Stiles: John Charles (John)

1984-1989 (Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Manchester: 06-05-1964

Debut v Middlesbrough (a): 02-03-1985

5’9 1/2” 10st 12lb (1986)

Stiles certainly had an hard family act to follow in football. His father Nobby, the Manchester United wing half, was one of England’s 1966 World Cup heroes and his Uncle, Johnny Giles, had been a legend at Elland Road. It was Giles who gave his nephew his first break by signing him for Shamrock Rovers. Stiles played alongside his cousin, Johnny’s son Michael at Shamrock in 1981-82. Stiles then tried his luck in the NASL with Vancouver Whitecaps before joining Leeds in April 1984. A gritty midfielder, he enjoyed good form in United’s progress to the 1987 FA Cup Semi-Final but struggled with injury for the next two seasons. He was transferred to Doncaster Rovers for £40,000 in August 1989. He was a regular at Belle Vue for a couple of seasons scoring two goals in eighty-nine League appearances, including one as a substitute, but lost his place through injury. He was loaned to Rochdale in March 1992, where he made two starts and two games from the bench in League appearances, and, after playing in Ireland, he joined Gainsborough Trinity. He worked for Abbey Insurance in Leeds from 1992 to 1997 and then became a football agent and did the after dinner circuit before becoming a stand-up comedian in 2002.