John Schofield (footballer)

John David Schofield (born 16 May 1965) is an English professional football coach and former player.

John Schofield
Schofield as assistant manager of York City in 2015
Personal information
Full name John David Schofield[1]
Date of birth (1965-05-16) 16 May 1965[1]
Place of birth Barnsley, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Woolley Miners Welfare
Shepshed Charterhouse
Matlock Town
1988 Gainsborough Trinity
1988–1994 Lincoln City 231 (11)
1994–1997 Doncaster Rovers 110 (12)
1997–1999 Mansfield Town 86 (0)
1999–2000 Hull City 25 (0)
2000–2001 Lincoln City 19 (0)
Total 471 (23)
Teams managed
2006–2007 Lincoln City
2009 Walsall (caretaker)
2009 Cheltenham Town (caretaker)
2013 Gillingham (caretaker)
2016–2019 Doncaster Rovers U23s
2019- Doncaster Rovers (first team coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Schofield was born in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire.[1] A hard-working and combative midfielder, he began his career in non-League football, combining this with his job as an apprentice-trained motor mechanic.[2] As a teenager, he had spent a season with Huddersfield Town's reserve team before joining Northern Counties East League side Woolley Miners Welfare.[2] He moved up the non-League pyramid, joining first Shepshed Charterhouse and then Matlock Town.[2] In March 1988 he joined Gainsborough Trinity.[2]

Lincoln City manager Colin Murphy signed him for a £10,000 fee on 10 November 1988.[1][2] Schofield made his debut in a 4–1 win over Fourth Division leaders Burnley at Turf Moor.[2] Schofield quickly established himself in the Lincoln team,[2] and was later voted as number 47 in Lincoln's list of 100 league legends.

Despite a successful 1993–94 season with Lincoln when he was both club captain and supporters' Player of the Season,[2] Schofield left on 18 November 1994 when he joined Doncaster Rovers.[1] He spent three seasons with Doncaster before departing to Mansfield Town for a £10,000 fee on 8 August 1997.[1] Schofield joined Hull City on a free transfer on 28 July 1999.[1]

Schofield returned to Lincoln on 6 June 2000 to take up the post of Head of Youth Development.[3] With Lincoln beginning to struggle financially, Schofield was also called upon as a player, making a further 19 league appearances before he finally wound his playing career down.

Coaching and managerial career

Lincoln City

Schofield, a UEFA 'A' Licence holder, made impressive progress with Lincoln's youth set-up. A number of promising players, such as Lee Frecklington, either making the first team squad or being sold to higher-level clubs such as Jack Hobbs who was sold to Liverpool and Scott Loach who moved on to Watford.

Schofield's good work was rewarded with an increasing role with the first team and he was appointed first team coach prior to the start of the 2005–06 season. He signed a new two-year deal with the club in April 2006.[4] The departure of Keith Alexander as Lincoln's manager on 24 May 2006 saw Schofield take over as caretaker manager.[5] He was appointed as Lincoln's head coach on 15 June 2006, with John Deehan appointed as director of football.[6]

The 2006–07 season started promisingly for Lincoln with a new-found commitment to attacking passing football which saw them top the table in October 2006 and be amongst the leading scorers in the league. However, Lincoln's form fell away in 2007 and rather than pushing for automatic promotion they were, for the fifth season running, forced to settle for a place in the play-offs. In the semi-final Lincoln were beaten 7–4 on aggregate by Bristol Rovers.[7] His contract extended to three years on 6 August 2007, and his title was changed from head coach to manager.[8]

The poor form exhibited by Lincoln in the second half of the 2006–07 season continued into 2007–08 and this was met with increasing unease by the Lincoln supporters with a feeling that Schofield has neglected the defence of the squad in favour of his attacking strategy. Schofield was sacked by Lincoln on 15 October 2007, after a run of nine matches without a win.[9]

Scunthorpe United and Walsall

In February 2008 he began coaching at Scunthorpe United,[10] where he helped carried out extra training sessions for players not involved in the first team before departing at the end of the season.[11] On 17 June 2008 he was appointed first-team coach at Walsall, to work under manager Jimmy Mullen.[12] Schofield was appointed manager on a caretaker basis after Mullen was sacked on 10 January 2009.[13] He took charge for just one match, a 1–0 defeat away to Peterborough United, but left on 20 January 2009[14] ahead of the appointment of manager Chris Hutchings, who brought in his own right-hand man in former Walsall player Martin O'Connor.[15]

Cheltenham Town

On 20 March 2009, Cheltenham Town's manager Martin Allen appointed Schofield as his assistant on an initial expenses-only basis.[16] The appointment was made full-time on 14 May 2009, when Schofield agreed a two-year contract.[17] On 20 October 2009, he became caretaker manager of the club after Allen was placed on gardening leave whilst an alleged incident involving Allen at a nightclub was investigated.[18] Although Allen was subsequently cleared by an internal club investigation, on 11 December 2009 he left the club by mutual consent with Schofield remaining in temporary charge.[19] Although he was interviewed for the permanent manager's role,[20] his erstwhile Lincoln teammate Mark Yates was appointed with Schofield reverting to his role as assistant manager.[21] His spell as caretaker manager had consisted of nine matches with just a single victory: a 5–1 defeat of Barnet.[22] A restructuring of the backroom team saw Schofield depart Whaddon Road after fifteen months at the club.[23]

Cambridge United

On 6 July 2010 he joined Cambridge United on a trial basis to assist manager Martin Ling with the club's pre-season preparations.[24] Having impressed, he joined the club on a two-year contract to become first team coach.[25] Following a run of four successive defeats, he and Ling were sacked by Cambridge on 1 February 2011.[26]

