John Tudor (25 June 1946 – 9 February 2025) was an English professional footballer who played for Coventry City, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Stoke City.[1] He also had a stint in Belgium with Gent towards the end of his career.
Tudor began his football career playing for his local team, Ilkeston Town before turning professional with Coventry City. He scored eight goals in 17 matches in 1966–67 helping the "Sky Blues" win the Second Division title. He was not as prolific for Coventry in the First Division and after scoring just seven more goals he left for Sheffield United. He rediscovered his goalscoring form at Bramall Lane scoring 33 goals in 78 appearances which helped the "Blades" on their way to promotion in 1970–71.
Tudor signed for Newcastle United in January 1971 and he developed a prolific partnership with Malcolm Macdonald. He scored a career best of 24 in 1972–73 helping the "Toon" win the Anglo-Italian Cup, and two Texaco Cups in the mid 1970s. He scored 14 goals in 1973–74 and 18 in 1974–75 before Gordon Lee became manager and Tudor lost his place. He joined Stoke City in September 1976 and made an impressive debut for the "Potters" scoring twice in a 2–1 victory over Ipswich Town at the Victoria Ground.[1] However, he scored just once more in 1976–77 as Stoke suffered relegation.[1] The following year he moved to Gent in Belgium and stayed two years, scoring 16 goals in 40 games for De Buffalos.[3] He became a publican in Derbyshire and Northumberland, before moving to the US, where he was Director of Player Development at CC United Soccer Club in Minnesota. In 2012, he was inducted into the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame. He lived in the US until his death in 2025.[1][4]
Tudor died from complications of dementia on 9 February 2025 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He was 78.[5][6]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Coventry City | 1966–67 | Second Division | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 8 |
| 1967–68 | First Division | 36 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 4 | |
| 1968–69 | First Division | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| Total | 69 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 15 | ||
| Sheffield United | 1968–69 | Second Division | 19 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 |
| 1969–70 | Second Division | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 12 | |
| 1970–71 | Second Division | 23 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 9 | |
| Total | 71 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 33 | ||
| Newcastle United | 1970–71 | First Division | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 |
| 1971–72 | First Division | 38 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 48 | 11 | |
| 1972–73 | First Division | 42 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 48 | 24 | |
| 1973–74 | First Division | 28 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 46 | 14 | |
| 1974–75 | First Division | 32 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 44 | 18 | |
| 1975–76 | First Division | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1976–77 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 164 | 53 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 35 | 16 | 222 | 74 | ||
| Stoke City | 1976–77 | First Division | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| Career total | 334 | 99 | 21 | 5 | 18 | 5 | 35 | 16 | 408 | 125 | ||
Coventry City
Newcastle United
