| Johnny Schofield | |
| Fullname: | John Reginald Schofield |
| Birth Date: | 8 February 1931 |
| Birth Place: | Atherstone, England |
| Death Place: | Coventry, England |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Clubs1: | Ansley Hall Colliery |
| Clubs2: | Grendon |
| Years3: | 194?–1950 |
| Clubs3: | Nuneaton Borough |
| Years4: | 1950–1966 |
| Caps4: | 212 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1966–1968 |
| Clubs5: | Wrexham |
| Caps5: | 52 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 1967 |
| Clubs6: | → Cork Hibernians (loan) |
| Years7: | 1968–1969 |
| Clubs7: | Atherstone Town |
| Years8: | 1969–1970 |
| Clubs8: | Bromsgrove Rovers |
| Years9: | 1970–1972 |
| Clubs9: | Tamworth |
| Manageryears1: | 1968–1969 |
| Managerclubs1: | Atherstone Town (player-manager) |
John Reginald Schofield (8 February 1931 – 1 November 2006) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Birmingham City and Wrexham.
Schofield was born in Atherstone, Warwickshire, in 1931. He played football for Ansley Hall Colliery, Grendon and Nuneaton Borough[1] before signing a professional contract with Birmingham City in February 1950, and spent the next decade as backup to Gil Merrick.[2] In November 1957, he was injured in an explosion at Baddesley Colliery in Warwickshire, where he worked as a miner, and three years later, he fractured his skull while playing in goal against Manchester United.[3] [4] It was in 1959 that Schofield took over as Birmingham's first choice.[5] He played on the losing side in two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup finals, against Barcelona in 1960 and Roma in 1961,[6] [7] and for the winners of the 1963 Football League Cup Final against city rivals Aston Villa.[8]
With advancing age and the arrival of Jim Herriot, Schofield lost his place in the Birmingham team, and was transferred to Wrexham in 1966.[9] He lost his place in late 1967, and spent a month on loan at Cork Hibernians of the League of Ireland.[10] In 1968, he became player-manager of Atherstone Town, and also played for Bromsgrove Rovers and Tamworth, before returning to Atherstone as manager.[9] In later life, he ran an off-licence in his home town of Atherstone.[9]
Schofield was married to Grace née Finney; by 1963 the couple had two children.[1] He died in Coventry on 1 November 2006 at the age of 75.
Birmingham City[9]