South Yorkshire Times, February 23rd, 1934
John George Nettleton
John George Nettleton, who is keeping goal for the third consecutive season for Thurnscoe Victoria, who are again doing well in the Sheffield Association League, has not always had the good fortune to be with such a successful side. It is an indication of the keenness of his interest in the game, however, that he is not at all sure whether he would rather be with a good team or a bad one.
“I like to be kept occupied for the full 90 minutes,” he told his interviewer, and watching Nettleton play it is very easy to believe him. Strong, robust and alert, he revels in hard work and he is at his best when his goal is undergoing an intensive bombardment. When he goes for the ball, it is very rarely that he does not get it, for in addition to his sound judgement, the fruit of wide experience, he is fearless and determined in defending his charge. Nettleton was one of the youngest goalkeepers the Mexboro’ District Schools’ team has ever included, for when at the National School he took over that responsible position at the age of 10, and although the smallest member of the side was by no means the least efficient.
He had four years with the district side and after leaving school threw in his lot with Mexboro’ Old Boys, after a short period out of the game. He spent a year with the old boys in which they won the Mexboro’ Intermediate League, now defunct. He left the Old Boys to join Rawmarsh Welfare and was with them for a couple of seasons before going to Wath Athletic. Wath, however, were on their “last legs” at that time and it was shortly after this that they withdrew from the Midland League. The next club with which Nettleton was connected was Thurnscoe Victoria and it is with the Victoria that he has earned most medals.
He is the possessor of two Montague Cup medals, two Mexboro’ Challenge Cub medals and a Sheffield Association medal, all won while at Thurnscoe. Nettleton has been particularly fortunate in that he has never missed a game through injury. No better evidence of his consistency than the fact that he has kept his place ever since joining the Thurnscoe need be produced.