by Tony Attwood
John Snedden was born in Bonnybridge on 3 February 1942 and played for Arsenal over six seasons in a short career that was blighted by injury.
In October 1958 he joined as an amateur from a junior Scottish club, but where there is mention of it there is disagreement as to the correct name – I’d be glad to know which club it was. This is a record of him playing for Scottish schoolboys.
Turning pro a few months after joining he started his career on 16 January 1960 in a game away to Tottenham, his only game of that season.
It seems a most curious thing – to come in and just play the biggest game in front of around 59,000 people and then drop out, but then John had the misfortune to be an Arsenal player under Swindin and Wright.
Season | Lge Games | Goals | Manager |
1959/60 | 1 | 0 | Swindin |
1960/61 | 23 | 0 | Swindin |
1961/62 | 15 | 0 | Swindin |
1962/63 | 27 | 0 | Wright |
1963/64 | 14 | 0 | Wright |
1964/65 | 3 | 0 | Wright |
Total | 83 | 0 |
John played centre half in that game and to give a flavour of the selection chaos that existed in 1959/60 we need just consider the centre half situation itself. In the first match of the season Mel Charles was at number five. He played 30 games that season for Arsenal, but only once more at centre half. Bill Dodgin also played 30 games – all at centre half. Tommy Docherty played at centre half too. By the time we got to the Tottenham game half the team that had played at the start of the season were not in the side and John was thrown into the fray. Arsenal ended up 13th that season.
The following season John was in the starting line up at the start of the season as he was for the next three seasons but injuries always forced him out. He even started the first two games of the 1964/5 season – but again the body could not cope with the rough and tumble of footballing at that time.
So he finished with 83 league games and no trophies and moved on.
1959–1965 | Arsenal | 83 | 0 |
1965–1966 | Charlton Athletic | 20 | 0 |
1966–1968 | Orient | 27 | 3 |
1967–1968 | Halifax Town | 5 | 0 |
1968 | Port Elizabeth City | ||
1968 | Addington, Durban, SA | ||
Total | 135 | 3 |
He joined Charlton Athletic for £150,000 in March 1965 and towards the end of his career went to South Africa. But he finished played at the age of 25 and there is an internet report that he married a lady from West Germany and moved there with her. Other than that I know nothing of him, and would be grateful for any other information.
The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
The sites from the same team…
- The Arsenal History Blog from the AISA Arsenal History Society
- Arsenal Managers
John Snedden (that’s Snedden with two E’s) actually played his 2nd game just two days later in
the F.A. Cup defeat v. Rotherham.
Though he was not yet 18, George Swindin had a horrid injury list and had to try him a little prematurely. The “selection chaos” was in no way attributable to Swindin.
It’s true that Snedden, a sturdy 6ft and 14st 3lb, was twice out with serious injuries. But what actually led to his exclusion and departure were the development of Terry Neill and David Court and the signing of Ian Ure and Frank McLintock. (Presumably the fee for Snedden was £15,000, rather than £150,000 !)
He is my great uncle if you want to know any more about him
Gavin – I would love to know more – would you like to write an article for us about John’s life and work?
My father isEdward Sneddon his Mother’s Name was Edith and his father’s name was Robert , he told us that his brothers Son played for Arse
nal I am under correction, but I believe, my Father’s brother’s name was a John sneddon
I remember him well,a big burly centre half, I think Mel Charles was in the team too.
John signed from Bonnybridge Rose When he was 17. He married Ingrid Sauer from Germany they clebrated their Golden Wedding in 2014. John was in the parade of legends on the pitch last day at Highbury. He has lived in Germany for over 50 years. He has two boys and grandchildren. He is my uncle.
Hugh very many thanks for the update. It is much appreciated
I saw Snedden play for Arsenal against Spurs on 23 December 1961. He had a blinder and marked Jimmy Greaves out of the game, which Arsenal won 2-1. I expected great things to follow, but his career petered out. On that day he looked like the genuine article.
I remember watching him play during his short time at Charlton Athletic during the mid 60’s. He certainly strengthened our defense and I would confidently describe as being one of our more talented players. I and many other fans at The Valley were surprised and sad to see him go.
John Sneddon played in a 4-4 drawer at the Spurs under Billy Wrights regime Vic Groves being captain,Joe Baker was injured and David Court deputised.He looked good stood up to well to the drama,often wonder if Bertie Mee/Dave Sexton/Don Howe period would have made him one of the greats,
John Snedden was selected as a reserve for Scotland Under-23’s against Wales Under-23’s at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock on 2nd December 1964.
Remember John well in the 60’s @ Highbury where he partnered with my all time fave player Peter Simpson in the half back line. They were both unassuming players,but tough & got the job done.
Miss those great days & Highbury when footie wasn’t the show business it is today:
Lots of happy memories.
I was browsing through some old Football Annuals of mine and, in the Topical Times Football Book of 1961-1962 there’s an article on John where he states that he missed playing for Bonnyvale Star. I assumed that that was the Junior club he signed from !
I was in the same team as John at Bonnyvale Star a secondary juvenile team from Bonnybridge Stirlingshire and he was a great player then we went onto win three cups that year and I was also at school with John a nice quiet person fond memories.
Fantastic John, thanks for writing in.
Hi Tony can you advise if John is still on the go and how to get in touch with him.A group of us oldies still get together and talk about how good a player John was. Thanks , Jmcp
To the best of my knowledge, John is still with us. He moved to Germany after the end of his career and as far as I know still lives there but I don’t have any contact details.
Hey everyone John is my mums uncle, her name is Lorraine Snedden. He has been over to visit us in Bonnybridge a few times so he is most definitely still living. Great man.
Hi Hayley tell your mum to let John know that some of his old pals from Bonnyvale Star are asking for him.Regards John
John McPherson , I think you played with my Dad Jim Sneddon at Bonnyvale in 1957 . Do you have any stories about him during that time?
James Sneddon – nice to hear from you. I have alerted John to the fact that you have posted this note
Tony (publisher of this site)
To James Sneddon,Hi James i don’t have any stories but i do have a photo of the two teams with your Dad in it.It also has John Snedden and Dave Provan who signed for Rangers and a few other good players myself included [ha ha]
Hope this is of some help.
john Sneddon was initially a great prospect. I remember matt busby was very impressed, he said he would be a future international.
but it never worked out, why was a mystery., he had everything going for him, good in the air and on the ground.
very strong. I have not missed many home games at arsenal since 1956. so I followed his career and I was shocked that he never made it
It would be nice to hear from John Snedden himself if he could be encouraged to make contact.