Name: John Francis Mahoney



Country: Wales
Club: Stoke City (1967-1977), Middlesbrough (1977-1979)
Position: *CMF, DMF, AMF (Optional)
Side: RF/BS
Age: 26-33 years (20/09/1946)

Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg

Attack: 75
Defence: 70
Balance: 80
Stamina: 87
Top Speed: 82
Acceleration: 83
Response: 72
Agility: 79
Dribble Accuracy: 80
Dribble Speed: 83
Short Pass Accuracy: 82
Short Pass Speed: 76
Long Pass Accuracy: 77
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 73
Shot Power: 86
Shot Technique: 79
Free Kick Accuracy: 72
Curling: 74
Header: 64
Jump: 78
Technique: 82
Aggression: 83
Mentality: 82
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 82

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 7
Weak Foot Accuracy: 7
Weak Foot Frequency: 6
Consistency: 7
Growth type: Standard/Lasting

CARDS:
P08 - Box to Box
P13 - Long Ranger
P15 - Free Roaming
S01 - Marauding

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Centre - Middle Shooting

Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced


INFO:
A midfield dynamo and a bustling midfield player, the Welsh "engine room" possessed endless stamina and skills. A true 90 minute player with a powerful shot in either foot, he was very skilful, very often going forward through the middle and ending the action in a long shot or passing to the striker up front.

Mahoney was born in Cardiff and grew up in Manchester. He began playing non-league football with Ashton United before signing for Crewe Alexandra in March 1966. He began his career as a forward with Crewe, but it was his swap to the wing-half berth with Stoke that really put him on the football map. With Liverpool showing a big interest in Mahoney, Crewe's former Stoke player Johnny King recommended him to Stoke manager Tony Waddington and he duly took his advice and signed him for £19,500 in March 1967. A rough diamond at first, Mahoney regularly lost possession by 'over-elaborate dribbling'. Waddington taught him the art of pass and move and he became a quality midfielder sitting just in front of his defence his task was to win the ball back and play in his wingers or forwards. His patience in his youth was rewarded with a substitute appearance in the 1972 Football League Cup Final as Stoke beat Chelsea 2–1.

Sensing that Mahoney had matured into the player he wanted him to be Waddington sold his major rival for a place in Stoke's midfield, Mike Bernard, to Everton for £140,000 in May 1972. He developed a fine understanding with Alan Hudson which saw a strong Stoke side nearly win the league title in 1974–75. In January 1976 a severe storm in Stoke-on-Trent caused considerable damage to the Victoria Ground and in order to pay for the repairs the club sold off their players. This meant that Stoke struggled in 1976–77 and were relegated to the Second Division. Mahoney joined Middlesbrough in July 1977 for £90,000. "I didn't want to leave but when I looked at the fixture list and Stoke were away at Mansfield and Middlesbrough at home to Liverpool, I knew I had to go." He spent two seasons at Ayresome Park, at the peak of his playing powers, he made 90 appearances for his new club, helping "Boro" to two mid-table finishes, while consolidating his position in the Welsh international side. He then moved on to Swansea City with whom helped gain promotion in 1980–81 and finish 6th in their first season in the top-flight. But Swansea suffered relegation in 1982–83 and Mahoney's career was ended on 1 March 1983 in a match against Brighton & Hove Albion he was on the receiving end of a crushing tackle which left him with a permanent limp.

Whilst at Stoke Mahoney gained his first international cap for Wales, with a debut against England on 21 October 1967. However, it took him five years to win his first four caps, but by 1973 he had become a regular in the Welsh side, and in total he went on to make 51 appearances for his country. His final game was also against England in a British Home Championship match on 23 February 1983.