Jock Cameron (footballer)

John Cameron was a Scottish international footballer and football manager. He won two caps for Scotland in 1903 and 1904, and also represented a Scottish League XI three times.

Jock Cameron

Cameron in a Port Vale team photo.
Personal information
Full name	John Cameron
Place of birth	Kirkwood, Coatbridge, Scotland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Playing position(s)	Full back
Youth career
	Kirkwood Thistle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1899–1904	St Mirren
1904–1907	Blackburn Rovers	64	(0)
1907–1913	Chelsea	179	(0)
1913–1914	Port Vale	12	(0)
Total		255	(0)
National team
1903–1904	Scottish League XI	3	(0)
1904–1909	Scotland	2	(0)
Teams managed
1918–1919	Port Vale
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played for St Mirren before joining Blackburn Rovers in 1904. He spent three years at the club before signing for First Division rivals Chelsea. After they were relegated, he helped Chelsea to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1911–12. He signed with non-league Port Vale in 1913, departing the following year, only to return in 1916. He briefly served as the club's manager from August 1918 until his departure in January 1919.

Club career

Cameron played for Kirkwood Thistle and St Mirren, before moving south to partner Bob Crompton at English First Division club Blackburn Rovers in April 1904.[1] He replaced Jack Eastham as the club's regular left-back, and played 64 league games for the club from 1904 to 1907. He was an ever-present in the 1904–05 season, before he was replaced at left-back by Arthur Cowell by the 1905–06 campaign.[1] He then signed with Chelsea for a £900 fee in October 1907, who had won promotion out of the Second Division in 1907, and would be appointed as Chelsea's captain.[1] After maintaining their top-flight status in 1907–08 and 1908–09, the "Pensioners" were relegated in 1909–10. Cameron stayed at the club as they missed out on promotion by one place and two points in 1910–11, before he helped Chelsea to promotion as Second Division runners-up in 1911–12; they finished level on points with champions Derby County, who had a superior goal average. He then helped the club to finish one place above the relegation zone in 1912–13. He played a total of 179 league and 15 cup appearances for Chelsea.[2]

He joined Port Vale in the summer of 1913. It was a step down in footballing terms, as proved by the opponents of his 1 September debut – Blackburn Rovers Reserves, the game finished 3–3. He played 32 games in the Central League and helped the club qualify to the FA Cup first round. He departed at the end of the season, but returned in August 1916. He became the first choice left-back once again in March 1917 and in August 1918 was appointed both the club captain and team manager. He largely stopped playing to concentrate on management duties, but was sacked in January 1919, at which point he went into retirement.[3]

International career

Cameron earned his first cap on 26 March 1904, in a 1–1 draw with Northern Ireland in the 1904 British Home Championship.[4] His second cap came against England on 3 April 1909 in the 1909 British Home Championship, Scotland lost 2–0.[5] While he was with St Mirren, Cameron represented the Scottish League XI three times.[6]

Playing statistics

Club statistics

Source:[7]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackburn Rovers	1903–04	First Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
	1904–05	First Division	34	0	1	0	35	0
	1905–06	First Division	7	0	0	0	7	0
	1906–07	First Division	19	0	2	0	21	0
	1907–08	First Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		64	0	3	0	67	0
Chelsea	1907–08	First Division	32	0	2	0	34	0
	1908–09	First Division	35	0	3	0	38	0
	1909–10	First Division	26	0	0	0	26	0
	1910–11	Second Division	34	0	6	0	40	0
	1911–12	Second Division	36	0	2	0	38	0
	1912–13	Second Division	16	0	2	0	18	0
	Total		179	0	15	0	194	0
Port Vale	1913–14	Central League	32	0	9	0	41	0
Career total			255	0	18	0	273	0

International statistics

Scotland national team[8]
Year	Apps	Goals
1904	1	0
1909	1	0
Total	2	0

Honours

Chelsea

• Football League Second Division runner-up: 1911–12

References

1. Jackman, Mike (1994). Blackburn Rovers : the official encyclopaedia. Derby: Breedon. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
2. "database". chelsea2.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
3. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
4. Scottish FA
5. Scottish FA
6. "John Cameron". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
7. Jock Cameron at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
8. "Player profile". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 10 July 2016.

External links

• John Cameron at the Scottish Football Association
• Scotland stats (londonhearts.com)