John Waite (footballer)

John Waite
Personal information
Full name John Aidan Waite
Date of birth (1942-01-16)16 January 1942
Place of birth Wellingore, Lincolnshire, England
Date of death 3 April 2016(2016-04-03) (aged 74)
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961–1963 Grimsby Town 8 (1)
Gainsborough Trinity
Keelby
Managerial career
Immingham Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Aidan Waite (16 January 1942 – 3 April 2016) was an English professional football player and manager. He played for Grimsby Town, Gainsborough Trinity and Keelby, and managed Immingham Town.[1][2]

Waite was born on 16 January 1942 in Wellingore, Lincolnshire, and raised in Grimsby. His father Reg taught English to girls at Wintringham Grammar School (now Oasis Academy).[3] His mother Betty was of the Steel family, who believed John got his athleticism from her brothers, Jack and Walter, Wellingore football players in the 1930s.[4]

Waite also played cricket during the summer months. He bowled for several teams, including Lincolnshire Colts, Cleethorpes Town, British Titan Products and Lindsey Oil Refinery.[3]

Waite also wrote a weekly column for the Grimsby Telegraph. He also reported live on running matches on local radio.[5]

Waite married his childhood sweetheart Susan Dale, who lived in the same neighborhood, in 1963. They had two children, Sally and Mark, the latter a professional soccer coach in the United States.[3] Waite died on 3 April 2016. He was 74.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "GRIMSBY TOWN : 1946/47 - 2009/10". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Former Grimsby Town player John Waite passes away". Grimsby Telegraph. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b c d "Tributes to ex-Mariner and fine all-round sportsman". Grimsby Telegraph. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "This Sporting Life: John Waite". minchinsofbourton.co.uk. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2016. John's Granny and Grandad Steel said he took after 'Our Jack' – his Uncle Jack, a strong and talented football player shown here in the middle of the 1934-35 team in Wellingore, the Lincolnshire village where John was born eight years later. John's Uncle Walter is centre front row.
  5. ^ "R.I.P. John Waite". Grimsby Town F.C. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.