John Sleeuwenhoek
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek | ||
| Date of birth | 26 February 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, England | ||
| Date of death | July 1989 (aged 45) | ||
| Place of death | Birmingham, England | ||
| Playing position | Centre half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1959–1961 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1961–1967 | Aston Villa | 226 | (1) |
| 1967–1971 | Birmingham City | 30 | (0) |
| 1971 | → Torquay United (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 1971–1972 | Oldham Athletic | 2 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1962–1963 | England U-23 | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
John Cornelius Sleeuwenhoek (26 February 1944 – July 1989) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He made 226 appearances in the Football League for Aston Villa and was capped twice for England at under-23 level.
Sleeuwenhoek was born in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, the son of a Dutch paratrooper. He started his football career as a junior with Aston Villa, turning professional in 1961, and played regularly for the club for six seasons. While at the club he won two caps for England U-23 and also played for a representative Football League XI. He then moved to Birmingham City, but recurrent knee problems dogged his later career. After spells at Torquay United F.C. and Oldham Athletic he retired from professional football at the early age of 28.
He was affectionately known as 'Tulip' due to his Dutch roots.
He died in Birmingham in July 1989, aged 45.
References
- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
- "John Sleeuwenhoek". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- Courtney, Barrie (2004-03-27). "England - U-23 International Results- Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-03-13.