| John Kirkby | |
| Fullname: | John Kirkby |
| Birth Date: | 29 November 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Date: | [1] |
| Death Place: | Wrexham, Wales |
| Position: | Defender |
| Years1: | 1948–1949 |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1951–1953 |
| Caps2: | 5 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
John Kirkby (29 November 1929 – 4 April 1953) was an American soccer player who played in the Football League for Stoke City and Wrexham.[2]
Kirkby became Stoke City's first overseas player, having been born in the United States, when he played his only game for Stoke against Middlesbrough in April 1949.[2] He joined Wrexham in 1951.[1] In a Cheshire County League match versus Crewe Alexandra Reserves on 4 April 1953, Kirkby collapsed in the 65th minute and was declared dead upon arrival in the hospital.[1]
Source:
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Stoke City | 1948–49 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wrexham | 1951–52 | Third Division North | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1952–53 | Third Division North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||