About John May
Lived 1878 – 1933 (aged 55). John May was a British association football player.
John May (15 April 1878 – 25 July 1933) was a Scottish footballer who played for Abercorn, Derby County, Rangers, Morton and Scotland.
Football career Club May played as a left half-back (comparable to a modern midfielder) and started his career at Bo'ness followed by Wishaw Thistle and Paisley club Abercorn, May made 179 league appearances for Derby, scoring 17 goals.
He joined Rangers in May 1904 and went on to play 148 times in the Scottish Football League and Scottish Cup, however, his spell at the club coincided almost exactly with a period when rivals Celtic were dominant, and May did not claim a winner's medal in either of the major competitions before he moved on to Morton in 1910.
Personal life His younger brother Hugh was also a footballer who made a small number of appearances for both Rangers and Derby.
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Important facts
People in John May's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John May's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John May?
Scottish footballer (1878-1933)
When was John May born?
John May was born on 15 April 1878 in Shotts.
When did John May die?
John May died on 25 July 1933 in Glasgow.
What was John May's occupation?
John May was an association football player.
What nationality was John May?
John May was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John May (footballer, born 1878)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John May. https://biography.guide/john-may-association-football-player/
MLA: "John May." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-may-association-football-player/.
Chicago: "John May." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-may-association-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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