3rd April 1931

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

Forward

Having played twice for England, and having won the FA Cup with West Bromwich Albion in 1954, Johnny Nicholls played for Exeter City between 1957 and 1959. He joined the club from Cardiff City and later played for Worcester City. Both brilliant and erratic during his time with the Grecians, he was known at West Bromwich Albion for his combination work with Ronnie Allen.  

On completion of his National Service in August 1950, Johnny joined West Bromwich Albion as an amateur and turned professional twelve months later. Scoring 58 goals in 134 league matches for the club, he won an F.A. Cup winners medal when Albion defeated Preston North End in the 1954 final. He also won two full caps for England in the same year, the first of which was against Scotland when he scored at Hampden Park. Transfering to Cardiff City he scored twice in just starts before a November 1957 move to Exeter City for a fee of £4,500.

Johnny made his debut for the Grecians in a 2-0 loss at Reading and netted the first of his 8 goals that season in a 3-1 win at Torquay United on Christmas Day. He also scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Plymouth Argyle in February 1958. In June 1958 Johnny asked the City directors if he could continue to live in Wolverhampton and still play for the club but the request was turned down and he stayed to play a major part in City’s ultimately unsuccessful push for promotion in 1959 by contributing 15 goals.

Despite the relative success of that season finances remained tight and Johnny was one of a number of players released to cut costs. Moving to Worcester City for £2,300, where he rejoined manager Bill Thompson who had signed him for Exeter, he later played for Wellington Town, Oswestry Town and Sankeys.

Johnny died in April 1995 in Wolverhampton.

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