Notts County

On 11 April 2011, Notts County appointed Martin Allen as manager on a one-year rolling contract[27] and he quickly appointed Schofield as first-team coach.[28] Although Allen steered the club clear of relegation in 2010–11, he was sacked on 18 February 2012 with the club occupying 11th place in League One.[29] Two days later, following the appointment of Keith Curle as manager, Schofield also departed Meadow Lane.[30]

Gillingham

In July 2012, he linked up with Martin Allen for a third time, when he became his assistant at Gillingham.[31] Although Allen led the club to the League Two title in 2012–13, after winning just two of their first eleven league games in 2013–14, he was sacked on 13 October 2013.[32] Schofield was placed in caretaker charge[33] before Peter Taylor was appointed interim manager a day later.[34] He remained part of the backroom staff under Taylor,[35] before leaving his role on 6 May 2014.[36]

Scunthorpe United and York City
Schofield as assistant manager of York City in 2015

On 23 June 2014, Schofield was appointed assistant manager at Scunthorpe.[37] He had played with the club's manager Russ Wilcox at Doncaster whilst the two also completed their coaching badges and pro-licence on the same courses.[37] On 8 October 2014, Schofield and Wilcox were sacked by Scunthorpe, after the team started 2014–15 with two wins from eleven matches.[38]

On 30 December 2014 he returned to Lincoln in a voluntary coaching capacity,[39] before resuming his relationship with Wilcox through being appointed his assistant at League Two club York City on 21 May 2015.[40] With York 21st in the table after a nine-match run without a win, Wilcox and Schofield were sacked.[41]

Doncaster Rovers

On 7 September 2016, Schofield returned to former club Doncaster Rovers as a Senior Professional Development Coach, working with youth players and younger first-team players to bridge the gap between the squads.[42]

Managerial statistics
As of 14 October 2013.
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Lincoln City 24 May 2006 15 October 2007 64 23 14 27 035.9 [43]
Walsall (caretaker) 10 January 2009 20 January 2009 1 0 0 1 000.0 [13][43]
Cheltenham Town (caretaker) 20 October 2009 22 December 2009 9 1 3 5 011.1 [18][43]
Gillingham (caretaker) 13 October 2013 14 October 2013 0 0 0 0 !— [33][34][44]
Total 74 24 17 33 032.4

Honours

Individual

  • Lincoln City Player of the Season: 1993–94[2]
gollark: directory trees < directory directed graphs
gollark: apioctl > ioctl
gollark: Wondrous.
gollark: It is known.
gollark: Thus there will be no escape.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2001). The 2001–2002 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. London: AFS. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-946531-34-9.
  2. "John Schofield". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  3. "Schofield back with City". Lincoln City F.C. 6 June 2000. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012.
  4. "Coach Schofield signs Imps deal". BBC Sport. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  5. "Alexander parts company with Imps". BBC Lincolnshire. 24 May 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  6. "Schofield named as Lincoln boss". BBC Sport. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  7. "Lincoln City 3–5 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  8. "Schofield rewarded with new deal". BBC Sport. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  9. "Lincoln City sack boss Schofield". BBC Sport. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  10. "Schofield coaching at United". Scunthorpe United F.C. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008.
  11. "Schofield exits Glanford Park". Scunthorpe United F.C. 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011.
  12. "Schofield is new Saddlers coach". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. "Mullen sacked as Walsall manager". BBC Sport. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  14. "Caretaker Schofield leaves Walsall". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  15. "Walsall appoint Hutchings as boss". BBC Sport. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  16. "Robins name Schofield as deputy". BBC Sport. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  17. "Schofield stays with Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  18. "Allen put on leave by Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  19. "Manager Martin Allen parts company with Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  20. "Schofield, Yates interviewed for Cheltenham Town job as announcement draws close". Gloucester Citizen. 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  21. "Kidderminster's Mark Yates appointed Cheltenham manager". BBC Sport. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  22. "Cheltenham Town Assistant Manager John Schofield goes in shake-up". Gloucester Citizen. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  23. "Assistant manager John Schofield leaves Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  24. "John Schofield on trial". Cambridge United F.C. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010.
  25. "John Schofield joins club". Cambridge United F.C. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010.
  26. "Manager Martin Ling sacked by Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  27. "Notts County appoint Martin Allen as manager". BBC Sport. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  28. "Notts boss Allen hails spirit of his players after they end nightmare run". Nottingham Post. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  29. "Notts County sack manager Martin Allen". BBC Sport. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  30. "Keith Curle appointed new Notts County manager". BBC Sport. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  31. "Schofield reunited again with Martin Allen as double act look to plot Gills' return to promotion success". Kent News. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  32. "Martin Allen: Gillingham manager sacked after 16 months". BBC Sport. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  33. Thomas, Jack (13 October 2013). "Taylor tipped for Gillingham return". Kent Sports News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  34. "Gillingham: Peter Taylor named interim boss after Martin Allen exit". BBC Sport. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  35. "Former Gillingham assistant manager John Schofield has joined the coaching staff at non-league Lincoln City". Kent Online. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  36. "Carl Muggleton and John Schofield leave Gillingham FC". Gillingham F.C. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  37. "Scunthorpe United sack manager Russ Wilcox". BBC Sport. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  38. "Schofield Back At The Bank". Lincoln City F.C. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  39. "Schofield Accepts York Role". Lincoln City F.C. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  40. Flett, Dave (26 October 2015). "York City sack manager Russ Wilcox". The Press. York. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  41. "Schofield joins Rovers". Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  42. "Managers: John Schofield". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  43. "Results/matches: 2013/14". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
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