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{{short description|Scottish footballer, snooker referee}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Johnny Paton
| name = Johnny Paton
| image =
| image =
| fullname = John Aloysius Paton<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|15406|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref>
| fullname = John Aloysius Paton<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|15406|accessdate=11 March 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1923|04|02}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1923|04|02}}
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2015|10|02|1923|04|02}}<ref name="Hugman" />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|10|02|1923|04|02}}<ref name="Hugman" />
| death_place = [[Stanmore]], England
| death_place = [[Stanmore]], England
| position = [[Outside left]]
| position = [[Outside left]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = St. Mungo's Academy
| youthclubs1 = St. Mungo's Academy
Line 18: Line 19:
| years1 = 1942–1949
| years1 = 1942–1949
| clubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| clubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| caps1 = 52
| caps1 = 52
| goals1 = 12
| goals1 = 12
| years2 =
| years2 =
| clubs2 = → [[New York Americans (soccer)|New York Americans]] (guest)
| clubs2 = → [[New York Americans (soccer)|New York Americans]] (guest)
| caps2 =
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 1945
| years3 = 1945
| clubs3 = → [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] (guest)
| clubs3 = → [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] (guest)
| caps3 = 4
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1946–1947
| years4 = 1946–1947
| clubs4 = → [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] (loan)
| clubs4 = → [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] (loan)
| caps4 = 18
| caps4 = 18
| goals4 = 3
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 1949–1952
| years5 = 1949–1952
| clubs5 = [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
| clubs5 = [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
| caps5 = 90
| caps5 = 90
| goals5 = 14
| goals5 = 14
| years6 = 1952–1955
| years6 = 1952–1955
| clubs6 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| clubs6 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| caps6 = 84
| caps6 = 84
| goals6 = 17
| goals6 = 17
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland Schoolboys]]
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland Schoolboys]]
| nationalyears2 = 1940
| nationalyears2 = 1940
| nationalteam2 = [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Scotland Junior international team|Scotland Juniors]]
| nationalteam2 = [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Scotland Junior international team|Scotland Juniors]]
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1955–1956
| manageryears1 = 1955–1956
| managerclubs1 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| managerclubs1 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| manageryears2 = 1961–1965
| manageryears2 = 1961–1965
| managerclubs2 = [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves|Arsenal 'A']]
| managerclubs2 = [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves|Arsenal 'A']]
}}
}}
'''John Aloysius''' "'''Johnny'''" '''Paton''' (2 April 1923 – 2 October 2015) was a Scottish professional [[association football|football]] player, [[Manager (association football)|manager]], [[Coach (association football)|coach]], [[Scout (association football)|scout]] and later a professional [[snooker]] referee. He began his career in Scotland at [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and played in the [[The Football League|Football League]] for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] and [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]. Paton later managed Watford and [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves#1945–1999|Arsenal 'A']].
'''John Aloysius Paton''' (2 April 1923 – 2 October 2015) was a Scottish professional [[association football|football]] player, [[Manager (association football)|manager]], [[Coach (association football)|coach]], [[Scout (association football)|scout]] and later a professional [[snooker]] [[referee]]. He began his career in Scotland with [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and played in the [[The Football League|Football League]] for [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] and [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]. Paton later managed Watford and [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves#1945–1999|Arsenal 'A']].


