1418:
666:"We would go into training and, no word of a lie, JJ could dribble past you, put it through your legs, go around the other side and dribble past you again. It was ridiculous skill. He was quick, he could cross, he could dribble and score and in big games he came up with big moments for us... He was brilliantly balanced, had lovely skill, a beautiful left foot and could beat people just with his shimmy. He didn’t have to do much, just shake his shoulders and you would be running the opposite way."
1720:
483:
1278:
420:
295:
379:
in
December 1988; he was recalled by the "Reds" in February 1989 but was brought back to Port Vale permanently the next month for a fee of £30,000 and 6% sell-on clause.
1680:
658:. His talent made him a cult hero at Port Vale, where he was known as ‘Jinking Johnny’, though he could be prone to overplaying rather than delivering timely
466:
in the summer of 1988 after Rudge caught him leading a small group of players back from a late-night drinking session. He scored twice in 34 games in the
344:
1170:
1715:
1710:
1700:
1675:
1705:
1695:
376:
571:
400:
1670:
1385:
700:
113:
575:
1287:
1026:
992:
958:
924:
890:
856:
820:
779:
527:
491:
467:
455:
447:
436:
412:
1638:
1355:
495:
475:
416:
639:
1690:
1685:
1299:
1283:
1100:
440:
396:
315:
1274:
825:
784:
531:
408:
526:
game. He did though win his first-team place back after serving a two-week suspension. He lost his first-team place in the
1136:
1095:
659:
1303:
587:
579:
1725:
703:'s wedding. Jeffers died on 19 January 2021, aged 52, following a long illness. He had two sons: John and Gabriel.
627:
487:
384:
24:
507:
459:
360:
291:
643:
388:
276:
471:
463:
404:
380:
1588:
1131:
603:
599:
567:
479:
356:
311:
212:
1665:
1660:
1089:
631:
607:
559:
515:
327:
307:
268:
230:
193:
1430:
424:
323:
510:
with a second-place finish in the 1993–94 campaign; they finished just one point behind champions
615:
428:
590:
season, as he helped the "Hatters" to win promotion as runners-up, two points behind champions
1634:
1412:
1351:
626:. Despite these successes, he retired from professional football on medical advice and joined
623:
595:
611:
20:
704:
519:
1417:
1562:
815:
774:
687:
535:
392:
372:
352:
348:
287:
283:
174:
156:
1654:
582:, with Jeffers playing 23 league games. He scored three goals in 34 league and eight
368:
303:
302:
and jinking runs, he was nicknamed "Jinking John
Jeffers" by Vale supporters. He was
672:
619:
539:
523:
511:
499:
359:
in
October 1986 but was never able to provide too much first-team competition for
275:. He scored 18 goals in 297 league and cup appearances in a 12-year career in the
555:
543:
286:
in
October 1986 but never made a first-team appearance before he was sold on to
655:
563:
503:
272:
96:
635:
591:
530:
season, as Vale posted a 17th-place finish in the second tier (known as the
432:
299:
69:
514:. However, Jeffers again incurred the wrath of Rudge after he slapped both
454:
injuries from March onward. He scored three goals in 38 appearances in the
696:
692:
538:). Chairman Bill Bell looked to offload Jeffers from the wage bill after
427:. He scored his first league goal on 4 November 1989, in a 2–1 defeat to
1631:
Port Vale
Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!
583:
451:
364:
330:, before retiring from professional football at the end of the season.
