Despite his small stature, he was only 5' 3", it became clear from an early age that John Price was destined to be a professional footballer.

After figuring for Durham Schoolboys he joined Horden Colliery Welfare Juniors where his sparkling displays made local scouts sit up and take notice.

And in November 1960 it was no real surprise when he moved south to join Burnley. At the time the Clarets were one of England's top clubs and they'd established a conveyor belt to transport a never-ending stream of young talent from the northeast to Turf Moor.

After serving his apprenticeship in the tough Central League Price made his First Division debut at Chelsea in October 1963.

But with Willie Morgan a regular down one wing and the likes of Ian Towers, Ralph Bellamy, Gordon Harris and the emerging Ralph Coates contesting the place on the other flank, opportunities for the 20-year-old were limited.

He did manage to make 21 Burnley appearances, though, scoring twice; one a brilliant effort in front of the Kop against League Champions Liverpool.

In May 1965 news that he had been made available by the Lancashire club alerted Vic Bernard and the flamboyant County chairman persuaded Price to drop three divisions and join his GO GO GO COUNTY bandwagon.

RELATIONSHIP

The winger made his debut on the opening day of the 1965-66 season at Chester and his fantastic relationship with the Hatters faithful had begun. He scored his first goal when Halifax were beaten 3-0 at Edgeley Park in the August. And he was on the scoresheet again the following month when County demolished Bradford City 7-1 at Valley Parade to establish our record away win.

Perhaps the wee man's best goal, though, came in an FA Cup game at Tranmere in November 1965 where more than 5,000 travelling fans roared County on to a famous 1-0 victory.

Two months before that Prenton Park success Bernard had persuaded Len Allchurch, another established First Division star, to join his Edgeley Park revelation. Despite being six days short of his 32nd birthday County handed Sheffield United a record £10,000 to bring the Welsh international to Stockport.

Older fans will tell you that the pairing of Allchurch on the right and Price on the left is the club's best-ever wing duo.


Both players were key members of Jimmy Meadows side that swept all before them to gloriously lift the Fourth Division title in 1967.

And, over the next two seasons, they provided the ammunition for legendry strike duo, Bill Atkins and Jim Fryatt, to shoot County to the top of Division Three.

The success didn't last. Fryatt was sold to Blackburn, Atkins to Portsmouth and Allchurch was allowed to return to Swansea. And County were relegated in 1969-70 after, arguably, the worst season in the club's history.

CORNERSTONE

Price remained, though, to become the cornerstone of Matt Woods team looking to bounce back to Division Three at the first attempt in 1970-71 and, like his debut season, he played in all but one of the 46 games.

However, seven games into the following campaign the Hatters cashed in on their prize asset and allowed him to move to Ewood Park.

After a successful stint in East Lancashire, County boss Brian Doyle lifted some of the gloom of a dismal season when he brought the crowd favourite back to Edgeley Park. Price made his second County debut in a Sunday game at Bradford City in March 1974. And he made an immediate impact when he set up Micky Hollis for the only goal of the game to secure a rare victory.

These were dark days in County's history, though. Bottom of Division Four in 1974 they only avoided re-election 12 months later after a goalless draw at Scunthorpe on the final day. The following season saw them again go cap-in-hand to the Football League after finishing 21st.


Although in the twilight of his career Price still had the ability to terrorise defenders. Once described as having more tricks than a barrel load of monkeys, the League's smallest player was also blessed with blistering pace and the ability to cross the ball accurately with either foot, often when it appeared he was just about to fall over.

And, despite his lack of inches, he still managed to score one or two goals with his head!

John Price retired from professional football in 1976; he sadly passed away in 1995, aged 51.

Shortly after County lifted the Division Four championship in 1967 the Cheadle Enders compossed the song, Johnny Price. Click here to listen.

Johnny Price's League Career
Club	Date Joined	Apps	Gls
Burnley	November 1960	21	2
Stockport County	May 1965	246	23
Blackburn Rovers	September 1971	76	12
Stockport County	March 1974	66	1
Total		409	38