==Club career==
==Club career==
===Celtic===
===Celtic===
Born in [[Glasgow]], Paton joined [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (the club he supported as a boy) during the [[Second World War]] in May 1942.<ref name="ozwhite">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/P/PatonJA.php |title=Leeds United F.C. History |publisher=Ozwhitelufc.net.au |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> An [[outside left]], he made his debut in a 2–0 [[Southern Football League (Scotland)|Southern League]] win over [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] on 16 January 1943.<ref name="ozwhite"/>
Born in [[Glasgow]], Paton joined [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (the club he supported as a boy) during the [[Second World War]] in May 1942.<ref name="ozwhite">{{Cite web |title=Paton: John Aloysius (Johnny) |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/players_profiles/P/PatonJA.php |access-date=9 August 2014 |publisher=Leeds United F.C. History}}</ref> An [[outside left]], he made his debut in a 2–0 [[Southern Football League (Scotland)|Southern League]] win over [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] on 16 January 1943.<ref name="ozwhite" />


During the war, Paton spent a period as a guest at [[American Soccer League (1933–83)|American Soccer League]] side [[New York Americans (soccer)|New York Americans]] while stationed in the United States and later guested for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in 1945 in England,<ref name="Timeless">{{Cite book |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last=Haynes |first=Graham |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |page=122}}</ref> making four appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/history/30.html|title=leeds-fans.org.uk: Leeds United Season 1944 – 1945: Football League (Northern Section)|last=|first=|date=|website=www.leeds-fans.org.uk|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> He also guested for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] during the conflict.<ref name="chelseafc">{{Cite web |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/features/the-weekend-interview-part-one--johnny-paton.html |title=The Weekend Interview part one: Johnny Paton |website=www.chelseafc.com |language=en-gb |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> Paton scored for Celtic in the Victory in Europe Cup triumph over [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queens Park]] on 9 May 1945.<ref name="ozwhite"/>
During the war, Paton spent a period as a guest at [[American Soccer League (1933–83)|American Soccer League]] club [[New York Americans (soccer)|New York Americans]] while stationed in the United States and later guested for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in 1945 in England,<ref name="Timeless">{{Cite book |last1=Haynes |first1=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |page=122}}</ref> making four appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leeds United Season 1944 – 1945: Football League (Northern Section) |url=https://www.leeds-fans.org.uk/leeds/history/30.html |access-date=8 June 2017 |website=www.leeds-fans.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> He also guested for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] during the conflict.<ref name="ozwhite" /> Paton scored for Celtic in the Victory in Europe Cup triumph over [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queens Park]] on 9 May 1945.<ref name="ozwhite" />


Due to the [[Association football during World War II|suspension of competitive football]] for the duration of the Second World War, Paton didn't make his first professional appearances for Celtic until the [[1947–48 Scottish First Division|1947–48]] season,<ref name="Fitbastats">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2548 |title=Celtic Player Johnny Paton Details |website=www.fitbastats.com |access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> making 52 league appearances and scoring 12 goals before departing the Bhoys in September 1949, his last competitive game being the 1949 [[Glasgow Cup]] victory over [[Third Lanark A.C.|Third Lanark]].<ref name="ozwhite"/> A dispute with the club's management over wages in the summer of 1949 caused Paton to move. In his seven years with Celtic, Paton made 108 appearances and scored 29 goals in all competitions.<ref name="ozwhite"/>
Due to the [[Association football during World War II|suspension of competitive football]] for the duration of the Second World War, Paton didn't make his first professional appearances for Celtic until the [[1947–48 Scottish First Division|1947–48]] season.<ref name="Fitbastats">{{Cite web |title=Celtic Player Johnny Paton Details |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2548 |access-date=26 October 2016 |website=www.fitbastats.com}}</ref> He made 77 appearances and scored 16 goals before a dispute with the club's management over wages led to his departure from [[Celtic Park]] in September 1949.<ref name="Fitbastats" /> His last competitive game was the 3–1 1949 [[Glasgow Cup]] Final victory over [[Third Lanark A.C.|Third Lanark]].<ref name="ozwhite" /> During the three post-war seasons with Celtic, Paton made 77 appearances and scored 16 goals.<ref name="ozwhite" />


