*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
John Lineham
Appearances: 73+1 Goals: 7
Date / Year of birth: 1963
Position: Midfielder / Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1987/88
Season of last appearance: 1988/89
Also played for: Folkestone Town, Folkestone, Canterbury City, Gillingham (0), Dover Athletic and Tonbridge
Tough Maidstone-born player noted for his long throws who began his career with Folkestone Town during the 1980/81 season. John stayed with the club for several seasons and on 16.4.83 he scored in a 6-1 home win over Thanet. After making over 60 appearances for Folkestone he joined Canterbury in the summer of 1984.
During 1984/85 John scored 16 goals in 54 appearances for City and also played for Gillingham's youth team. During the 1985/86 campaign he suffered a serious knee injury and had to undergo an operation but John recovered and moved to Dover early in the 1986/87 season.
His stay at Crabble was brief and in November 1986 John returned to Canterbury. On 7.4.87 he scored for City in a 4-1 defeat at Thanet and John began the 1987/88 campaign at Kingsmead too. On 29.8.87 he was part of the Canterbury side beaten 3-0 by Thanet in an FA Cup tie at Hartsdown Park and the Thanet Times said that he was "lucky not to get an early sight of the changing rooms" after swinging a punch at United's Dave Gear.
In November 1987 John moved to Thanet having made over 100 appearances for City and the Thanet Times felt he was a "shrewd signing". The paper said that he "fitted in well" when making his debut in midfield during a 1-1 draw at Ruislip on 21.11.87. John made his home debut on 1.12.87 as Thanet entertained Chatham at Hartsdown and enjoyed a great evening, scoring twice in an 8-0 win. He was a fixture in United's midfield until being switched to centre-back in March 1988. John played in the heart of the Thanet defence for the last ten games of the season and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he was a "pillar of consistency" there. He finished the campaign having made 30 appearances without adding to his two goals.
John became United's captain for the 1988/89 season and made a good start to the campaign. The Thanet Times said that he "excelled" in defence during a 2-0 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown on 29.8.88 and the paper also described John as being "tenacious". He spent most of the early part of the season at the back but made the odd appearance in midfield too. On 22.10.88 John was one of the four United players sent off during a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Leatherhead in an infamous FA Trophy tie at Hartsdown. He was the last player to be dismissed, receiving his marching orders for dissent having already been booked earlier. The Thanet Times said that John "appeared to have what could be described as a meaningful conversation" with the referee Mr Coffin "and was duly dispatched from the field".
After returning from his three match ban John usually played in midfield for the remainder of the season and that gave him the chance to demonstrate his long-range shooting prowess. After opening his account with a fine volley in a 2-0 win over Tonbridge on 17.12.88 John added four more goals, each of them from distance. On 26.12.88 he scored with a low angled drive in a 2-1 win at Canterbury and the Adscene described it as a "splendid 20-yard strike". The Thanet Times described John's next goal in a 1-1 draw at Dunstable on 14.1.89 as being "a scorching drive" - a shot from just outside the penalty area. His 25-yard effort in a 5-2 defeat at Salisbury on 18.2.89 was also described as "scorching" by the paper and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that John's goal in a 2-1 home defeat against Gravesend on 18.3.89 was a "thunderous long range drive". When John played for Thanet in the club's last-ever match, a 3-0 defeat at Bury on 6.5.89, it was his 44th appearance (one as sub) of the season and he'd scored five goals. It turned out to be his last game for the club and in the summer of 1989 John rejoined Folkestone.
John played for Folkestone throughout 1989/90 and 1990/91 and he also made a one-off appearance for Tonbridge during the latter season.
He went back to Canterbury for the 1991/92 campaign and stayed with City until December 1993 when he left the club having made 15 appearances (four as sub) during the season.
In August 2013 John turned out for a Folkestone Legends team alongside a host of other former Margate / Thanet players in a charity match to celebrate his 50th birthday.
John worked as a sales representative during his time with Thanet United.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1987/88 (TUFC) |
30 (56) |
0 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2QR |
GR |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1988/89 (TUFC) |
43 (52) |
1 |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (20TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |