John David Stamps (2 December 1918 – 19 November 1991) was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward, most notably for Derby County.
Stamps's career was disrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, during which he was wounded at Dunkirk and later suffered a severe leg injury while playing for an army team.
After a brief stint at Shrewsbury Town, Stamps transferred to Burton Albion in 1954, where his career was cut short by a serious foot injury in 1955 that led to his early retirement from playing.
[2] He started his career in 1936 as an amateur with Silverwood Colliery before joining Mansfield Town in October 1937 after being scouted while working as a miner, when it was reported he was playing "exceptionally good games" for the reserve team.
[9] By late January 1939, he had scored five league goals in eleven matches[2] and his performances came to the attention of other clubs in the region,[8] including Liverpool.
[10] After attracting interest from clubs such as Everton, Leeds and Newcastle, Stamps joined First Division leaders Derby in January 1939 for a transfer fee reportedly around £2,500,[6] although other sources suggest it was closer to £1,500.
His debut performance was reviewed favourably by Jack Haddon, writing for the Sunday Dispatch, who described him as a "thrustful, go-ahead opportunist who is a mighty useful chap to have on your side".
[12] His debut was also viewed favourably by Evening Telegraph writer Charles Mann, who commented that Stamps's performance "brought back a lot of the life to a jaded attack".
[16] He led the attack in Derby's 1946 FA Cup Final win against Charlton Athletic,[17] in which he scored two goals in extra time.
[14] Following a spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, Stamps made his return to the starting lineup as centre-forward in a match against Sheffield Wednesday in March 1953.
[11] In December 1953, Stamps transferred to Shrewsbury Town for a reported "moderate fee",[25] joining under the management of his former Derby teammate Sammy Crooks.
[26] By late January 1954, the signing of Stamps had reportedly improved the club's attack considerably and he was the only forward player to keep his place in the team when they faced Newport County that month.
[29] On 21 July, it was reported that Stamps had made arrangements to take charge of pre-season training at Matlock Town, planned to start on 8 August.
[39] Despite the prognosis, he continued coaching at the club[41] and resumed light training in December, however still had pain in his foot and feared he would never be fit enough to play again.
[47] He was offered the role permanently in March 1958,[48] but was asked to tender his resignation just over 18 months later in October 1959 after a poor run of results, with the club facing severe financial difficulties and the threat of collapse.
[52] In September 1970, The Sunday People published a feature article to draw attention to Stamps's struggles, shedding light on his financial difficulties as he was surviving on disability and unemployment benefits.
[53] The benefit match took place the following month in October, with Burton Albion playing an all-stars team in front of a crowd of 12,000 at Derby's Baseball Ground.
[11] He was remembered fondly by former teammates at Derby County, with Raich Carter highlighting his strength and Tommy Powell describing him as a "gentle giant and a wonderful man".