Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | John Anthony Roche | ||
Date of birth | 18 May 1932 | ||
Place of birth | Poplar, England | ||
Date of death | 1988 (aged 53–54) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
?–1957 | Margate | ||
1957–1959 | Millwall | 25 | (14) |
1959–1960 | Crystal Palace | 36 | (11) |
1960–? | Margate | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3] At the end of the 1959–60 season, he returned to Margate.[2]
Roche died in 1988, aged 53 or 54.[4] 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]