Clubs: Crystal Palace, Swansea City (L), Coventry City, Bolton Wanderers (L), Fulham, Charlton Athletic, Reading, Brentford
International honours: England
Caps won at Palace: 5
John Salako came up through the Palace Junior ranks as a pacy winger who could also score goals but after the Eagles' return to the top-flight in 1989 John also showed himself capable of playing at either left-back.
Curiously, of John's first 100 appearances, almost half were as a substitute and although he demonstrated great potential he never really established himself as a regular member of the side until the autumn of 1990. The exciting promise John had revealed was rewarded with a place on the England tour of Australasia in June 1991 where he excited the crowd and bemused the opposition in his four matches.
In October 1991 John's progress was cruelly cut short when he fell badly in a game against Leeds United and severed both his cruciate ligaments behind his left knee. John was able to play a few games in the autumn of 1992 but the new technique used in rebuilding the joint required further refinement and it was not until days before the second anniversary of the injury that he was properly able to begin the restoration process. In his first full appearance since the injury on 2nd October 1993 John hit a stunning hat-trick against Stoke City on a waterlogged pitch to send the Palace crowd to a fever pitch of excitement and delight as Palace romped to an impressive 4-1 win.
In 1995 John moved to Coventry City for £1.5m before moving onto Fulham where he helped the club win the Division Two title in 1998. John found more success at his next club Charlton Athletic winning a Division One winners medal in 2000 and until recently he was still running down the left-wing for Brentford.
Statistics
Young Player of the Year: 1987, 1988
|
|
Games |
Goals |
|
1986/1987 |
4 |
0 |
|
1987/1988 |
34 |
2 |
|
1988/1989 |
34 |
0 |
|
1989/1990 |
30 |
3 |
|
1990/1991 |
48 |
10 |
|
1991/1992 |
11 |
2 |
|
1992/1993 |
16 |
2 |
|
1993/1994 |
42 |
8 |
|
1994/1995 |
54 |
7 |
|
Total |
273 |
34 |
Source: Crystal Palace FC, Player by Player Since 1960, Rev. Nigel Sands, (1996, Sporting and Leisure Press)
