottish Cup ( 1): 1977