319:
387:
were also keen to sign him, but
Jeffers was won over by Vale chairman
314:
in
November 1995. He helped the "Hatters" to win promotion out of the
708:
594:. The club also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, defeating
290:
in
February 1989 for a £30,000 fee. He helped the "Valiants" to win
490:
due to a groin injury. He was sent off on the opening day of the
462:
in last place. He was sent home from pre-season training at the
562:
in
January 1995 and featured in three Second Division games at
578:'s County finished just three points outside the play-offs in
622:
and exited the competition despite managing a 1–0 win at the
347:
and had a trial with
England Boys. He turned professional at
654:
Jeffers was a skilful and entertaining, though inconsistent
691:
and worked in car financing, setting up his own company in
685:
After retiring as a player, Jeffers wrote a column for the
439:
season, as the "Valiants" posted a top-half finish in the
1386:"Port Vale in mourning after death of John Jeffers at 52"
642:
season. He later attempted an unsuccessful comeback with
1613:
19:
For the California poet born John Robinson Jeffers, see
1432:
official matchday programme Port Vale v Southend United
720:
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
566:. In August 1995, he had a trial with Second Division
240:
224:
206:
186:
168:
150:
124:
119:
107:
102:
92:
84:
76:
65:
50:
42:
37:
267:(5 October 1968 – 20 January 2021) was an English
614:on the way. In the semi-finals, they lost 2–0 to
494:season within seconds of entering the game as a
664:
8:
1408:
1406:
570:before he was allowed to join the club on a
446:Jeffers scored twice in 36 games during the
32:
638:and retired completely at the close of the
322:in 1996–97. In October 1997, he moved into
258:*Club domestic league appearances and goals
1721:National League (English football) players
1416:
450:campaign but started to become plagued by
134:
31:
1616:at the English National Football Archive
718:
310:in January 1995, he was allowed to join
1540:"The John Jeffers Interview (Part 2)".
1521:"The John Jeffers Interview (Part 3)".
1502:"The John Jeffers Interview (Part 4)".
1497:
1495:
1493:
1491:
1489:
1487:
1485:
1483:
1481:
1479:
1464:"The John Jeffers Interview (Part 1)".
1459:
1457:
1455:
1453:
1341:
1339:
1315:
435:. He played a total of 46 games in the
1337:
1335:
1333:
1331:
1329:
1327:
1325:
1323:
1321:
1319:
1557:
1555:
1379:
1377:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1369:
1367:
7:
554:Jeffers went on a one-month loan to
318:and to reach the semi-finals of the
142:
23:. For the Wisconsin politician, see
458:season, as the "Valiants" suffered
1681:Men's association football wingers
546:were signed to play on the wings.
419:games, including both legs of the
88:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
14:
1438:. 30 January 2021. pp. 17–19
1384:Smith, Peter (20 January 2021).
415:season and featured in all four
1716:English Football League players
1711:Northwich Victoria F.C. players
1300:Football League Second Division
1284:Football League Second Division
634:in October 1997, and then left
470:season, but did not feature at
407:for £35,000. He featured in 15
1275:Football League Third Division
16:English footballer (1968–2021)
1:
1701:Stockport County F.C. players
518:'s right-back and Vale's own
1706:Hednesford Town F.C. players
1696:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
1563:"Cult Hero 17: John Jeffers"
1350:. Witan Books. p. 151.
502:player. He did, though help
476:Football League Trophy final
534:due to the creation of the
298:and 1993–94. Known for his
1742:
1671:Footballers from Liverpool
1589:"John Jeffers (1968-2021)"
671:Former teammate Port Vale
18:
1676:English men's footballers
1232:
1203:
1130:
1059:
814:
742:
739:
736:
733:
730:
727:
724:
375:as cover for the injured
294:out of the third tier in
282:He began his career with
257:
112:
95:
87:
80:20 January 2021 (aged 52)
79:
68:
53:
45:
25:John Jeffers (politician)
1302:second-place promotion:
1286:second-place promotion:
363:, and never featured at
1618:(subscription required)
1348:Port Vale Personalities
355:upon completion of his
1691:Port Vale F.C. players
1686:Liverpool F.C. players
678:
464:University of Stirling
357:Youth Training Scheme
675:speaking on Jeffers.
488:West Bromwich Albion
385:West Bromwich Albion
38:Personal information
1629:Kent, Jeff (1989).
1542:The Vale Park Beano
1523:The Vale Park Beano
1504:The Vale Park Beano
1466:The Vale Park Beano
1346:Kent, Jeff (1996).
721:
586:appearances in the
345:St Francis Xavier's
324:non-League football
265:John Joseph Jeffers
46:John Joseph Jeffers
34:
1726:English columnists
719:
644:Northwich Victoria
574:in November 1995.
