GoS: Player Details

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Greens on Screen started its life in 1999 before many of the football sites that we are familiar with today, including Plymouth Argyle's own official site. Greens on Screen is dedicated to the sights, sounds and history of Plymouth Argyle Football club. It is owned and run by the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive, a charity dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and display of the heritage of our great football club.

The site owes its existence to Steve Dean. Without Steve's dedication and commitment for over 25 years, GoS would not exist and be the valued and loved resource for all football fans that it is today. The site is truly the envy of many clubs, and we owe a huge debt to Steve for his tireless work, and continued support behind the scenes.

Greens on Screen's first page was published in January 1999. Its early purpose was to bring Plymouth Argyle a little closer to those unable to see their team, and whilst it has changed a great deal over the years, its core themes - sights and sounds for Westcountry exiles - still stand. The site was very lucky to take on the content of Trevor Scallan's Semper Viridis in the summer of 2007, and in 2009 launched GoS-DB, a wealth of facts and figures from PAFC's history. A year later, we embarked on a complete history of Argyle, with much-valued contributions from chapter authors. Greens on Screen was taken over by its new custodians, The Argyle Archive, in 2024.

Greens on Screen is an amateur website and proud of it. It is run by a team of volunteers from the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive (Argyle Archive). Without the hard work and much-valued contributions of these volunteers, running the site would not be possible. Greens on Screen is self-taught and as a result, a little bit quirky.

Greens on Screen remains advertisement free, which means we are grateful for the generous support of our donors and the work of our volunteers to help keep it free of promotions. If you would like to support the work of Greens on Screen, please consider donating to the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.

GoS's sole aim is to be a service to fellow supporters, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Argyle'ss history for many years to come.

Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.
April 2024

Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).

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JOHN SUTCLIFFE

Full Name: John William Sutcliffe (also known as John Willie)

Born: 14 April 1868

Came from: Manchester United Went to: Southend United

First game: 18 March 1905 Last game: 08 April 1912

Appearances: 220 (220/0) Goals: 0

Sutcliffe was born in Shibden, near Halifax, in 1868. His sporting career began in Rugby Union with Bradford before he joined Heckmondwike, where he was capped by England against the New Zealand Natives in 1899. When Heckmondwike were suspended by the RFU for alleged professionalism he switched codes and joined Bolton Wanderers, initially as a centre-forward but soon converting to goalkeeper.

In almost thirteen years with the Wanderers he played more than 330 games and won four England caps, becoming the last man to represent England at both Rugby and Association Football. He was also selected five times for the Football League representative side. During his time at the club he helped Bolton reach the FA Cup Final in 1894 and win promotion to the First Division in 1899-1900.

In 1902 Sutcliffe joined Millwall Athletic for a single season, where he won his fifth and final England cap, before spending 18 months with Manchester United, playing 28 times for the club. He moved to Home Park in January 1905 and by the end of the season had taken over from 'Tich' Horne as first-choice 'keeper, a position he retained for most of the next six years.

The Argyle handbook of 1905-06 describes him as "a marvel for his years" as he joined the club at the age of 36. He made his 218th and final Argyle appearance just days short of his 44th birthday. The 1911-12 handbook adds "England never had nor ever will have a better representative in goal".

In 1912 he joined Southend United as coach and played occasionally for the first team. During the First World War he served as manager of Dutch side Arnhem and after hostilities ceased coached Bradford City.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.

I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.

The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.

Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. We have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of the page.