Johnny Spuhler
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Johnny Spuhler
|image =
|caption =
|full_name = John Oswald Spuhler{{Hugman|18633|access-date=31 March 2024}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1917|9|18|df=y}}
|birth_place = Sunderland, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|2007|1|7|1917|9|18|df=y}}
|death_place = Middlesbrough, England
|height =
|position = Centre forward
|years1 = 1936–1939 |clubs1 = Sunderland |caps1 = 35 |goals1 = 5
|years2 = 1945–1954 |clubs2 = Middlesbrough |caps2 = 216 |goals2 = 69
|years3 = 1954–1956 |clubs3 = Darlington |caps3 = 67 |goals3 = 19
|years4 = |clubs4 = Spennymoor United
|totalcaps = 318
|totalgoals = 93
|manageryears1 = |managerclubs1 = Spennymoor United
|manageryears2 = 1958 |managerclubs2 = Shrewsbury Town
|manageryears3 = |managerclubs3 = West Auckland Town
}}
John Oswald Spuhler (18 September 1917 – 7 January 2007) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He played in the Football League for Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Darlington.
Football career
Spuhler was born in Fulwell, Sunderland in 1917.{{Cite web |date=12 January 2007 |title=Spuhler - a Boro star on £12 a week |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/backtrack/1119950.spuhler---boro-star-12-week/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=The Northern Echo}} He won two caps for the England schoolboys team. He worked both in the office at Sunderland AFC and as a joiner before signing professional terms with Sunderland in September 1934.{{Cite book |last=Glasper |first=Harry |url=http://archive.org/details/middlesbroughcom0000glas |title=Middlesbrough : a complete record, 1876-1989 |date=1989 |publisher=Derby : Breedon Books Sport |isbn=978-0-907969-53-2 |pages=135}} Arsenal offered Sunderland £2,000 for Spuhler in 1937, but he turned down the transfer. Spuhler scored 5 times in 35 matches prior to the onset of World War Two. During the Second World War, Spuhler appeared as a guest player for Middlesbrough and transferred to the club in October 1945 for a fee of £1,750. He broke his nose in a match against Blackpool in 1950, which he eventually required hospital treatment for. He scored 69 goals in 216 league matches for the club before transferring to Darlington in 1954 for a fee of £1,000 after Middlesbrough's relegation. He scored 19 times in 67 league matches for Darlington. He became player-manager at non-League club Spennymoor United in 1956 and later held a managerial role at Shrewsbury Town, and a coaching role at Stockton. He also coached the Army in Germany, and managed the West Auckland Town side which reached the 1961 FA Amateur Cup final.
Style of play
Spuhler played as a centre forward. He was noted for his speed and heading ability, rather than technique on the ball.
Personal life
Spuhler married his wife Nancy in November 1939, and the couple had two children. After retirement from football, Spuhler worked as a sub-postmaster in Yarm before retiring at 55. He died on 7 January 2007 at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough following a short illness.{{Cite web |date=9 January 2007 |title=Boro legend Johnny Spuhler dies aged 89 |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/boro-legend-johnny-spuhler-dies-3754491 |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Teesside Live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1109909.football-hero-dies-aged-89/|title=Football hero dies aged 89|date=9 January 2007|website=The Northern Echo}}
References
;General
- {{NeilBrownPlayers|player2/johnnyspuhler}}
- {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706171314/http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Mplayers/MPG773.asp |title=Johnny Spuhler, The Stat Cat }}
;Specific
{{reflist}}
{{Shrewsbury Town F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spuhler, Johnny}}
Category:Footballers from Sunderland
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:Darlington F.C. players
Category:Spennymoor United A.F.C. players
Category:English football managers
Category:Spennymoor United A.F.C. managers
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. managers
Category:West Auckland Town F.C. managers