====Chelsea (loan)====
====Chelsea (loan)====
Paton joined English [[Football League Division One|Division One]] side [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] in November 1946.<ref name="ozwhite"/> He made 23 appearances and scored three goals before returning to Celtic in May 1947.<ref name="stamfordbridge">{{Cite web |url=http://stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=437&surname=Paton&firstname=John%20A |title=John A Paton &#124; Chelsea Player Profile &#124; Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC |date=7 December 1946 |publisher=Stamford-bridge.com |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>
Paton joined English [[Football League First Division|First Division]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] in November 1946.<ref name="ozwhite" /> He made 23 appearances and scored three goals before returning to Celtic in May 1947.<ref name="stamfordbridge">{{Cite web |date=7 December 1946 |title=John A Paton &#124; Chelsea Player Profile |url=http://stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=437&surname=Paton&firstname=John%20A |access-date=9 August 2014 |publisher=Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC}}</ref>


===Brentford===
===Brentford===
Paton signed for [[Football League Division Two|Division Two]] side [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] in September 1949 for a £5,000 fee.<ref name="ozwhite"/> He had contacted ''[[The Star (London)|London Evening Star]]'' columnist and ex-[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] defender [[Bernard Joy]], asking for an advert to be placed in the paper that he was available for transfer. Brentford manager (and former Celtic player) [[Malky McDonald|Malcolm McDonald]] was the first to take up the option on Paton's services. He had a dream start to his career at [[Griffin Park]], scoring on his debut in a 2–0 win over [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue]] and bagging another goal against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in the following game.<ref name="White">{{Cite book|title=100 Years Of Brentford|last=|first=|publisher=Brentford FC|year=1989|isbn=0951526200|editor-last=White|editor-first=Eric|location=|pages=380–381|quote=|via=}}</ref>
Paton signed for [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] club [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] in September 1949 for a £5,000 fee.<ref name="ozwhite" /> He had contacted ''[[The Star (1888)|London Evening Star]]'' columnist (and ex-Arsenal defender) [[Bernard Joy]] and asked for an advert to be placed in the paper that he was available for transfer.<ref name="Timeless" /> Brentford manager (and former Celtic player) [[Malky McDonald|Malcolm McDonald]] was the first to take up the option on Paton's services.<ref name="Timeless" /> He had a dream start to his career at [[Griffin Park]], scoring on his debut in a 2–0 win over [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue]] and scoring again against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in the following game.<ref name="White">{{Cite book |title=100 Years Of Brentford |publisher=Brentford FC |year=1989 |isbn=0951526200 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Eric |pages=380–381}}</ref>


A knock suffered in a match versus [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on 29 October 1949 hampered his progress, with Paton ruing that he had a "gammy leg" for two years, from which he finally recovered after a successful operation at Brentford hospital.<ref name="gazette">{{Cite book|title=Griffin Gazette versus Oxford United 31/12/94|publisher=Quay Design Limited|location=Poole|page=33}}</ref> He played on at Brentford until the end of the [[1951–52 Brentford F.C. season|1951–52]] season, having made 94 appearances and scored 16 goals.<ref name="Timeless" />
A knock suffered in a match versus [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on 29 October 1949 hampered his progress, with Paton ruing that he had a "gammy leg" for two years, from which he finally recovered after a successful operation at [[Brentford]] hospital.<ref name="gazette">{{Cite book |title=Griffin Gazette versus Oxford United |date=31 December 1994 |publisher=Quay Design Limited |location=Poole |page=33}}</ref> He played on at Griffin Park until the end of the [[1951–52 Brentford F.C. season|1951–52]] season, by which time he had made 94 appearances and scored 16 goals.<ref name="Timeless" />


