Jack Nicholas | |
Fullname: | John Thomas Nicholas |
Birth Date: | 26 November 1910 |
Birth Place: | Derby, England |
Death Place: | Nottingham, England |
Position: | Wing half |
Youthyears1: | –1926 |
Youthclubs1: | Swansea Town |
Youthyears2: | 1926–1928 |
Youthclubs2: | Derby County |
Years1: | 1928–1947 |
Clubs1: | Derby County |
Caps1: | 347 |
Goals1: | 14 |
Totalcaps: | 347 |
Totalgoals: | 14 |
Manageryears1: | 1942–1944 |
Managerclubs1: | Derby County |
John Thomas Nicholas (26 November 1910 – 8 February 1977) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half.
Having been signed as a youth player from Swansea Town in 1926,[1] Nicholas spent his entire professional career with Derby County, making 347 appearances for them in the Football League between 1928 and 1947.[2] His senior debut came in December 1928 against Blackburn Rovers.[3] He captained them in the 1946 FA Cup Final.
Nicholas also spent time as Caretaker Manager[4] and during the 1950s as Derby's chief scout.[5] In 1957, he applied for the position of manager at Burton Albion.[6] He was later chief scout at Nottingham Forest during the 1960s.[1]
During World War II, Nicholas joined the Derby Borough Police Force, after a period of serving with them as a special constable. In April 1940, he played a charity match for Derby Police against Chesterfield Police, with raised funds going towards war charities.[7]
Nicholas's father, also called Jack Nicholas, was also a former Derby County player at full-back[1] and later became Derby's head of ground staff. He died in 1934, aged 49.[8]
Nicholas died on 8 February 1977 at the age of 66, leaving a widow and two children.[9]