John Bethune (footballer)

{{short description|Scottish footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = John Bethune

| image = J Bethune - Bristol Rovers.jpg

| image_size = 150

| caption = Bethune while with Bristol Rovers in 1921.

| fullname = John Bethune

| birth_date = {{birth date|1888|10|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Milngavie, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|1955|1|23|1888|10|19|df=y}}{{Cite web |url=http://bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/1/4/1214045/football_league_players_index_1920-19..xls |title=Bristol Rovers Memorabilia – Football League Players Index |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427173547/http://bristolroversmemorabilia.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/1/4/1214045/football_league_players_index_1920-19..xls |url-status=dead }}

| death_place = Sittingbourne, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| position = Full back

| years1 = 1908–1909

| clubs1 = Milngavie Allander

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1909–1910

| clubs2 = Vale of Clyde

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1910–1911

| clubs3 = Ashfield

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1911–1912

| clubs4 = Heart of Midlothian

| caps4 = 3

| goals4 = 0

| years5 =

| clubs5 = Hamilton Academical

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = {{0|0000}}–1912

| clubs6 = Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 1912

| clubs7 = Darlington

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 1912–1920

| clubs8 = Barnsley

| caps8 = 103

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 1920–1921

| clubs9 = Bristol Rovers

| caps9 = 30

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 1921–1922

| clubs10 = Brentford

| caps10 = 10

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 1922–1927

| clubs11 = Sittingbourne

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 1927–????

| clubs12 = Sittingbourne Paper Mills

| caps12 =

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| totalcaps =

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}}

John Bethune (19 October 1888 – 23 January 1955),{{Cite book |title=Football League Players' Records 1888–1939 |last=Joyce |first=Michael |publisher=SoccerData |year=2004 |isbn=1-899468-67-6 |location=Nottingham |page=25}}{{Cite book |title=Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players |last=Jay |first=Mike |last2=Byrne |first2=Stephen |publisher=Potten, Baber & Murray |year=1994 |isbn=0-9524835-0-5 |location=Bristol}} was a professional footballer, who played in both the Scottish Football League and The Football League.

Born in Milngavie near Glasgow, Bethune began his career by playing local football in the Glasgow area for Ashfield.{{Cite web |url=http://vintagefootballers.com/product/bethune-jack-image-1-bristol-rovers-1921/ |title=Bethune Jack Image 1 Bristol Rovers 1921 |website=Vintage Footballers |language=en-GB |access-date=23 December 2018}} He joined Edinburgh-based side Heart of Midlothian in 1912, for whom he played three times in the Scottish League in a brief spell with them before moving to English clubs Darlington and then Barnsley still within 1912. He settled in Barnsley for almost eight years in a period that was interrupted by the First World War, making over 100 Football League appearances for them.

Bethune, who was known to have a quick temper, joined Bristol Rovers in 1920 for their first season as a Football League club but left for a trial with Brentford in 1921.{{Cite book |title=Bristol Rovers Football Club – The Definitive History 1883–2003 |last=Byrne |first=Stephen |last2=Jay |first2=Mike |publisher=Tempus |year=2003 |isbn=0-7524-2717-2 |location=Stroud |page=115}} He played six League games during his trial, and a further four after signing for them permanently, but an injury suffered on Boxing Day that year ended his League career.

He went on to play non-League football for Sittingbourne and Sittingbourne Paper Mills and after retiring as a footballer represented England at indoor bowls in 1936 and 1938.