===Watford===
===Watford===
Paton and Brentford teammate [[Jimmy Bowie (footballer born 1924)|Jimmy Bowie]] joined [[Football League Division Three South|Division Three South]] side [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] in July 1952,<ref name="ozwhite" /> to help finance a deal which had seen [[Tommy Lawton]] move to the Bees the previous year.<ref name="gazette"/> He made 91 appearances and scored 17 goals before playing his final match in 1955.<ref name="watfordplayers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/+Pate-Pretty.pdf |title=Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Players – Pate to Pretty |access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>
Paton and Brentford teammate [[Jimmy Bowie (footballer born 1924)|Jimmy Bowie]] joined [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] club [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] in July 1952,<ref name="ozwhite" /> to help finance the transfer which had seen [[Tommy Lawton]] move to the Bees the previous year.<ref name="gazette" /> He made 91 appearances and scored 17 goals before playing his final match in 1955.<ref name="watfordplayers">{{Cite web |title=Players – Pate to Pretty |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.co.uk/downloads/players/+Pate-Pretty.pdf |access-date=26 October 2016 |website=Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 |page=4}}</ref>


==International and representative career==
==International and representative career==
Paton made appearances for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] at international level as a schoolboy and a [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Scotland Junior international team|junior]].<ref name="ozwhite"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/scotlandjuniors.xls|title=Scottish Football Historical Archive – Scotland Junior Internationals|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> He played for the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] representative team during the Second World War, appearing alongside [[Stanley Matthews]] for the team.<ref name="Scotsman">{{Cite web |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-john-johnny-paton-former-footballer-1-3953387 |title=Obituary: John (Johnny) Paton, former footballer |website=www.scotsman.com |access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>
Paton made appearances for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] at international level as a schoolboy and a [[Scottish Junior Football Association#Scotland Junior international team|junior]].<ref name="ozwhite" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotland Junior Internationals |url=http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/scotlandjuniorinternationals.xlsx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505110925/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/scotlandjuniorinternationals.xlsx |archive-date=5 May 2019 |access-date=12 April 2018 |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive}}</ref> He played for the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] representative team during the Second World War and appeared alongside [[Stanley Matthews]] in the team.<ref name="Scotsman">{{Cite web |title=Obituary: John (Johnny) Paton, former footballer |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-john-johnny-paton-former-footballer-1-3953387 |access-date=6 November 2016 |website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref>


==Coaching and scouting career==
==Coaching and scouting career==
Paton lamented the standard of football coaching in England in the early 1950s, saying "many managers deliberately starved their players of the ball during the week, believing it made them more hungry for it out on the pitch on a Saturday".<ref name="gazette"/> Paton and Brentford teammates [[Ron Greenwood]] and [[Jimmy Hill]] enrolled on the first ever [[The Football Association|FA]] coaching course at [[Lilleshall Hall|Lilleshall]] in the early 1950s. One of the instructors was Brentford [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Ted Gaskell]] and Paton roomed with Greenwood, Hill and [[Malcolm Allison]].<ref name="gazette"/>
Paton lamented the standard of football coaching in England in the early 1950s and said "many managers deliberately starved their players of the ball during the week, believing it made them more hungry for it out on the pitch on a Saturday".<ref name="gazette" /> Paton and Brentford teammates [[Ron Greenwood]] and [[Jimmy Hill]] enrolled on the first ever [[The Football Association|FA]] coaching course at [[Lilleshall Hall|Lilleshall]] in the early 1950s.<ref name="Timeless" /> One of the instructors was Brentford [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Ted Gaskell]] and Paton roomed with Greenwood, Hill and [[Malcolm Allison]].<ref name="gazette" /> Paton also led the [[Hertfordshire FA]]'s youth coaching scheme during the 1954–55 season.<ref name="watfordplayers" />


