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JOHNNY PORTEOUS
Full Name: John Robertson Porteous
Born: 05 December 1921
Came from: Alloa Athletic Went to: Exeter City
First game: 20 August 1949 Last game: 14 January 1956
Appearances: 221 (221/0) Goals: 13
A wing-half, who was born in Motherwell in Lanarkshire, the start of his career was delayed by the war. After serving with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, he joined his hometown club Motherwell at the age of 24 in 1945, after demobilisation.
He left after two years without playing for the first team, joining Alloa Athletic, for whom he made 27 appearances, scoring once ahead in the 1948-49 season, ahead of his move to Home Park in July 1949.
Signed by fellow countryman Jimmy Rae for a reported £2,000, Porteous's versatility was his most useful trait and he was a regular member of the team, in a variety of roles, across seven seasons. He was instrumental in the team that won the Third Division South championship in the 1951-52 season and remained a regular name in the side until 1955.
He left Argyle to join Exeter City in March 1956 for £300, along with team-mate George Willis, playing 40 times in the 1956-57 season, before requesting a transfer in March 1957, after which he finished his career in non-league football with Truro City.
After hanging up his boots, he worked in Devonport Dockyard and then for a telecoms company in Mauritius, before returning to the city to see out his retirement. During his later years, he lived as a neighbour to former team-mate Tony McShane. Remaining local throughout his later years, Porteous passed away in Plymouth in August 2007, aged 85.
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APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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