Originally with Wolves, John Rutter played around thirty league games for Exeter City in the mid-1970s after joining the club from Bournemouth. He left to sign for Stockport County for whom he made over 400 league appearances.

An apprentice at Wolverhampton Wanderers, John signed his first full contract in September 1970 but never played a league game for the club and moved to AFC Bournemouth in August 1973 where he featured in four league games.

Arriving at Exeter City in July 1974, John made his league debut for the Grecians in a 1-0 defeat at Barnsley on the opening day of the season and, having appeared in the first seventeen league fixtures of the season, subsequently featured in twelve of the following fifteen league games. Injured in the game at Stockport in mid-February, John played just twice more for the club before being released at the end of the season. 

Seeking an opportunity within reach of his Warrington home, John wrote to a number of clubs and was given a trial by Stockport County where - after being offered a contract - he went on to make 404 league appearances (scoring ten goals) during a ten-year stay. Later becoming Stockport’s commercial manager, he held the post until June 2008.