John Kirkby (soccer)

For other people with the same name, see John Kirkby (disambiguation).

John Kirkby (29 November 1929 – 4 April 1953) was an American soccer player who played in the Football League for Stoke City and Wrexham.^[1]

John Kirkby

Personal information
Full name	John Kirkby[1]
Date of birth	29 November 1929[1]
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Date of death	4 April 1953(1953-04-04) (aged 23)[2]
Place of death	Wrexham, Wales[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1948–1949	Stoke City	1	(0)
1951–1953	Wrexham	5	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Kirkby became Stoke City's first overseas player, having been born in the United States, when he played his only game for Stoke against Middlesbrough in April 1949.^[1] He joined Wrexham in 1951.^[2] In a Cheshire County League match versus Crewe Alexandra Reserves on 4 April 1953, Kirkby collapsed in the 65th minute and was declared dead upon arrival in the hospital.^[2]

Career statistics

Source:^[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke City	1948–49	First Division	1	0	0	0	1	0
Wrexham	1951–52	Third Division North	2	0	0	0	2	0
	1952–53	Third Division North	3	0	0	0	3	0
Career Total			6	0	0	0	6	0