| Jack Kirby | |
| Fullname: | John Kirby[1] |
| Birth Date: | 30 September 1909 |
| Birth Place: | Overseal, England |
| Death Place: | Derby, England |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Years1: | – |
| Clubs1: | Newhall United |
| Years2: | 1929–1938 |
| Caps2: | 173 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1938–1939 |
| Clubs3: | Folkestone Town |
| Manageryears1: | 1938–1939 |
| Managerclubs1: | Folkestone Town (player-manager) |
John Kirby (30 September 1909 – 15 June 1960) was an English football goalkeeper who played for Derby County. Kirby is best remembered as the only Derby player touring Germany in 1934 who refused to stiff arm salute before each game.
Kirby joined Derby County from Staffordshire based, Newhall United in April 1929. Kirby debuted for Derby during the 1929–30 season. In 1934 he was part of the Derby side that toured Germany. Kirby defied the German authorities by being the only member of the team to refuse to give the Nazi salute before each game.[2] A photo of Kirby turning his body 90 degrees and being the only Derby player refusing to stiff arm salute, was auctioned for 550 pounds in 2012.[3] Kirby's gesture preceded Stan Cullis being dropped when responding "Count me out", when directed pre-match to stiff arm salute when England played Germany in Berlin in 1938.[4]
Kirby left Derby in August 1938 to become player-manager of Folkestone Town. He held that role until August 1939, the month before World War II began. Jack Kirby died aged 50 in 1960.