John Greenwood played around thirty league games for Exeter City between 1949 and 1951. He joined the club from Manchester City and later played for Aldershot and Halifax Town.

John graduated from Manchester City’s ‘A’ team to sign a professional deal in September 1946 ahead of becoming a regular member of the club’s reserve team . Spending three seasons as a Maine Road professional, during which time he played one first-team game, John moved to Exeter City in June 1949.

Making his debut in the opening fixture of the season at home to Crystal Palace on 20 August 1949, John held his place in the first-team until March 1950. Playing just once more that season, and not at all during 1950/51, John was transferred to Aldershot In March 1951. 

Featuring in just a dozen league games for his new club, John soon headed to Halifax  Town in October 1951 where he failed to break into the first-team. Living in Wythenshawe, close to his Manchester birthplace, he died in 1994.