391:'s offer of a new
1595:. 20 January 2021
1569:. 30 January 2012
1261:
1260:
715:Career statistics
624:Riverside Stadium
498:after striking a
405:Preston North End
381:Preston North End
343:Jeffers attended
262:
261:
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1567:onevalefan.co.uk
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1401:
1400:
1398:
1396:
1390:StokeonTrentLive
1381:
1362:
1361:
1343:
1294:Stockport County
1175:Second Division
1141:Second Division
1132:Stockport County
997:Second Division
963:Second Division
929:Second Division
895:Second Division
861:Second Division
722:
707:was his younger
676:
604:Blackburn Rovers
600:Sheffield United
568:Stockport County
480:Stockport County
312:Stockport County
271:who played as a
227:
213:Stockport County
209:
189:
171:
153:
144:
136:
110:
60:
58:
35:
21:Robinson Jeffers
1741:
1740:
1736:
1735:
1734:
1732:
1731:
1730:
1651:
1650:
1649:
1648:
1641:
1633:. Witan Books.
1628:
1627:
1623:
1617:
1612:
1608:
1598:
1596:
1587:
1586:
1582:
1572:
1570:
1561:
1560:
1553:
1539:
1538:
1534:
1520:
1519:
1515:
1501:
1500:
1477:
1463:
1462:
1451:
1441:
1439:
1435:
1429:
1428:
1424:
1411:
1404:
1394:
1392:
1383:
1382:
1365:
1358:
1345:
1344:
1317:
1312:
1266:
1101:Second Division
1090:Shrewsbury Town
1031:First Division
717:
705:Francis Jeffers
683:
677:
670:
652:
632:Hednesford Town
608:West Ham United
560:Shrewsbury Town
552:
520:physiotherapist
516:Tranmere Rovers
506:'s side to win
441:Second Division
341:
336:
328:Hednesford Town
316:Second Division
308:Shrewsbury Town
277:Football League
231:Hednesford Town
225:
207:
194:Shrewsbury Town
187:
169:
151:
108:
56:
54:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1739:
1737:
1729:
1728:
1723:
1718:
1713:
1708:
1703:
1698:
1693:
1688:
1683:
1678:
1673:
1668:
1663:
1653:
1652:
1647:
1646:
1639:
1621:
1606:
1580:
1551:
1532:
1513:
1475:
1449:
1422:
1415:at Soccerbase
1402:
1363:
1356:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1306:
1291:
1290:
1281:
1265:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1255:
1252:
1249:
1246:
1243:
1240:
1237:
1234:
1230:
1229:
1226:
1223:
1220:
1217:
1214:
1211:
1208:
1205:
1201:
1200:
1197:
1194:
1191:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1179:
1176:
1173:
1167:
1166:
1163:
1160:
1157:
1154:
1151:
1148:
1145:
1142:
1139:
1134:
1128:
1127:
1124:
1121:
1118:
1115:
1112:
1109:
1106:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1086:
1085:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1053:
1050:
1047:
1044:
1041:
1038:
1035:
1032:
1029:
1023:
1022:
1019:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1001:
998:
995:
989:
988:
985:
982:
979:
976:
973:
970:
967:
964:
961:
955:
954:
951:
948:
945:
942:
939:
936:
933:
930:
927:
921:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
896:
893:
887:
886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
871:
868:
865:
862:
859:
853:
852:
849:
846:
843:
840:
837:
834:
831:
828:
826:Third Division
823:
818:
812:
811:
808:
805:
802:
799:
796:
793:
790:
787:
785:First Division
782:
777:
771:
770:
767:
764:
761:
758:
755:
752:
749:
745:
744:
741:
738:
735:
732:
729:
726:
716:
713:
688:Liverpool Echo
682:
679:
668:
651:
648:
551:
548:
536:Premier League
532:First Division
484:play-off final
474:either in the
425:Bristol Rovers
421:play-off final
409:Third Division
395:. To fund the
393:Austin Montego
349:Kenny Dalglish
340:
337:
335:
332:
260:
259:
255:
254:
249:
244:
242:
238:
237:
235:
233:
228:
222:
221:
218:
215:
210:
204:
203:
200:
197:
190:
184:
183:
180:
177:
172:
166:
165:
162:
159:
154:
148:
147:
138:
131:
126:
122:
121:
120:Senior career*
117:
116:
111:
105:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
78:
74:
73:
67:
66:Place of birth
63:
62:
61:5 October 1968
52:
48:
47:
44:
40:
39:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1738:
1727:
1724:
1722:
1719:
1717:
1714:
1712:
1709:
1707:
1704:
1702:
1699:
1697:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1687:
1684:
1682:
1679:
1677:
1674:
1672:
1669:
1667:
1664:
1662:
1659:
1658:
1656:
1642:
1640:0-9508981-3-9
1636:
1632:
1625:
1622:
1615:
1610:
1607:
1594:
1593:Port Vale F.C
1590:
1584:
1581:
1568:
1564:
1558:
1556:
1552:
1547:
1543:
1536:
1533:
1528:
1524:
1517:
1514:
1509:
1505:
1498:
1496:
1494:
1492:
1490:
1488:
1486:
1484:
1482:
1480:
1476:
1471:
1467:
1460:
1458:
1456:
1454:
1450:
1434:
1433:
1426:
1423:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1407:
1403:
1391:
1387:
1380:
1378:
1376:
1374:
1372:
1370:
1368:
1364:
1359:
1357:0-9529152-0-0
1353:
1349:
1342:
1340:
1338:
1336:
1334:
1332:
1330:
1328:
1326:
1324:
1322:
1320:
1316:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1298:
1297:
1296:
1295:
1289:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1276:
1273:
1272:
1271:
1270:
1263:
1256:
1253:
1250:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1238:
1235:
1233:Career total
1231:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1212:
1209:
1206:
1202:
1198:
1195:
1192:
1189:
1186:
1183:
1180:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1161:
1158:
1155:
1152:
1149:
1146:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1129:
1125:
1122:
1119:
1116:
1113:
1110:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1091:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1071:
1068:
1065:
1062:
1058:
1054:
1051:
1048:
1045:
1042:
1039:
1036:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1017:
1014:
1011:
1008:
1005:
1002:
999:
996:
994:
991:
990:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
971:
968:
965:
962:
960:
957:
956:
952:
949:
946:
943:
940:
937:
934:
931:
928:
926:
923:
922:
918:
915:
912:
909:
906:
903:
900:
897:
894:
892:
889:
888:
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
850:
847:
844:
841:
838:
835:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
813:
809:
806:
803:
800:
797:
794:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
772:
768:
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
747:
746:
723:
714:
712:
710:
706:
702:
698:
695:. He was the
694:
690:
689:
681:Personal life
680:
674:
667:
663:
661:
657:
650:Style of play
649:
647:
645:
641:
637:
633:
629:
625:
621:
617:
616:Middlesbrough
613:
609:
605:
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
572:free transfer
569:
565:
561:
557:
549:
547:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
444:
442:
438:
434:
430:
429:Oxford United
426:
423:victory over
422:
418:
414:
411:games in the
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
377:Paul Atkinson
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
338:
333:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
256:
253:
250:
248:
245:
243:
239:
236:
234:
232:
229:
223:
219:
216:
214:
211:
205:
201:
198:
195:
191:
185:
181:
178:
176:
173:
167:
163:
160:
158:
155:
149:
146:
139:
137:
132:
130:
127:
123:
118:
115:
106:
101:
98:
91:
83:
77:Date of death
75:
71:
64:
51:Date of birth
49:
41:
36:
30:
26:
22:
1630:
1624:
1614:John Jeffers
1609:
1597:. Retrieved
1592:
1583:
1571:. Retrieved
1566:
1545:
1541:
1535:
1526:
1522:
1516:
1507:
1503:
1469:
1465:
1440:. Retrieved
1431:
1425:
1413:John Jeffers
1393:. Retrieved
1389:
1347:
1293:
1292:
1268:
1267:
686:
684:
673:Robbie Earle
665:
653:
620:Edgeley Park
596:Chesterfield
553:
550:Later career
540:Jon McCarthy
524:reserve team
445:
401:Steve Harper
342:
281:
264:
263:
251:
246:
140:
133:
128:
103:Youth career
33:John Jeffers
29:
1666:2021 deaths
1661:1968 births
1277:play-offs:
701:Andy Porter
612:Southampton
556:Fred Davies
544:Steve Guppy
399:Rudge sold
361:John Barnes
273:left-winger
97:Left-winger
93:Position(s)
1655:Categories
1599:20 January
1395:20 January
1310:References
628:Conference
584:League Cup
576:Dave Jones
564:Gay Meadow
504:John Rudge
496:substitute
486:defeat to
460:relegation
320:League Cup
269:footballer
57:1968-10-05
1442:19 August
1269:Port Vale
816:Port Vale
775:Liverpool
731:Division
636:Keys Park
522:during a
508:promotion
478:win over
452:abdominal
433:Vale Park
389:Bill Bell
373:Port Vale
367:. He was
353:Liverpool
339:Port Vale
300:dribbling
292:promotion
288:Port Vale
284:Liverpool
226:1997–1998
208:1995–1997
175:Port Vale
170:1988–1995
157:Liverpool
152:1986–1988
114:Liverpool
109:1984–1986
72:, England
70:Liverpool
43:Full name
697:best man
693:Wallasey
669:—
417:play-off
397:transfer
1304:1996–97
1288:1993–94
1264:Honours
1171:1996–97
1137:1995–96
1096:1994–95
1092:(loan)
1027:1994–95
993:1993–94
959:1992–93
925:1991–92
891:1990–91
857:1989–90
821:1988–89
780:1987–88
737:FA Cup
734:League
728:Season
660:crosses
640:1997–98
588:1996–97
580:1995–96
528:1994–95
512:Reading
500:Burnley
492:1993–94
482:or the
472:Wembley
468:1992–93
456:1991–92
448:1990–91
437:1989–90
413:1988–89
371:out to
365:Anfield
306:out to
1637:
1573:1 June
1354:
1204:Total
1060:Total
769:Goals
743:Total
740:Other
709:cousin
656:winger
369:loaned
334:Career
304:loaned
196:(loan)
85:Height
1436:(PDF)
763:Goals
757:Goals
751:Goals
725:Club
630:club
326:with
241:Total
125:Years
1635:ISBN
1601:2021
1575:2020
1444:2023
1397:2021
1352:ISBN
1279:1989
766:Apps
760:Apps
754:Apps
748:Apps
610:and
592:Bury
542:and
383:and
296:1989
252:(17)
188:1995
182:(10)
135:Apps
129:Team
1546:121
1527:122
1508:125
1470:120
1257:18
1254:297
1236:240
1084:11
1081:219
1063:180
699:at
618:at
558:'s
431:at
403:to
351:'s
247:240
220:(6)
202:(1)
179:180
164:(0)
143:Gls
1657::
1591:.
1565:.
1554:^
1544:.
1525:.
1506:.
1478:^
1468:.
1452:^
1405:^
1388:.
1366:^
1318:^
1248:37
1242:20
1239:17
1228:6
1225:73
1219:11
1207:57
1199:3
1196:47
1190:11
1178:34
1165:3
1162:26
1144:23
1126:1
1075:24
1069:15
1066:10
1055:1
1052:11
1034:10
1021:1
1018:35
1000:25
987:2
984:33
966:26
953:3
950:38
932:33
919:2
916:36
898:31
885:2
882:46
864:40
851:0
848:20
830:15
810:0
711:.
662:.
646:.
606:,
602:,
598:,
443:.
279:.
217:57
192:→
1643:.
1603:.
1577:.
1548:.
1529:.
1510:.
1472:.
1446:.
1399:.
1360:.
1251:1
1245:0
1222:0
1216:0
1213:5
1210:6
1193:0
1187:0
1184:2
1181:3
1159:0
1156:0
1153:0
1150:3
1147:3
1123:5
1120:0
1117:2
1114:0
1111:0
1108:1
1105:3
1078:1
1072:0
1049:0
1046:0
1043:0
1040:1
1037:1
1015:0
1012:5
1009:0
1006:5
1003:1
981:0
978:3
975:0
972:4
969:2
947:0
944:4
941:0
938:1
935:3
913:0
910:3
907:0
904:2
901:2
879:1
876:4
873:0
870:2
867:1
845:0
842:5
839:0
836:0
833:0
807:0
804:0
801:0
798:0
795:0
792:0
789:0
199:3
161:0
145:)
141:(
59:)
55:(
27:.
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