John Ridley

John Ridley (27 April 1952 – 3 May 2020) was an English footballer. A versatile player able to play as a defender or midfielder, he had a twelve-year professional career in the English Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-League Stafford Rangers and the American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

He was voted Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year in 1975–76, won the Anglo-Scottish Cup with Chesterfield in 1981, and helped Port Vale to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1982–83. Qualifying as a teacher before he began his football career, he returned to the education profession once he retired.

Early and later life John Ridley was born in Consett on 27 April 1952.

After finishing his playing career, Ridley went on to coach at Stafford Rangers, Matlock Town and Newcastle Town.

Career Port Vale Ridley signed professional forms with Port Vale in July 1973, having previously been at the club on youth terms. He came through to the professional ranks at the same time as David Harris, who would also become a key player for the "Valiants". Ridley played ten Third Division games in 1973–74. He scored his first goal in senior football in a 3–1 win over Charlton Athletic on 27 April 1974.

He established himself in the first team as a midfielder under manager Roy Sproson by March 1975 and played 19 games of the 1974–75 campaign. He was an ever-present for the 1975–76 season, playing 52 games and finding the net against Rotherham United. His performances earned him the Player of the Year award at the end of the season.

Ridley played 47 games of the 1977–78 season and found the net in a 5–2 demolition of non-League Arnold in the FA Cup first round. However, Vale suffered relegation into the Fourth Division at the end of the season under Bobby Smith.

Leicester City The "Foxes" were then a Second Division side, and avoided relegation by three points in 1978–79. A Frank McLintock signing, when Jock Wallace took over as manager Ridley's days at Filbert Street were numbered. He played 24 league games as a defensive midfielder for Leicester before he was sold to Chesterfield for a £35,000 fee in August 1979.

Chesterfield He was used in defence at Chesterfield by manager Arthur Cox. He formed an impressive centre-back partnership with Bill Green.

Return to Port Vale Ridley switched between defence and midfield as he played 44 games in 1982–83, as Vale won promotion out of the Fourth Division in third place under the management of John McGrath. He also found the net in games at Mansfield Town, Hereford United, and Hartlepool United. However, Vale failed to retain their third-tier status in 1983–84; Ridley scored against Newport County and Southend United as he made 35 appearances. He played in a centre-back partnership with Phil Sproson, taking the place of Sproson's partner from Ridley's first spell – Graham Hawkins, who was now retired. He played 51 games under John Rudge in the 1984–85 campaign. At the end of the season, he joined Stafford Rangers in a player-coach capacity for a fee that was settled at £700 following a tribunal.

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1973–74 Third Division

1974–75 Third Division

1975–76 Third Division

1976–77 Third Division

1977–78 Third Division

1978–79 Fourth Division

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Leicester City 1978–79 Second Division

1979–80 Third Division

1980–81 Third Division

1981–82 Third Division

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1982–83 Fourth Division

1983–84 Third Division

1984–85 Fourth Division

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Honours Individual Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 1976

Chesterfield Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1981

Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83

Stafford Rangers Northern Premier League: 1984–85 Conference League Cup: 1986 Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1987