John Wark
John Wark burst onto the scene at Ipswich Town at the age of 18 in 1975. As a youngster, John was a part of Ipswich’s successful youth team and was a centre-half who, after being fifth choice at the beginning of the season, soon began to star in the first team and make a big impression. He later progressed from defence into a free-scoring midfielder, playing 384 matches and scoring 136 goals in his first spell at the Portman Road club.
John was crowned PFA’s Player of the Year in Ipswich’s successful UEFA cup-winning 1980-81 season, scoring in every round of the competition, 14 goals in total!
John made a high-profile move to Liverpool in 1984 and was the leading goalscorer at Anfield with 27 goals in his first full season. He scored 18 goals in 40 league games and continued his incredible striking rate in Europe, scoring five times in nine games, four in seven FA cup games and bagged three hat-tricks and scored his 100th league goal, ironically in a game against Ipswich. Wark played a total of 62 games that first season (84/85) but it ended in tragedy when John was in the Liverpool starting XI that fateful night at Heysel, when Liverpool had hoped to win the European cup for the second year running.
Midway through the 1987-88 season John found himself on his way back to Ipswich. Wark moved back to his old position as centre-half for two more years at Protman Road before he moved to Middlesbrough after being voted the club’s player of the year in two successive seasons.
John then returned “home” one year later for his third spell and played 6 more years until his retirement at 40 in 1997. He helped Ipswich to the Division 2 Championship in 1991/92 season, which gained them promotion to the newly formed Premier League and helped the club establish itself in the top flight. He was also voted Ipswich Player of the Year for the third time!
John is Ipswich Town’s third-highest all-time scorer, with 179 goals, despite rarely appearing as a striker, playing a total 670 games for the Suffolk club.
John was also a full Scottish International, winning 29 caps and scoring seven goals. He was part of the Scotland Squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, in which he made three appearances and scored twice.
John can also boast appearing in one of the most famous football films of all time, Escape to Victory, featuring alongside fellow players Russell Osman, Kevin Beatie, Mike Summerbee, Ossie Ardiles, Pele as well as Hollywood Stars Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone!
John is a great character with a lot of stories to tell, he makes for a great guest at any function or event. To book John, please get in touch with us below.