At Watford, Paton became the club's first ever [[player-coach]].<ref name="gazette"/> In the early 1960s, he worked as a [[Scout (association football)|scout]] for [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], focusing on Glasgow and [[Scotland]]. In 1961, [[Tommy Docherty]] offered Paton a scouting role and the position of [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves#1945–1999|'A' team]] manager at Division One side Arsenal.<ref name="gazette"/> Paton later found out that Ron Greenwood recommended him for the role. He won the [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1961–62|1961–62]] [[Metropolitan League Cup]] and the [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1962–63|1962–63 Metropolitan League]] title with the 'A' team.<ref name="gazette"/> He left the club in 1965.
In the early 1960s, Paton worked as a [[Scout (association football)|scout]] for [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], focusing on Glasgow and Scotland.<ref name="ozwhite" /> In 1961, [[Tommy Docherty]] offered Paton a scouting role and the position of [[Arsenal F.C. Reserves#1945–1999|'A' team]] manager at First Division club Arsenal.<ref name="gazette" /> Paton later found out that Ron Greenwood recommended him for the role. He won the [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1961–62|1961–62]] Metropolitan League Cup and the [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1962–63|1962–63 Metropolitan League]] title with the 'A' team.<ref name="gazette" /> He left the club in 1965.<ref name="watfordplayers" />


==Managerial career==
==Managerial career==
Paton was appointed manager of Watford in October 1955, succeeding [[Len Goulden]] as manager.<ref name="gazette"/> He had a good start to his reign, but after entering hospital for a [[cartilage]] operation on both knees, the team's form drained away in his absence.<ref name="gazette"/> Paton was relieved of his duties only four months into his reign, after just two wins from 15 Division Three South matches.<ref>Jones p. 272</ref>
After serving Watford as its first-ever [[player-coach]],<ref name="watfordplayers" /> Paton succeeded [[Len Goulden]] as manager in October 1955.<ref name="gazette" /> He had a good start to his reign, but after entering hospital for a [[cartilage]] operation on both knees, the team's form drained away in his absence.<ref name="gazette" /> Paton was relieved of his duties only four months into his reign, after just two wins from 15 Third Division South matches.<ref>Jones p. 272</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Paton was born into a family of Celtic supporters, with his grandfather holding a [[season ticket]] at [[Celtic Park]] and his father spending time on the club's books as a player.<ref name="Scotsman" /> In addition to football, Paton also competed as an [[amateur boxer|amateur welterweight boxer]] and in athletics as a youth.<ref name="Independent">{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/johnny-paton-energetic-left-winger-believed-to-be-the-oldest-surviving-footballer-to-have-played-for-a6763961.html |title=Johnny Paton: Energetic left-winger for Chelsea |work=The Independent |access-date=8 June 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref> During the Second World War, he served as a [[navigator]] in the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]].<ref name="chelseafc" /> In the late 1950s, Paton turned his back on football and worked as a [[press photographer]], [[snooker]] referee and as a [[sales rep]],<ref name="Independent" /> selling [[Chocolate biscuit|chocolate biscuits]].<ref name="gazette"/> Paton died in October 2015, aged 92.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/10/johnny-paton-1923-2015.html|title=Johnny Paton 1923–2015|work=chelseafc.com|publisher=Chelsea FC|date=2 October 2015|accessdate=2 October 2015}}</ref>
Paton was born into a family of Celtic supporters, with his grandfather holding a [[season ticket]] at Celtic Park and his father spending time on the club's books as a player.<ref name="Scotsman" /> In addition to football, Paton also competed as an [[amateur boxer|amateur welterweight boxer]] and in athletics as a youth.<ref name="Independent">{{Cite news |title=Johnny Paton: Energetic left-winger for Chelsea |language=en-GB |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/johnny-paton-energetic-left-winger-believed-to-be-the-oldest-surviving-footballer-to-have-played-for-a6763961.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2017 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/johnny-paton-energetic-left-winger-believed-to-be-the-oldest-surviving-footballer-to-have-played-for-a6763961.html |archive-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> During the Second World War, he served as a [[navigator]] in the RAF.<ref name="ozwhite" /> In the late 1950s, Paton turned his back on football and worked as a [[press photographer]], [[snooker]] referee and as a [[sales rep]],<ref name="Independent" /> selling [[chocolate biscuit]]s.<ref name="gazette" /> Paton died in October 2015, aged 92.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 October 2015 |title=Johnny Paton 1923–2015 |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/10/johnny-paton-1923-2015.html |access-date=2 October 2015 |website=chelseafc.com |publisher=Chelsea FC}}</ref>


