John Herbert Norton Fitzpatrick is a Scottish former footballer who played variously as a wing half, forward and full-back for English club Manchester United. He joined the Manchester United ground staff as a 15-year-old and made his way up through the club's ranks before an arthritic condition in his knees forced him to retire from playing at the age of 26.
Career
Born in Aberdeen, Fitzpatrick started his football career with a local youth club, Thistle Lads' Club, before being spotted by Manchester United scouts in September 1961. He was invited to Old Trafford for trials, but before the move to Manchester, he asked to play one last match for his old club; during the match, however, he broke his leg, which delayed him signing apprentice forms with Manchester United until July 1962. In the meantime, he worked as a member of the club's ground staff. He turned professional in September 1963. After being part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup in April 1964, which also included the likes of John Aston, David Sadler and George Best, Fitzpatrick made his professional debut at the age of 18 in February 1965, filling in for the injured Nobby Stiles at left-half in a 1–0 away defeat to Sunderland. On 16 October 1965, he became Manchester United's first ever substitute in a Football League match, coming on for Denis Law in a 5–1 away defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. He made only sporadic appearances over the next two seasons, exclusively as a wing-half, where his opportunities were limited by the consistently good performances of Stiles and Pat Crerand. The 1967–68 season saw him make more regular appearances in a variety of positions, including in the forward line, but it was not until February 1969 that he found his ultimate position as a right-sided full-back, filling in for the injured Shay Brennan; his season came to a slightly premature end, however, when he was sent off in the first leg of the European Cup semi-final against Milan, following which he had to have a police escort to the changing rooms. The incident resulted in Fitzpatrick receiving an eight-week suspension. Earlier in the season, he scored his first professional goals, hitting two in a 3–1 league win at home to Tottenham. Fitzpatrick retained his place in the side at the start of the 1969–70 season, but an injury suffered against Tottenham on 22 November 1969 ruled him out for the next four months. He recovered to play in the last seven matches of the season, and following the departure of Brennan to become player-manager at Waterford United, he was almost ever-present in 1970–71, missing only seven league matches. However, he managed just one appearance in 1971–72, following a recurrence of the knee cartilage problem he had suffered two years earlier, which subsequently required four operations to correct. Although he was able to return for the start of the 1972–73 season, he lasted just six matches in the first team and another two in the reserves before doctors advised him to retire, bringing to an end a career that had seen him make almost 150 appearances, in which he had scored 10 goals. In recognition of his nine years of service to the club, Manchester United presented Fitzpatrick with a cheque for £20,000, as well as organising a cabaret dinner in his honour, which raised a further £1,000. After retiring, he returned to his home town of Aberdeen, where he went into business as a wine importer.
