Members News: John Tudor Sends Greetings From Across The Pond

John in the Sky Blue

Ann, the wife of former sixties Sky Blue striker John Tudor sent CCFPA’s Mike Young some photos recently a couple of which we share with you.

John, aged 77 has not been in the best of health in recent years (we have previously reported on his worsening Alzheimer’s condition) but still likes to keep in touch with his favourite former clubs, the Sky Blues and Newcastle United. He got out his old Sky Blue No.9 shirt to wish the club and the Sky Blue family well as their Championship season came to an end.

He was particularly disappointed as the Sky Blues made their F.A.Cup semi-final exit at Wembley recently as he had been there with us supporting the Sky Blues in recent times!

John Tudor in better times

In John’s playing days he was renowned for his ability in the air and we hear all too commonly nowadays of the toll on older football professionals stemming from the regular heading of the heavy leather balls used during John’s career and an increasingly acknowledged link with the sort of dementia John has developed for more than fifteen years. Despite this John looks well and in good spirits as he receives care and support for his condition in the States.

John Tudor heads one for the Sky Blues

Though Derbyshire born and bred and well travelled in his former professional football career John has lived in Minnesota for many years. He 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 past Wembley visits).

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

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 the following 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).

Anne & John Tudor at Wembley with CCFPA 2017

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).

He hit the headlines at his next club in Geordieland, the Magpies (where he became part of a feared 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 around a decade ago.

CCFPA’s Mike Young with John & Anne Tudor

All at CCFPA wish John, Anne and the rest of the family all the best in future and CCFPA committee member Mike Young keeps in regular touch (and sent John a copy of CCFC’s semi final programme against Manchester United as well as some CCFC issues from this season recently). 

Thanks to Mike for sourcing the images.