⚫
== Career statistics ==
⚫
==Honours==
⚫
===As a player===
⚫
;Celtic
⚫
* Victory in Europe Cup: 1945<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/obituaries/14109817.Johnny_Paton/|title=Johnny Paton|website=Herald Scotland|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>


===As a manager===
=== Player ===
⚫
;Arsenal 'A'
⚫
* [[Metropolitan League]]: [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1962–63|1962–63]]<ref name="gazette" />
⚫
* [[Metropolitan League Cup]]: [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1961–62|1961–62]]<ref name="gazette" />

⚫
== Career statistics ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season
! rowspan="2" |Season
Line 120: Line 114:
| rowspan="4" |[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|[[1946–47 Scottish Division One|1946–47]]<ref name="Fitbastats" />
|[[1946–47 Scottish Division One|1946–47]]<ref name="Fitbastats" />
| rowspan="3" |[[Scottish League First Division]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Scottish League First Division|Scottish First Division]]
|0
|0
|0
|0
Line 139: Line 133:
|5
|5
|2
|2
|2<ref name="GC" group="lower-alpha">Appearances in [[Glasgow Cup]].</ref>
|2<ref name="GC" group="lower-alpha">Appearances in [[Glasgow Cup]]</ref>
|0
|0
|39
|39
Line 223: Line 217:
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|[[1952–53 Football League Third Division|1952–53]]<ref name="watfordseasons">{{Cite web |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/seasons/Mergedseasons1950to1960.pdf |title=Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Seasons – 1950/51 to 1959/60}}</ref>
|[[1952–53 Football League Third Division|1952–53]]<ref name="watfordseasons">{{Cite web |title=Seasons – 1950/51 to 1959/60 |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.co.uk/downloads/seasons/Seasons1950to1960.pdf |access-date=12 April 2018 |website=Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 |pages=3–6}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |[[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]]
|33
|33
Line 277: Line 271:
|}
|}
<references group="lower-alpha" />
<references group="lower-alpha" />

=== Manager ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Managerial record by team and tenure
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2" |To
! colspan="5" |Record
! rowspan="2" |Ref
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}
!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}
!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}
!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}
!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|align=left|October 1955
|align=left|February 1956
{{WDL|17|3|6|8|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="watfordseasons" />
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|17|3|6|8|decimals=1}}
!—
|}

⚫
==Honours==
⚫
===As a player===
⚫
;Celtic
⚫
* Victory in Europe Cup: 1945<ref>{{Cite web |title=Johnny Paton |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/obituaries/14109817.Johnny_Paton/ |access-date=26 October 2016 |website=Herald Scotland|date=28 November 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Glasgow Cup]]: 1948–49<ref name="ozwhite" />

===As a manager===
⚫
;Arsenal 'A'
⚫
* [[Metropolitan League]]: [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1962–63|1962–63]]<ref name="gazette" />
⚫
* Metropolitan League Cup: [[List of Metropolitan League seasons#1961–62|1961–62]]<ref name="gazette" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==

{{cite book|title=The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who|author=Jones, Trefor|year=1996|isbn=0-9527458-0-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jones, Trefor |title=The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who |year=1996 |publisher=T.G. Jones |isbn=0-9527458-0-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Leeds United F.C. wartime guest players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. wartime guest players]]
[[Category:Rotherham United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Rotherham United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Scotland youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Footballers from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Scottish footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Association football outside forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football outside forwards]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:New York Americans (ASL) players]]
[[Category:New York Americans (soccer) (1933–1956) players]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Scotland junior international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's junior international footballers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 21:31, 3 November 2024

