John Thomas "Dickie" Downs (13 August 1886 – 24 March 1949) was a footballer who played as a full back for Barnsley, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion and England.
[3] Dickie Downs played for Barnsley between 1909 and 1912 and was a member of the team who contested the 1910 FA Cup Final[4] against Newcastle but lost after forcing a replay.
[6][7] Downs' career was broken by the First World War but he returned to Oakwell in 1919 and yet again proved an annoyance to West Bromwich Albion in 1920 when Barnsley knocked them out of the FA Cup.
By now Downs was thirty-three years of age and his performances in the cup alerted the top flight clubs that he was still good enough to play at the highest level.
Downs' first season among the elite clubs was a success and brought him to the attention of the International selectors playing for England in a Home Championship game against Ireland on 23 October 1920 at Roker Park.