15 Facts About Johnny McNichol

John McNichol was a Scottish footballer who played more than 500 games in the Football League in England.

Johnny McNichol graduated from junior footballer and apprentice motor mechanic in his native Scotland to a professional contract with English First Division club Newcastle United.

Johnny McNichol spent four years with the club, acquiring "the reputation as the finest inside-forward in the Third Division", before moving to the First Division as Chelsea manager Ted Drake's first signing.

Johnny McNichol then spent 25 years working on the commercial side of football with two of his previous clubs.

Johnny McNichol spent two years at Newcastle, but never made a first-team appearance.

Johnny McNichol made his first appearance in the League on 21 August 1948, at the age of 23, as Brighton drew with Swindon Town at home.

The next year, Johnny McNichol played in all of Brighton's games, the only man so to do, and again finished as top scorer for the season, this time with 14 goals.

That season, Johnny McNichol scored a hat-trick against eventual runners-up Reading, which caught the eye of manager Ted Drake.

Johnny McNichol had scored 39 goals in all competitions from 165 appearances.

On his Chelsea debut away at Manchester United, Johnny McNichol found himself playing at right back after ten minutes when Sid Tickridge sustained an injury.

Johnny McNichol had missed only two games in the 42-game season, and scored 14 goals, a good return for a player in his position; an inside forward was normally more a creator than a scorer of goals, but his profile on Chelsea's website describes him as "clever, astute and most of all a clinical finisher".

Just ahead of the transfer deadline in March 1958, Johnny McNichol signed for Third Division South club Crystal Palace.

Johnny McNichol remained in the South of England, spending four years as player-manager of Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Southern League.

Johnny McNichol described Chelsea's decision not to accept their invitation to participate in the inaugural season of the European Cup as his "one big disappointment", and "thought it was strange at the time", despite the national team selectors' preference for players plying their trade for Scottish clubs, that he was never chosen to represent his country.

Johnny McNichol died of a stroke on 17 March 2007 at the age of 81.