John reveals football secret on 100th birthday
A man born in Port of Menteith waited until he was approaching his 100th birthday before telling family members his best-kept footballing secret .
Proud Scot John McNaughton, who now lives in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, revealed he had once played for Newcastle United.
His daughter Carol Siddle said modest John had never before mentioned his link with the Tyneside giants .
She wrote to the club about John and they confirmed he had indeed been with them during the early years of World War Two.
And to mark John’s 100th birthday, the Magpies included a story about him and his time at Gallowgate in the programme for the Newcastle versus Arsenal game on August 11 this year – nine days before he celebrated his 100th birthday.
Newcastle United historians could only find one other exUnited man who had reached a century.
Carol, 69, who lives near John, in Low Fell, said he still has an “amazing memory” about his life and adventures in and around Port of Menteith.
She added: “Recently he was coaching his greatgrandchildren at football when his grandson asked what was the best team he’d played for in his youth. Astonishingly, the answer was Newcastle United and this was something he never mentioned before.”
As the Newcastle United programme points out, John was one of the many footballers whose careers were ruined by World War Two.
He joined the RAF in 1939 and was posted to many places in Britain but spent long periods at
Ottercops and Bamburgh, both Northumberland, serving as a sergeant in the military police.
It was during his war service in the North East England he met his future wife Mary – and played in Newcastle United’s Northern Combination League side during season 1942-43.
Explaining his club link, the Newcastle United programme adds: `(John) was good enough to join the United squad but received an ankle injury which prevented him playing in further games. The Scot played for the RAF during the war, while a military policeman at airbases, and on peace being restored he settled in Chester-le-Street and continued to appear in local football until 1957.”
John was born in 1919 to James and Flora (nee Miller) McNaughton of Port of Menteith, and four years later his sister Janet was born.
They attended the village school then moved to Aberfoyle for their secondary education.
At fourteen John left school and began working at a nearby farm which reared foxes for the fur trade. When he was old enough, John became a lorry driver and delivered materials and provisions to houses and businesses around the Trossachs.
John returned to Port of Menteith after the war but couldn’t find work and went back to the North East and began working for Northern General Transport as a coach driver.
Carol said: “During summer months he drove five-day tours around Edinburgh and the Trossachs.
“Due to his local knowledge his tours were always full and he had the opportunity to visit his parents every Thursday whilst his passengers visited Inchmahome Priory on the Lake of Menteith.”
And she added: “Although he now finds mobility a bit of a problem he still lives in his own home. He enjoys watching football and other sports and enjoys giving coaching tips to his great grandchildren as they play football in his garden. He particularly likes watching geographical, mechanical, engineering and construction programmes on the television.
“He has a great affection for the area of his birth and, much to the surprise of many, can recall accurately the routes around the Trossachs and name the landmarks along the way.”
John’s wife’s Mary died in February this year at the age of 95.
He has been a life-long cricket fan and it was at a cricket club in Chester-le-Street that his 100th birthday party was held. Sixty friends, family bowling pals and workmates attended. Among the guests was John’s niece, Ann Jones, from Crieff.
Carol, John’s only child, added: “He walked around every table and chatted and sat with everyone there, and he had a wonderful day.”
John’s father James was one of six children from the Stirling area and his mother Flora Miller was one of eight children from the Falkirk area, two of whom were professional footballers in their day.
Carol believes John must still have many distant relatives in the Stirling area.