John Rutherford

John Rutherford

Born in Bedlington in 1892 Jack played local football before coming to the attention of Tottenham in 1913.

A big, strong centre-half who took no prisoners, Jack did not make a first team start before seving in France during the Great War. On de-mob he was recommended to Luton by Army pal Sid Hoar and came to Kenilworth Road for the start of the 1919-20 season.

A massive presence in the Luton defence that season, everyone was disappointed when he declined a new contract and moved to Brighton. After one season he was off again, this time to the USA and was actually half way across the Atlantic when he was contacted by Cardiff on the new ‘radiophone’. He signed for the Bluebirds but they did not play him and after spells at Mold and York he finished his career at Gillingham during which time he missed a penalty against the Town’s stand-in goalkeeper and old friend Sid Hoar,

Jack returned to the north-east and passed away after a long illness in 1930 at the age of 38.