John Anderton (born 7 February 1933) is an English former professional footballer who played in

the Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

for

Torquay United Torquay United Football Club is a professional football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the , the fifth tier of English football. They have played their home matches at Plainmoor since 1921 and are nicknamed ...

in the 1950s. Anderton was born in Skelmersdale. He began his career as a junior with Everton, turning professional in March 1951. Over the next three seasons, after suffering several injuries, he failed to make the first team at

Goodison Park Goodison Park is a football stadium in the Walton area of Liverpool, England. It has been the home stadium of Premier League club Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892. Located in a residential area 2 miles (3 km) north of Liverpool ...

, and in July 1954 moved to

. His league debut came at right back on 22 September 1954 against Shrewsbury Town at

Plainmoor Plainmoor is an association football stadium located in the Plainmoor suburb of Torquay, Devon, England. Since 1921, the stadium has been the home of Torquay United Football Club, who currently compete in the National League, the fifth tier of E ...

, but he finally got his break towards the end of the season when he replaced Harry Smith at left back, playing the final 11 games of the season. He began the following season as first choice, but had to share the spot with Bill Towers and Smith, making 24 appearances as the Gulls finished in fifth place. He scored on the opening day of the following season, netting the first in a 4–1 home win against

Ipswich Town Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn profession ...

on 18 August 1956, but suffered a serious injury in the same game, and this proved to be his only appearance of the season as Torquay went on to lose out in the final table to Ipswich on goal average, Smith regaining his place in the side as regular left-back. Returning the following season from injury he made just three more appearances for Torquay before leaving league football in 1959 to join Dover FC helping them to victory in the Kent Senior Cup that season. He subsequently played for Hastings United.

References

1933 births Living people People from Skelmersdale English men's footballers Men's association football defenders Everton F.C. players Torquay United F.C. players Hastings United F.C. (1948) players English Football League players Footballers from Lancashire {{England-footy-defender-1930s-stub