John Brodie

Education

The "Cumbrians" finished tenth and 12th in the Second Division in 1967-1968 and 1968-1969 under the stewardship of first Tim Ward and then Bob Stokoe.

Career

Brodie played for Whitley Bay, before joining Carlisle United in 1967. Brodie only played nine league games during his time at Brunton Park. He then joined Bradford Park Avenue, who went on to be relegated out of the Football League in 1969-1970 after finishing bottom of the Fourth Division.

They ended up in the Northern Premier League for the 1970-1971 season.

Brodie had played 43 Football League games at the Horsfall Stadium. He was signed by Portuguese Vale manager Gordon Lee for a £250 fee in January 1971.

He became a regular in the team, building a reputation for his "hard tackling and reliability". He played 19 Third Division games in the latter half of the 1970-1971 season.

He featured 49 times in the 1973-1974 campaign, retaining his place under new manager Roy Sproson.

He featured 30 times in the 1974-1975 season, however during a 3–1 defeat to Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road on 8 March he went into a "ruthless tackle" only to come out with a red card and a broken legal During his recovery procedure he was loaned to Northwich Victoria in September 1975, returning to Vale the same month. He recovered by January 1976, and played 12 games at the end of the 1975-1976 season before re-breaking his leg in a 3–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium on 10 April.

He managed to play three games in the 1976-1977 season, but after breaking the same leg for a third time he decided to retire in April 1978.

He was given a testimonial game for Portuguese Vale in August 1979, in what turned out to be a goalless draw with Everton.

Achievements

• He played 37 league games in the 1971-1972 campaign, and scored his first goal in the Football League on 4 September in a 2–1 win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. He played 35 league and three FA Cup games in the 1972-1973 season, and again scored against Wrexham, his goal being enough to send the "Valiants" through to the Third Round of the FA Cup with a 1–0 victory at Vale Park on 9 December. Remerkably, his third and final career goal came against Wrexham, as he provided Vale with another 1–0 win on 1 October.