John Anthony Roche (18 May 1932 â 1988) was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played professionally for Millwall and Crystal Palace between 1957 and 1960, making a total of 61 Football League appearances.
Roche was born in Poplar, London. began his career in non-league football with Margate before signing for Millwall in 1957. In May 1959, he signed for Crystal Palace then playing in the Football League Fourth Division. He made a goal-scoring debut on 3 September in a home 3âÂÂ2 win against Oldham Athletic and went on to make 36 appearances that season, scoring 11 times. At the end of the 1959âÂÂ60 season, he returned to Margate.
Roche died in 1988, aged 53 or 54. His grandson Jamie Roche, born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and Roche's son (who himself played semi-professionally), is also a professional footballer.