John Napier (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = John Napier


fullname = Robert John Napier
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1946|9|23|df=yes
cityofbirth = Lurgan
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
height = 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
position = Centre half
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1963–1967
1967–1972
1972–1975
1975
1975–1976
1976
1976–1978
clubs = Bolton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bradford City
→ Baltimore Comets (loan)
Mossley
→ San Diego Jaws (loan)
Bradford City
caps(goals) = 069 (2)
218 (5)
106 (3)
022 (1)
024 (1)
022 (1)
001 (0)
nationalyears =
1966
nationalteam = Northern Ireland U-23
Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 (0)
001 (0)
manageryears = 1978
managerclubs = Bradford City
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Robert John 'John' Napier (born 23 September 1946, Lurgan, Northern Ireland) was a English football centre half and manager, who currently teaches soccer in San Diego, California.

Biography

Napier was born in Lurgan. With a career as both player and coach, Napier has also been a player agent and a television and radio sports analyst. cite web|url=http://www.johnnapiersoccer.com/ |title=John Napier's website | accessdate=2007-10-11 | work=Johnnapiersoccer.com]

Career

Club playing career

Napier began his career in September 1963 playing for the Bolton Wanderers, where he played until 1967, when he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for £25,000. He played until 1972 playing more than 200 games including two seasons as ever-present. In 1972, he was transferred to Bradford City for a record-equalling £10,000. He spent six seasons at Valley Parade interspersed with spells in America at Baltimore Comets and the same team after they became San Diego Jaws, and also at Mossley. In all he played more than 100 games at City, and served as manager, and assistant coach. [cite web|url=http://www.johnnapiersoccer.com/Resume.html |title=John Napier's resume|accessdate=2007-10-11|work=johnnapiersoccer.com]

Club management career

Napier served as manager at City from February 1978 to October 1978. He was unpopular as manager of Bradford City, as the team was relegated to the now-defunct Division Four. cite web | url=http://www.geocities.com/thebradfordcitysite/tbcs11-2.html | title=John Napier management profile | accessdate=2007-10-11 | work=Geocities.com] Napier returned to the United States in 1979 to take a coaching position at Pepperdine University, and continues to coach soccer.

International career

Napier was a Northern Ireland schoolboy international, won 11 youth caps, two under-23 caps. He won his only full international cap against West Germany in May 1966. [cite book
last = Frost
first = Terry
title = Bradford City A Complete Record 1903-1988
publisher = Breedon Books Sport
year = 1988
pages = p127
isbn = 0907969380]

Honours

* Most Valuable Player, Bolton Wanderers: 1966
* Most Valuable Player, Brighton: 1969
* Football League Division Three Runner-Up, Brighton: 1971
* Most Valuable Player, Bradford City: 1973

References

External links

* [http://www.johnnapiersoccer.com/Resume.html John Napier's resume on his official website]
*soccerbase (manager)|828|Napier, John
* [http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s474/st90309.htm napier page at Bolton Wanderers website]