Dutchman: John A. (John)

WW2 Guest: 1944-1945 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Harrogate: 00-00-1925

Debut: v Derby County (a): 18-03-1944

Height & Weight: Unknown

"John A Dutchman was born in the Harrogate area in 1925, and by World War Two was a student at Cockburn Grammar School in Leeds. He was first selected for the Leeds United Reserves in September of 1942 and played a few matches in September before going to Cambridge University in early October. 1943-44 saw the same pattern, though with a first team appearance coming in March 1944. During the war, the Varsity match versus Oxford University was played twice each season rather than the usual once in peace time, and in 1943-44 he played in both matches. He was selected for England ATC against Scotland ATC at Shawfield Stadium, home of Clyde FC. In 1944-45 he made one first team appearance with Leeds in September, and does not appear to have been selected in any reserve games. In 1945-46, he made three first team appearances, but was selected twenty-five to thirty times for the reserve side. In 1946-47 he appears to have had his last contact with the club when he was selected for the reserves in October 1946. He played for Cambridge University in Varsity matches after the end of the Second World War, presumably after he had finished his military service and could have done a Doctorate in 1948 to 1949. Ken Shearwood's book on the history of the famous 1950’s amateur club, Pegasus FC, indicates that he was one of the early members of that club in 1949, although the next confirmed trace I have found of him is that he played six Scottish League games for Queen's Park during January to March 1950. In 1951, he was a member of the Pegasus side that won the F.A. Amateur Cup, but he was then one of a group of players who left to play with Corinthians Casuals following a dispute over playing membership rules. Next mention I know of him is that he toured Libya with Corinthian Casuals in April 1953. He was a good enough player to be selected twice for the England Amateur International side, against Republic of Ireland on 8th March 1952 and against Wales on 24th April 1954. That, however, is the last I can find of his football career. Professionally, he was a Teacher at Chigwell School from some time in the early 1950's, becoming a senior official of the Independent Schools FA. I think that through that position he may have become a member of the FA Council, similar to ex-referee & Harrow School teacher David Elleray. As far as I am aware, he was still alive until fairly recently. A website related to Chigwell School has mention of a dinner early this year to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of his connection with the school, and on the ISFA website he is listed as a life member. His record suggests he must have been fairly close to professional standard."(Information kindly supplied by Neil Roche). Little is known about John Dutchman, but he is thought to have been on the Leeds United staff in the War years and first started with Cockburn. He only played five games for Leeds and scored twice. The first came in the 2-2 home draw in the 1943-44 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship) game with Derby County, when he played at Inside Right. His second game came in the 0-1 home defeat in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) game with Sunderland, in which he was again at Inside Right. The other three games were all at Inside Right in the 1945-46 Football League Northern Section in a 2-1 home win over Preston North End, in which he scored, a 4-2 home win over Sunderland in which he again scored and his final game was in the reverse fixture the following week at Roker Park when United went down 1-5. It is not thought that Dutchman played professionally in the Football League, he did, however play, as an amateur for the Scottish side Queens Park from 3rd January 1950 to 25th March 1950, as a Centre Forward, scoring three goals in six Scottish League games and also played in one Scottish Cup tie without scoring. He was a member of the Pegasus Amateur Cup-winning team in 1950-51. The News Chronicle Annual of that 1951-52: J.A. Dutchman of Cambridge University played at Inside Right for Pegasus in the 1950-51 Amateur Cup Final when they beat Bishop Auckland 2-1 in front of a crowd of 100,000, who paid £22,809 for the privilege on 21st April 1951. For Pegasus, Tanner led the line brilliantly, while wingers Pawson and Potts constantly worried the Bishop Auckland defence and Carr and Dutchman completed the line that played with determination and understanding. Coached by Vic Buckingham, the Spurs full-back, Pegasus employed the “push and run” style. Half time came with no score but seven minutes into the second half Dutchman sent a long high pass across the Bishop Auckland goal and Potts headed it into the net. With ten minutes left a beautiful move, in which Dutchman was prominent, ended with Tanner making it 2-0. With two minutes to go Nimmins reduced the arrears for Bishop Auckland.