Members News: Sixties Sky Blue Striker Hits 76 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’ John!

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John in the Sky Blue

The very warmest birthday greetings are due today to former Sky Blue striker John Tudor. Born in Ilkeston on 24th June 1946, John is celebrating his 76th birthday today! We learnt last year that, because of a delay in registering his birth, John’s actual birthday is today though his ‘official’ birthday is tomorrow!

Though Derbyshire born and bred and well travelled in his former professional football career John has lived in Minnesota for many years. He has made great efforts in the past to fly over from his home in the USA with his wife Anne to coincide a family visit with joining us at major CCFC/CCFPA occasions (including City’s Wembley visits).

Anne & John Tudor at Wembley with CCFPA 2017

He got all the way to the Ricoh in March 2018 on the day Legends Day 2018 was iced off at the last minute but it proved impossible for him to come all the way over to see us at the rearranged event in that May. However he remedied this in March 2019 by making sure he and his wife Anne were here for Legends Day 2019 where he greatly enjoyed renewing old friendships (and also took time to pop up to one of his other clubs, Newcastle United, where he remains a legend). Sadly, it was not possible for the air to make it to LD22 towards the end of last season but we hope they can make it over for next spring’s LD23!

John Tudor heads one

From humble beginnings as a youngster at Ilkeston Town, John joined ‘the Sky Blue Revolution‘ in late 1965 turning professional on 24/01/1966. He made 77 appearances in total for CCFC scoring 15 goals before moving to Sheffield United in November 1968 (85 appearances-37 goals).

John & family in Coventry ready for ‘Legends Day’ 2018

He hit the headlines at his next club in Geordieland with Newcastle United (where he became part of a feared ‘Magpies’ striking duo with ‘SuperMac’ Malcolm Macdonald) and, from January 1971, clocked up a further 187 games for the Toon Army and contributed 56 strikes.

John Tudor, Dele Adebola & Mick Kearns (LD19)

Leaving St James’ Park for Stoke City in 1976 John wound down his career with KAA Gent in Belgium before a knee injury forced him to hang up his boots in 1978.

A period of UK coaching followed with the likes of North Shields, Gateshead and Bedlington Terriers before retiring to become a publican in Bedlington and then Ilkeston from 1983.

Moving to the USA, John became Director of Youth Development for Tonka United and CC United from the 1990s until retiring as a  full time community based ‘soccer’ coach less than a decade ago.

CCFPA’s Mike Young with John & Anne Tudor

Just over two year’s ago John and Ann celebrated their golden wedding. Sadly the global health emergency (and John’s declining health) have restricted another return to the UK over more than the last year. However, we look forward to seeing both back again soon, perhaps during the upcoming Championship season where the Sky Blues will be again playing back at the CBS Arena.

CCFPA committee member Mike Young and his wife keep in regular contact with John and Anne and they and all of the Sky Blue family hope that they both share a very good day today in the States on the occasion of John’s 76th birthday and we will see them both back in the UK soon!

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