The Longside Reference

Name : John Steele Deary

D.O.B. 18th Oct 1962

Clubs : Blackpool, Rochdale, Southport, Burnley

Burnley Fee: £30k

Signed by Frank Casper

Burnley Debut: 19th August 1989 Rochdale (a)

Last game for Burnley:14th January Notts County (a)

Claret Stats: 281(10) Appearences 30 Goals

Claret Honours: 4th Division Championship 1991/92, 2nd Division Play-Off winner(Wembley) 1993/94, Lancashire Cup winner (1992)

John Deary spent nine years on the seaside making over 300 appearances for Blackpool from March 1980 till July 1989. Frank Casper made the approach the bring the hard tackling, hard running, hard man Deary to Turf Moor. It would be a soon to be Claret legend who sold him! Jimmy Mullen accepted Burnleys cash and John was on his way to Turf Moor for a Fee of £30k.

John Deary made his Burnley debut as substitute against Rochdale on the opening day of the 89/90 season, He quickly made the center midfield place his own with his never say die attitude and ability to lift those around him.

In 1990/91 he helped the Clarets to the Fourth Division play-off semi-final (Losing out to Torquay), the following season he was instrumental in Jimmy Mullen's (now Burnley manager) Fourth Division championship winning side.  He scored six League goals in that season, none more important than the equalizing goal against York that secured Burnley the title and produced one of the most memorable scenes of the night,  following Deary's goal the York keeper took a swipe at Robbie Painter so in stepped Deary and grabbed him by the neck.  The keeper wouldnt do that again in a hurry. 

His performance against a hard Stockport County at Wembley 94 in the Play-Off Final was as good as it gets for a battling midfielder, John managed to control that midfield while the goons of Stockport lost there's heads with two getting there marching orders, Burnley and John were victorious and the First Division should have been his next adventure. Even at the age of 33 Deary could have done a job for Burnley in the newly named first division (Championship), but it wasn't to be, with Burnley struggling in 19 place Jimmy Mullen yet again sold Deary this time to Rochdale for £25k.

On of the best midfielders in recent years, time and time again when Burnleys midfield is over run, each and every Claret fan says the same thing "I wish we had a John Deary" and it is true, Deary should have graced the very top level of football, he would not have looked out of place in the Premiership in my opinion.

 John Deary was as loyal as they come the nine years at Blackpool could have told you that, he spent another six seasons in Burnleys engine room, He would be instrumental in both promotions under Jimmy Mullen.

Deary played in over 500 league games for just three teams Blackpool, Burnley and his last League side Rochdale.

Injury forced John Deary to retire from the game in 2000 while playing for Southport . He now runs his own double glazing business