John Foster Potts (22 January 1904 â 1 October 1986) was an English footballer. A goalkeeper, he was tall and described as "safe as houses". He spent 1926 to 1934 with Leeds United, winning promotions out of the Second Division in 1927âÂÂ28 and 1931âÂÂ32, and then spent two years with Port Vale. He was the brother-in-law of the Milburn brothers Jack, George and Jimmy, who all played for Leeds United.
Potts joined Blyth Spartans at the age of 16 and played for them whilst working as a coal-hewer at Ashington Colliery. He turned professional at Leeds United after being signed for a fee of ã200 in February 1926. He played 12 First Division games at the end of the 1925âÂÂ26 season. Now club captain, he made 45 appearances in the 1926âÂÂ27 season, as Leeds were relegated into the Second Division. He kept goal on 39 occasions in 1927âÂÂ28, as United won promotion in second place. He featured 41 times in 1928âÂÂ29, but played only 18 games in the 1929âÂÂ30 campaign. He played 41 games in the 1930âÂÂ31 season, as Leeds were relegated back into the second tier. He then played 32 matches in the 1931âÂÂ32 season, as United were again promoted in second place. He made 34 appearances in the 1932âÂÂ33 campaign, though was absent throughout the 1933âÂÂ34 season. In his eight years at Elland Road he made 247 league and 15 FA Cup appearances.
In May 1934, he dropped into the Second Division to sign with Port Vale. He kept a clean sheet in his debut match â a 2âÂÂ0 win over Sheffield United at the Old Recreation Ground on 25 August. He was an ever-present for the 1934âÂÂ35 season and only missed two matches of the 1935âÂÂ36 season, for a total of 86 appearances (82 in the Football League and four FA Cup) for the "Valiants". Despite this feat he was released at the end of the 1935âÂÂ36 season, and was replaced by his understudy Allan Todd.
Leeds United