John Sissons (footballer) explained

John Sissons
Full Name:John Leslie Sissons
Birth Date:1945 9, df=y
Birth Place:Hayes, Middlesex, England
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1961–1963
Youthclubs1:West Ham United
Years1:1963–1970
Clubs1:West Ham United
Caps1:213
Goals1:37
Years2:1970–1974
Clubs2:Sheffield Wednesday
Caps2:115
Goals2:14
Years3:1974
Clubs3:Norwich City
Caps3:17
Goals3:2
Years4:1974–1975
Clubs4:Chelsea
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:1975
Clubs5:Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan)
Caps5:19
Goals5:5
Years6:1976–1978
Clubs6:Cape Town City
Totalcaps:375
Totalgoals:72
Nationalteam1:England Schools
Nationalteam2:England Youth
Nationalteam3:England U23
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:0

John Leslie Sissons (born 30 September 1945) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward for West Ham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Chelsea.

Career

Sissons started his career as an apprentice for West Ham United in 1961. He joined the club along with Peter Bennett after the pair were spotted by scout Charlie Faulkner while playing for Middlesex Schoolboys.[1] He played for England Youth in the 1964 UEFA European Under-18 Championship and scored the fourth goal in the Final, a 4–0 win over Spain at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.[2]

He had played as an inside-left for Middlesex and England Schoolboys, but was moved to outside-left by Hammers manager Ron Greenwood. He made his senior debut for the east London club on 4 May 1963, a home game against Blackburn Rovers. Sissons became the youngest player to score in an FA Cup Final at Wembley, in May 1964, and second youngest to appear, behind his Preston North End counterpart Howard Kendall. He went on to play 213 league (37 goals) and 52 cup (16 goals) games for West Ham.[3]

Sissons moved to Wednesday in 1970 for £60,000.[4] He made 115 league appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals, before moving to Norwich City, where he rejoined former teammate John Bond.

Chelsea signed Sissons for £70,000 from Norwich in August 1974. He made his debut on 17 August 1974 in a 2–0 home defeat by Carlisle United. He made 11 appearances during the 1974–75 season but failed to establish himself in a struggling Chelsea side who were relegated at the end of the season.[5] [6] In March 1975, he joined up with North American Soccer League club Tampa Bay Rowdies.[7] He was part of the championship-winning team which featured other English exports Clyde Best, Stewart Jump, Stewart Scullion, Paul Hammond and Mark Lindsay.[8] [9]

After his release from Chelsea, Sissons emigrated to South Africa and finished his career with two seasons at Cape Town City.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United[10] 1962–63First Division10000010
1963–64First Division1437310226
1964–65First Division388211092105111
1965–66First Division365219141518
1966–67First Division35721634311
1967–68First Division37832204210
1968–69First Division3241021355
1969–70First Division2021000212
Total213371882151331026653
Sheffield Wednesday[11] 1970–71Second Division3630010373
1971–72Second Division4181021449
1972–73Second Division32350203893
1973–74Second Division60000060
Total11514605112615
Norwich City1973–74Second Division17200310000203
1974–75First Division000000001010
Total17200310010213
Chelsea1974–75First Division1101010130
Tampa Bay Rowdies[12] 1975NASL195195
Career total375582583071332044576

Honours

West Ham United

1963–64[13]

1964[14]

1964–65[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sharratt. Ben. Blows. Kirk. Claret and Blue Blood: Pumping Life into West Ham United. 2012. Mainstream Publishing. 978-1-78057-764-7. 31.
  2. Web site: UEFA Youth Tournament Under 18, 1964 . Erik. Garin. Mikael. Jönsson . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . 8 February 2004 . 26 March 2018 .
  3. Book: Hogg, Tony . Who's Who of West Ham United . 2005 . Profile Sports Media. 1-903135-50-8 . 187.
  4. Web site: John Sissons. westhamstats.info. 26 March 2018.
  5. Web site: John L Sissons . stamford-bridge.com . 24 March 2015.
  6. Book: Chelsea Football Club The Full Statistical Story 1906–1986. Scott. Cheshire. Ron. Hockings. 0-9511640-0-7.
  7. News: Rowdies Get Englishman. The Tampa Tribune. 29 March 1975. 39. 26 March 2018. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Sissons & Sissons Kick Experts. St. Petersburg Times. 5 August 1975. 25. 26 March 2018. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Six English loan players leave Rowdies today. The Tampa Times. 28 August 1975. 23. 26 March 2018. Newspapers.com.
  10. Book: Northcutt . John . Marsh . Steve . West Ham United: The Complete Record. 2015. deCoubertin Books. 978-1-909245-27-3 . 274–305, 520–521.
  11. Web site: John Sissons . Stuart . Jackson . The Sheffield Wednesday Archive . 10 May 2018 .
  12. Web site: John Sissons . nasljerseys.com . 10 May 2018 .
  13. Web site: West Ham United 3 Preston North End 2. WHUFC. 26 June 2021.
  14. Web site: Liverpool 2-2 West Ham United. LFC History. 26 June 2021.
  15. Web site: TSV Munchen 0-2 West Ham, European Cup Winners Cup final 1964-65. West Ham Stats. 26 June 2021.