John Middleton (24 December 1956 – 3 July 2016) was an English under-21 international

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

goalkeeper. He won honours playing 137 first team games with

Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Football Club is a professional association football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Founde ...

. After 80 competitive first team games for Derby County he retired due to injury aged 23 in 1980.

Nottingham Forest

Middleton started as an apprentice at

in the 1974-75 season. Allan Brown gave him his debut aged 17 on 19 October 1974 in a Second Division 1–0 win at West Bromwich Albion. He remained first choice for the next three years playing 137 competitive and non-competitive first team games between 1974 and 1977.John Middleton, The City Ground
/ref> Brian Clough replaced Brown as manager in January 1975 and was joined in July 1976 by his former assistant manager at Derby County, Peter Taylor. Forest immediately went into upswing from the duo being in partnership. Their first trophy was the 1976-77 Anglo-Scottish Cup beating

Orient The Orient is a term referring to the East in relation to Europe, traditionally comprising anything belonging to the Eastern world. It is the antonym of the term ''Occident'', which refers to the Western world. In English, it is largely a meto ...

5–1 in a two leg final in December 1976. Forest were promoted back to the top flight at the end of that season."Old Big 'Ead ignites Forest fire" ESPN 22 March 2012
/ref> Forest started their return to the top league campaign with a 3–1 win at Everton. Three further wins in league and cup followed without conceding a goal. Then came five early September goals conceded losing 3–0 at

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

and beating Wolves 3–2 at home.

Peter Shilton Peter Leslie Shilton (born 18 September 1949) is an English former professional association football, footballer who played as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper. His 31-year career included spells at 11 clubs and he has the uni ...

then signed for a record fee for a goalkeeper of £325,000. Taylor reasoned: "Shilton wins you matches."

Derby County

20 year old Middleton transferred later in the month with £25,000 in exchange for Archie Gemmill moving to Forest from another top flight club, Derby County. Middleton played 80 competitive first team games (73 in the league) for Derby. A persistent shoulder injury forced his retirement from football aged 23 in 1980.Derby County : 1946/47 - 2009/10 on Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile
/ref>"1977/1978 » 6. Round » Derby County - Leeds United 2:2" worldfootball.net
/ref>"Archie Gemmill Nottingham Forest FC, Sporting Heroes
/ref>

International

Middleton played twice against Norway and once against Finland for England in UEFA Under 21 Championship qualifying group matches. He conceded only one goal in total winning all three games. All three games were in 1977 during his last four months at Forest. His last cap was four days before the 3–0 defeat by Arsenal playing for Forest.England Football Online
/ref>

Death

Middleton died on 3 July 2016 aged 59.

Honours

Nottingham Forest: * 1976-77 Anglo-Scottish Cup * 1976-77 Football League Second Division promotion

References

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/skegnessstandard-uk/obituary.aspx?n=john-middleton&pid=182619674 John Middleton Of Skegness, passed away peacefully on Sunday 3 July, aged 59. Much loved Husband of Jayne, loving Dad, Grandad, Brother and Uncle. Funeral at St. Matthew's Church at 12.30pm on Wednesday 20 July, followed by cremation at Alford Crematorium. Family flowers only, but if desired donations to Lincoln County Hospital (Clayton Ward) c/o Parkers Funeral Directors, 1a Sea Road Chapel St Leonards PE24 5SJ. tel: 01754 873035 Published in Skegness Standard on July 13, 2016 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/clough-s-unlikely-champions-still-in-league-of-their-own-106308.html John Middleton: Goalkeeper for three years before Shilton arrived. Now a delivery driver based in home town of Skegness. {{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, John 1956 births 2016 deaths Men's association football goalkeepers Derby County F.C. players English men's footballers England men's under-21 international footballers Nottingham Forest F.C. players Footballers from Lincoln, England English Football League players 20th-century English sportsmen