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Johnny May
Johnny May
Fulham info
Full name John Edward May
Date of birth Oct 1867
Place of birth    Kensington, London, England
Date of death    Apr 1904
Place of death    Fulham, London, England
Playing position Goalkeeper
Current player? No
Debut c.Sept/Oct 1886
Last Appearance Pemberton (a) (23 Oct 1897)
First goal n/a
Last goal n/a
Joined from n/a, Joined Sept 1886
Left for Retired, Oct 1897
League apps (gls) approx 31 (0)
All apps (gls) approx 76 (0)
Other clubs West London FA (Apr 1890)
Southall (1896)
International n/a
Apps (gls) n/a

Johnny May (also known as Jack May) was a goalkeeper who played for Fulham from 1886 until 1897. One of the clubs earliest heroes, he was known for his shot-stopping abilities and an incredible penalty-saving record. Although other goalkeepers were known to have played before Johnny, such as George Read and Alfred Schneidau, he was the first goalkeeper of any real note in Fulham's history.

Career[]

Before Fulham[]

Johnny was born John Edward May in approximately October 1867 in Kensington, West London. He grew up and lived in London most of his life, and at some point at a young age, his family moved to Fulham. He lived in Hannell Road and became a plumber by trade.

Fulham (1886-1898)[]

Johnny joined the club in the 1886-87 season. At only 19 years of age, he made an immediate impact as he became a big part of the 1st XI team that season, and helped them win the West London Association Cup in February 1887 after a 2-1 victory over St Matthews.

He was largely replaced as goalkeeper in the first team by George Branch in 1888-89, although he played a few matches in goal. His presence was not lost however, as he was also a useful outfield player and was utilised as a full back and and a forward during several friendlies the very same season.

As of the 1889-90 season, Johnny became the club's captain and remained so for virtually his entire footballing career.

He also helped Fulham win the inaugural West London League in the 1892-93 season, in which they went the whole league season undefeated.

It appears that Johnny had an incredible record of saving penalty kicks, and the first and only time he was beaten was during a 8-0 drubbing at Craven Cottage in 1896 against rivals Stanley FC. It was reported to have been such an unexpectedly poor display by May that the club's secretary at the time, Horace Wilkins, had decided to kick him out of the club. One newspaper reported: "His remarks were very severe on J May the goalkeeper. He said that the other players were discouraged by his failing to negotiate at least five easy shots. In consequence a new goalkeeper had been chosen to play against Swanscombe."

He then spent a few months at Southall FC in late 1896. The removal of May did nothing to improve the side and when two other replacement goalkeepers in Fred Kingsbury and George Taylor did not perform adequately, it was not long before he was re-introduced back into the Fulham side.

After Fulham[]

After completely retiring from playing, he continued to work at the club with Eddie Witheridge, in the club's canteen until his untimely death in 1904 at he age of 36.

Statistics[]

Appearances[]

Season League League FA Cup West London Cup London Junior Cup West London Observer Cup Middlesex Senior Cup London Senior Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1886-87 n/a - - - - 2* 0* - - - - - - - - 2* 0*
1887-88 n/a - - - - 3 0 1 0 - - - - - - 4 0
1888-89 n/a - - - - 3 0 - - - - - - - - 3 0
1889-90 n/a - - - - 1 0 - - - - - - - - 1 0
1890-91 n/a - - - - 2 0 - - 4 0 - - - - 6 0
1891-92 n/a - - - - 0* 0* - - 2 0 4 0 1 0 7* 0*
1892-93 West London League 18 0* - - - - - - 0* 0* ? ? ? ? 18* 0*
1893-94 West London League 2* 0* - - - - - - - - 3 0 3 0 8* 0*
1894-95 n/a - - - - - - - - - - 1* 0* 4 0 5* 0*
1895-96 n/a - - - - - - - - - - 3 0 3 0 6 0
1896-97 London League Div 2 11 0 0 0 - - - - - - 3 0 1 0 15 0
1897-98 London League Div 2 0 0 - - - - - - - - 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 31* 0* 0 0 11* 0* 1 0 6* 0* 15* 0* 12* 0* 76* 0*

Fulham Matches[]

# Season Date Comp Opposition Venue Result Score Additional Information

Editing in progress

External links and references[]

Template:1886-87 squad Template:1887-88 squad Template:1888-89 squad Template:1889-90 squad Template:1890-91 squad Template:1891-92 squad Template:1892-93 squad Template:1893-94 squad Template:1894-95 squad Template:1895-96 squad

Fulham FC
1896-97 squad
GK Kingsbury GK May GK Taylor FB Atkinson FB Frame FB Humphries FB Laird FB Mitchell FB H Shrimpton FB J Shrimpton FB Williams HB Charrett HB Cox HB Jackson HB Johnson HB Pearce HB Peet HB J Shrimpton OR Robertson OR Steers OL Hollands IF Cadley IF Harris IF Hooper IF Moon IF Sermon IF Witheridge CF Aylott CF Davey CF Lindsey
Manager
n/a

Template:1897-98 squad

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