Johnny Paton
Personal information
Full name John Aloysius Paton[1]
Date of birth (1923-04-02)2 April 1923
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 2 October 2015(2015-10-02) (aged 92)[1]
Place of death Stanmore, England
Position(s) Outside left
Youth career
St. Mungo's Academy
St. Mary's Calton
Dennistoun Waverley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1942–1949 Celtic 52 (12)
→ New York Americans (guest)
1945 → Leeds United (guest) 4 (0)
1946–1947 → Chelsea (loan) 18 (3)
1949–1952 Brentford 90 (14)
1952–1955 Watford 84 (17)
International career
Scotland Schoolboys
1940 Scotland Juniors 1 (0)
Managerial career
1955–1956 Watford
1961–1965 Arsenal 'A'
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Aloysius Paton (2 April 1923 – 2 October 2015) was a Scottish professional football player, manager, coach, scout and later a professional snooker referee. He began his career in Scotland with Celtic and played in the Football League for Chelsea, Brentford and Watford. Paton later managed Watford and Arsenal 'A'.

Club career

[edit]

Celtic

[edit]

Born in Glasgow, Paton joined Celtic (the club he supported as a boy) during the Second World War in May 1942.[2] An outside left, he made his debut in a 2–0 Southern League win over St Mirren on 16 January 1943.[2]

During the war, Paton spent a period as a guest at American Soccer League club New York Americans while stationed in the United States and later guested for Leeds United in 1945 in England,[3] making four appearances.[4] He also guested for Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Millwall and Manchester City during the conflict.[2] Paton scored for Celtic in the Victory in Europe Cup triumph over Queens Park on 9 May 1945.[2]

Due to the suspension of competitive football for the duration of the Second World War, Paton didn't make his first professional appearances for Celtic until the 1947–48 season.[5] He made 77 appearances and scored 16 goals before a dispute with the club's management over wages led to his departure from Celtic Park in September 1949.[5] His last competitive game was the 3–1 1949 Glasgow Cup Final victory over Third Lanark.[2] During the three post-war seasons with Celtic, Paton made 77 appearances and scored 16 goals.[2]

Chelsea (loan)

[edit]

Paton joined English First Division club Chelsea on loan in November 1946.[2] He made 23 appearances and scored three goals before returning to Celtic in May 1947.[6]

Brentford

[edit]

Paton signed for Second Division club Brentford in September 1949 for a £5,000 fee.[2] He had contacted London Evening Star columnist (and ex-Arsenal defender) Bernard Joy and asked for an advert to be placed in the paper that he was available for transfer.[3] Brentford manager (and former Celtic player) Malcolm McDonald was the first to take up the option on Paton's services.[3] He had a dream start to his career at Griffin Park, scoring on his debut in a 2–0 win over Bradford Park Avenue and scoring again against Blackburn Rovers in the following game.[7]

A knock suffered in a match versus Southampton on 29 October 1949 hampered his progress, with Paton ruing that he had a "gammy leg" for two years, from which he finally recovered after a successful operation at Brentford hospital.[8] He played on at Griffin Park until the end of the 1951–52 season, by which time he had made 94 appearances and scored 16 goals.[3]

Watford

[edit]

Paton and Brentford teammate Jimmy Bowie joined Third Division South club Watford in July 1952,[2] to help finance the transfer which had seen Tommy Lawton move to the Bees the previous year.[8] He made 91 appearances and scored 17 goals before playing his final match in 1955.[9]

International and representative career

[edit]

Paton made appearances for Scotland at international level as a schoolboy and a junior.[2][10] He played for the RAF representative team during the Second World War and appeared alongside Stanley Matthews in the team.[11]

Coaching and scouting career

[edit]

