About John Osborne
Lived 1940 – 1998 (aged 57). John Osborne was a British association football player.
John Osborne (1 December 1940 – 7 November 1998) was an English football goalkeeper. He played for Chesterfield, West Bromwich Albion and Shamrock Rovers. Osborne was a member of Albion's great cup side of the late 1960s which played in 5 cup finals from 1966 to 1970, including the 1968 FA Cup final. His nickname was Bionic due to the plastic joint inserted in his finger.
He made his Rovers debut at Milltown under his old teammate Johnny Giles on 10 September 1978. He played 3 games in the 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup keeping 2 clean sheets giving him a total of 4 appearances for the Hoops.
In 2004, he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
Osborne was the commercial manager of Worcestershire County Cricket Club from 1986 to 1995, and played a significant part in the county's signing of long-time major sponsor MEB.
He died in Evesham Hospital, Worcestershire on 7 November 1998 from lung cancer.
Honours West Bromwich Albion FA Cup: 1967–68 Football League Cup: 1965–66
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Osborne?
English footballer (1940-1998)
When was John Osborne born?
John Osborne was born on 1 December 1940 in Barlborough.
When did John Osborne die?
John Osborne died on 7 November 1998 in Worcester.
What was John Osborne's occupation?
John Osborne was an association football player.
What nationality was John Osborne?
John Osborne was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Osborne (footballer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Osborne. https://biography.guide/john-osborne/
MLA: "John Osborne." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-osborne/.
Chicago: "John Osborne." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-osborne/.
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