Chapman, John

Birthplace

Bolton, Lancashire

Occupation

Goalkeeper

Biographical Text

Goalkeeper John Chapman, who was serving in the army at Topsham Barracks, made first-team appearances for Exeter City either side of the club joining the Southern League. This makes him one of a small number of players to feature for the club in both the amateur and professional eras. He also appeared in the FA Cup.In common with a number of other Exeter City players in Edwardian times, John was serving in the army locally. Believed to hail from Bolton in Lancashire, he made his first-team debut in the Plymouth and District League fixture against Tavistock on 16 March 1907. Keeping his place for the final six games of the 1906/07 season, he continued to play for the reserves as the first-team made the transition from amateur to professional football in 1908.Consequently it was something of surprise when he re-appeared for the first-team in the Southern League in 1911/12 as a result of an injury to regular "keeper Walter Whittaker. Making his debut in a 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers in October 1911, John had a run of five games as Whittaker recovered from a broken finger. Appearing once more against on Southampton on 23 December he then faded from the first-team scene following Dick Pym's arrival at the club. John also played in two of the three FA Cup games against Merthyr Town in November 1911. Continuing to play for the reserves as war approached, and remaining in the army as a Topsham "battery man", John later served on the Western Front in the Great War where he encountered former Exeter player Fred Bailey who was to be killed at the Somme.