John Henry Horton (15 February 1866 – 28 December 1946) was an English footballer who played in the English Football League and the 1895 FA Cup final for West Bromwich Albion. He also played for Burslem Port Vale and Wednesbury Old Athletic. His brother Ezra was also a footballer and a teammate for many years at West Brom.

Career Horton, a player able to play either as a defender or as an attacker, began his career at Oak Villa. He represented Wednesbury Old Athletic, before joining up with West Bromwich Albion. Whilst with West Brom he also played at least four friendly matches for Burslem Port Vale, scoring three goals, between April 1884 and December 1885. All three of his goals came in a 6–1 win over Wednesbury Town on 5 April 1884.

He made his league debut on 8 September 1888 as a full-back for West Bromwich Albion in a 2–0 win against Stoke at the Victoria Ground. He played 19 of the "Throstles" 22 Football League matches and was part of a defence line that achieved three clean sheets whilst restricting the opposition to a single goal on four occasions. (registration & fee required) He played 129 league games in the English Football League from 1889 to 1897, including 19 of the club's 22 games in the league's inaugural season. The club's best finish in his time there was fifth place in 1889–90. He appeared in the 1895 FA Cup final at Crystal Palace and unsuccessfully battled with Aston Villa's Jack Devey in a goalmouth scramble just some 30 seconds into the game; despite this, the goal was credited to Bob Chatt. It proved to be the only goal of the game.

Style of play Horton was described in one source as a grand full-back who could never be faulted when it came to resolute tackling and clearing his line, which he did in fine style.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWest Bromwich Albion1888–89Football League19010002001889–90Football League17020001901890–91Football League15010001601891–92Football League600000601892–93First Division19010002001893–94First Division700000701894–95First Division17010001801895–96First Division25040403401896–97First Division401000501897–98First Division10000010Total1300110401450

Honours West Bromwich Albion FA Cup runner-up: 1895

References