John Mitten – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Midfielder

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Manchester

Date Of Birth

March 30, 1941

Age

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

0.9

Per Game

Minutes

3509

85.6

Per Game

Goals

0.1

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

The outstanding form in the mid-1960s of Ronnie Rees and Dave Clements meant that John Mitten, a good winger in his own right, had few chances to shine for the Sky Blues. In three and a half seasons he played only 42 first-team games, scoring seven goals. An excellent dribbler with a vicious shot, with a bit more luck could have been a big success at Highfield Road

John was the son of Manchester United winger Charlie Mitten, who controversially left the English game in 1950 to play in the unrecognised Colombian League. Later Charlie became manager of Newcastle United and caused a stir in 1958 by picking John, who had won schoolboy and youth honours for England, for the first team. He hardly endeared himself to a Geordie crowd already whispering nepotism when he missed a penalty on his debut.

In 1961 John moved to First Division Leicester and played briefly alongside players like Gordon Banks and Frank McLintock. In 1963, after a brief spell at Old Trafford where he could get no further than the reserve team he was signed by Jimmy Hill on a free transfer as cover for Rees.

He left Coventry in early 1967 to join Plymouth where he probably had his best spell. He later played for Exeter and Bath City and was manager at Sidmouth Town and Tiverton Town.

John was an outstanding all-round sportsman and played as a wicket-keeper for Leicestershire in the 1960s. His son Paul was on Manchester United’s books in the 1990s but failed to make the grade.

Football League Second Division (England)

1966-1967

778′

1 (0)

1965-1966

1080′

3 (0)

1964-1965

900′

1 (0)

2758′

5 (0)

League Cup (England)

1966-1967

31′

1965-1966

90′

1964-1965

180′

1 (0)

301′

1 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1965-1966

90′

0 (0)

Football League Third Division (England)

1963-1964

360′

0 (0)

Totals:

3509′

6 (0)