John Fraser (footballer, born 1953)

John Fraser (born 12 July 1953) is an English former football full back who played in the Football League for Brentford and Fulham.

John Fraser
Personal information
Full name John Fraser[1]
Date of birth (1953-07-12) 12 July 1953
Place of birth White City, England
Position(s) Full back, utility player
Youth career
1967–1971 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1976 Fulham 56 (1)
1976–1980 Brentford 123 (6)
1980–1981 Oxford City 42 (1)
Total 221 (8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Fulham

After being spotted playing for his school team, Fraser entered the youth system at First Division club Fulham at the age of 14 in 1967.[2] He began his career as a midfielder, but switched to full back under reserve team manager George Cohen and signed his first professional contract in 1971.[2][3] He made his senior debut during the 1971–72 Second Division season and gradually built on his appearance record year-by-year to play 25 games during the 1974–75 season.[4] An injury to Les Strong allowed him a place in the starting lineup for the 1975 FA Cup Final, which was lost 2–0 to West Ham United.[2] Fraser fell out of favour with manager Alec Stock during the 1975–76 pre-season and departed the club at the end of the season.[2] He made 65 appearances and scored one goal as a first team player at Craven Cottage.[4]

Brentford

Fraser dropped to Fourth Division to sign for Fulham's neighbours Brentford in July 1976 on a free transfer.[3] He was a near ever-present during the 1976–77 season and was used in a utility role by manager Bill Dodgin Jr, playing both full back positions and on the wing.[5] He was a regular until a groin injury ruined a successful 1977–78 season,[3] in which he helped the Bees to automatic promotion to the Third Division by filling in at the midfield and at inside forward.[5] He rejected a new contract and departed Griffin Park early in the 1980–81 season, despite having missed just four matches of the previous season.[3] Fraser made 131 appearances and scored seven goals during three seasons with Brentford.[5]

Oxford City

Fraser closed out his career in non-league football with Isthmian League First Division club Oxford City and made 42 appearances and scoring one goal during the 1980–81 season before retiring from football.[5][6]

Personal life

Fraser completed The Knowledge while a Brentford player and became a black cab driver after retiring from football.[2]

Honours

Brentford

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fulham 1971–72[4] Second Division 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
1972–73[4] 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
1973–74[4] 17 0 3 0 0 0 20 0
1974–75[4] 20 1 4 0 1 0 25 1
1975–76[4] 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
Total 55 1 8 0 2 0 65 2
Brentford 1976–77[7] Fourth Division 39 2 2 1 0 0 41 3
1977–78[7] 19 0 1 0 2 0 22 0
1978–79[7] Third Division 23 0 0 0 1 0 24 0
1979–80[7] 42 4 1 0 2 0 45 4
Total 123 6 4 1 5 0 132 7
Career total 178 7 12 1 7 0 197 9

References
  1. "John Fraser". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. "Memory Lane | Fulham Football Club". www.fulhamfc.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 278. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  4. "John Fraser". Fulhamweb. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 60. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  6. "Players (Alphabetic)". docs.google.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  7. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 394–395. ISBN 0951526200.
  • John Fraser at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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