Johnny Roche
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Johnny Roche
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = John Anthony Roche
|birth_date = {{birth date |1932|5|18|df=y}}
|birth_place = Poplar, England
|death_date = {{death year and age|1988|1934}}
|height =
|position = Forward
|years1 = ?–1957
|clubs1 = Margate
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|years2 = 1957–1959
|clubs2 = Millwall
|caps2 = 25
|goals2 = 14
|years3 = 1959–1960
|clubs3 = Crystal Palace
|caps3 = 36
|goals3 = 11
|years4 = 1960–?
|clubs4 = Margate
|caps4 =
|goals4 =
}}
John Anthony Roche (18 May 1932 – 1988) was an English footballer who played as a forward. Born in Poplar, London, he played professionally for Millwall and Crystal Palace between 1957 and 1960, making a total of 61 Football League appearances.{{cite book | first=Barry J.|last= Hugman | title=Canon League Football Players' Records 1946-1984|publisher=Newnes Books |year=1984| isbn=0-600-37318-5|pages=408}}
Career
Roche began his career in non-league football with Margate before signing for Millwall in 1957. In May 1959, he signed for Crystal Palace then playing in the Football League Fourth Division.{{cite book|last1 =Purkiss|first1 =Mike|last2 =Sands|first2 =Nigel|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989|year =1990|publisher =The Breedon Books Publishing Company|page=338|isbn=0907969542}} He made a goal-scoring debut on 3 September in a home 3–2 win against Oldham Athletic and went on to make 36 appearances that season, scoring 11 times.{{cite book|last1 =Purkiss|first1 =Mike|last2 =Sands|first2 =Nigel|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989|year =1990|publisher =The Breedon Books Publishing Company|pages=212–13|isbn=0907969542}} At the end of the 1959–60 season, he returned to Margate.
Personal life
Roche died in 1988, aged 53 or 54.{{cite book|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–2011|last=King|first=Ian|date=April 2012|page=550|publisher=The Derby Books Publishing Company|isbn=9781780910468}} His grandson Jamie Roche, born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and Roche's son (who himself played semi-professionally), is also a professional footballer.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NeilBrownPlayers|player5|Johnny Roche}}
- [https://www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=111&player=565 Johnny Roche at holmesdale.net]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roche, Johnny}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Category:People from Poplar, London
Category:Millwall F.C. players
Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English Football League players
Category:20th-century English sportsmen
{{england-footy-forward-1930s-stub}}