41 years ago this weekend Maidenhead lost perhaps its most successful footballing son when John Thomas ‘Jack’ Palethorpe passed away suddenly aged 74.
Jack was born in Leicester in November 1909 but lived most of his life in Maidenhead. His obituary published in the Maidenhead Advertiser 41 years ago today informs us that he started his playing career with Furze Platt as a 17 year old whilst working as a fitter in the gas works. He joined the Magpies during their 1928/29 Spartan League campaign, but couldn’t help United overhaul Aylesbury United as Maidenhead had to settle for second place.
The following season however he delivered a quite extraordinary 65 goals in just 39 league and cup matches, including SEVEN in one game – an 11-5 victory – at Wood Green Town. Although United regressed to a disappointing fifth place in the division that season, Jack’s time with his home town club ended on a high as his goal in the Berks & Bucks Cup Final at Wycombe on 3rd May 1930 helped United lift the trophy for just the second time since the First World War.
Jack’s exploits unsurprisingly alerted the interest of local professional outfit Reading FC of the EFL Second Division. The Biscuitmen suffered demotion to Division Three South at the end of his first season, as it was believed that RFC management did not consider Jack experienced enough at the age of 21 to play regular first team football. There was however no doubt in his ability to switch to professional football over the next two seasons, as he scored 52 goals in 55 starts.
Again, bigger clubs came calling. In March 1933 Jack moved to Stoke City for a substantial fee at the time of £2,000. He scored the goal which earned the Potters a place in the top flight and – having moved to Division 2 leaders Preston the following season – repeated his promotion trick with 11 goals in 18 games. In December 1934 he joined Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £3,100. Wednesday finished third in Division 1 and with Jack in attack they made an assault on the FA Cup. Jack scored in Cup ties against Oldham and Wolves before netting again in the semi-final against Burnley at Villa Park. Wednesday – and Palethorpe – were at Wembley for the first time.
On 27th April 1935 it took Jack less than two minutes to score in front of 93,000 spectators. Receiving the ball from his captain, England international Ronnie Starling, Jack clinically controlled the ball on his left foot before sweeping it into the corner of the goal with his right. British Pathe' were in attendance to record the key moments of the match and you can watch Jack's goal HERE. Opponents West Brom equalised twice but two late goals from Ellis Rimmer took the cup to the Steel city. Wednesday have not won the FA Cup since and have only taken one major honour in the intervening ninety years.
By December 1935 Jack was on the move again to Aston Villa. Subsequently Jack enjoyed spells with Crystal Palace – for whom he’d previously played as an amateur – and went on to be typically prolific in the Southern League with Chelmsford City before the Second World War.
Following the War – and the end of his playing career – Jack worked for a firm called Dynatron Radio at Furze Platt. Jack was married to his wife Lilian at St Luke’s Church on Norfolk Road. He was living in Sunderland Road at the time of his death. His nephew Chris Palethorpe followed in his footsteps in playing for Reading FC. Reading FC historian David Downs in his book ‘100 Reading FC Greats’ remarked that Jack was “popular with colleagues…..and a dressing room comic.”
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