Paton lamented the standard of football coaching in England in the early 1950s and said "many managers deliberately starved their players of the ball during the week, believing it made them more hungry for it out on the pitch on a Saturday".[8] Paton and Brentford teammates Ron Greenwood and Jimmy Hill enrolled on the first ever FA coaching course at Lilleshall in the early 1950s.[3] One of the instructors was Brentford goalkeeper Ted Gaskell and Paton roomed with Greenwood, Hill and Malcolm Allison.[8] Paton also led the Hertfordshire FA's youth coaching scheme during the 1954–55 season.[9]

In the early 1960s, Paton worked as a scout for Rotherham United, focusing on Glasgow and Scotland.[2] In 1961, Tommy Docherty offered Paton a scouting role and the position of 'A' team manager at First Division club Arsenal.[8] Paton later found out that Ron Greenwood recommended him for the role. He won the 1961–62 Metropolitan League Cup and the 1962–63 Metropolitan League title with the 'A' team.[8] He left the club in 1965.[9]

Managerial career

[edit]

After serving Watford as its first-ever player-coach,[9] Paton succeeded Len Goulden as manager in October 1955.[8] He had a good start to his reign, but after entering hospital for a cartilage operation on both knees, the team's form drained away in his absence.[8] Paton was relieved of his duties only four months into his reign, after just two wins from 15 Third Division South matches.[12]

Personal life

[edit]

Paton was born into a family of Celtic supporters, with his grandfather holding a season ticket at Celtic Park and his father spending time on the club's books as a player.[11] In addition to football, Paton also competed as an amateur welterweight boxer and in athletics as a youth.[13] During the Second World War, he served as a navigator in the RAF.[2] In the late 1950s, Paton turned his back on football and worked as a press photographer, snooker referee and as a sales rep,[13] selling chocolate biscuits.[8] Paton died in October 2015, aged 92.[14]

Career statistics

[edit]

Player

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic 1946–47[5] Scottish First Division 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 0
1947–48[5] 28 6 4 2 5 2 2[a] 0 39 10
1948–49[5] 24 6 1 0 6 0 3[a] 0 34 6
Total 52 12 5 2 15 2 5 0 77 16
Chelsea (loan) 1946–47[6] First Division 18 3 5 0 — — 23 3
Brentford 1949–50[7] Second Division 23 5 0 0 — — 23 5
1950–51[7] 31 4 1 1 — — 32 5
1951–52[7] 36 5 3 1 — — 39 6
Total 90 14 4 2 — — 94 16
Watford 1952–53[15] Third Division South 33 2 3 0 — — 36 2
1953–54[15] 37 11 1 0 — — 38 11
1954–55[15] 14 4 3 0 — — 17 4
Total 84 17 7 0 — — 91 17
Career total 244 46 21 4 15 2 5 0 285 52
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Glasgow Cup

Manager

[edit]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Watford October 1955 February 1956 17 3 6 8 017.6 [15]
Total 17 3 6 8 017.6 —

Honours

[edit]

As a player

[edit]
Celtic

As a manager

[edit]
Arsenal 'A'

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Johnny Paton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Paton: John Aloysius (Johnny)". Leeds United F.C. History. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 122. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. ^ "Leeds United Season 1944 – 1945: Football League (Northern Section)". www.leeds-fans.org.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Celtic Player Johnny Paton Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b "John A Paton | Chelsea Player Profile". Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC. 7 December 1946. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 380–381. ISBN 0951526200.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Griffin Gazette versus Oxford United. Poole: Quay Design Limited. 31 December 1994. p. 33.
  9. ^ a b c d "Players – Pate to Pretty" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 4. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Scotland Junior Internationals". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Obituary: John (Johnny) Paton, former footballer". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. ^ Jones p. 272
  13. ^ a b "Johnny Paton: Energetic left-winger for Chelsea". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Johnny Paton 1923–2015". chelseafc.com. Chelsea FC. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d "Seasons – 1950/51 to 1959/60" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. pp. 3–6. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Johnny Paton". Herald Scotland. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2016.

Sources

[edit]
  • Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. T.G. Jones. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Johnny_Paton&oldid=1255233906"