Bob John
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Frederick John | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1899 | ||
| Place of birth | Barry, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 17 July 1982 | ||
| Place of death | Barry, Wales | ||
| Playing position | Left half, left back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| ?–? | Barry Town | ||
| ?–1922 | Caerphilly | ||
| 1922–1937 | Arsenal | 421 | (12) |
| National team | |||
| 1923–1936 | Wales | 15 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1950 | Torquay United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Robert Frederick "Bob" John (3 February 1899 – 17 July 1982) was a Welsh football player and coach.
Born in Barry, John played for Barry Town and Caerphilly, before joining English club Arsenal, who signed him amongst stiff competition, in January 1922 for a fee of £750. John made his Arsenal first-team debut on 28 October 1922 in a 2–1 defeat at home to Newcastle United, and quickly became a regular, succeeding Tom Whittaker at left half. His ability was such that soon after, made his debut for the Welsh national side, against Scotland on 17 March 1923; it was the first of fifteen caps.
John was displaced from the Arsenal side in 1923–24 thanks to competition from Billy Blyth and Andrew Young, but after being switched to left back to cover for Andy Kennedy, he was a near ever-present in 1924–25. Eventually however, John was switched back to left half, and this time he remained a first-team regular. A prodigious ball-winner and noted passer of the ball, John reached (but lost) the FA Cup Final with Arsenal in 1926–27, after a mistake by his compatriot and close friend Dan Lewis; it was John who consoled Lewis after the final whistle, assuring him he would get another chance to a win a medal (although Lewis never did). He played in Arsenal's 2–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge in October 1930.
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