John enjoyed a career in the UK which included playing for Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley FC and Wigan Athletic. After arriving in Australia John played professionally for a number of years in South Australia. 

He began his coaching career in 1981, coaching a number of teams to Championships. During this period he began to specialise in goalkeeper coaching. Having experienced no goalkeeper coaching whatsoever during his own playing career, it was John's long term ambition to change this for future goalkeepers of all ages and playing levels.

Before he moved to Australia John had attended an FA coaching course  in England and was also involved in presenting the goalkeeper coaching content in the early days of coaching courses in South Australia.

Moving to Queensland in 1990 John continued to coach goalkeepers and in 2006 was appointed Brisbane Roar Assistant Goalkeeper Coach (assistant to Fernando Alves). John was also Queensland Academy of Sport Assistant Goalkeeper Coach and took over when Goalkeeper Coach Fernando Alves was absent with National Teams.