John Robert Borthwick[2] (born 24 March 1964) is an English former professional footballer who made 225 appearances in the Football League playing as a forward for Hartlepool United, Darlington and York City.
After scoring prolifically in local league and junior football for the Henry Smith YC and Owton Manor SC clubs across 1980-82, Borthwick signed for his local club, Hartlepool United, and made his debut on 3 January 1983 in a 4–1 defeat away at Colchester United.
Borthwick was a hard-working and unselfish striker whose physical presence and aerial ability helped strike partners such as Alan Shoulder and Kevin Dixon score freely, although his contribution often went unrecognised by many Hartlepool fans.
His 19 goals made him Darlington's leading scorer as they won the Conference title to return to the Football League,[4] and was again their top scorer as they won back-to-back titles to gain promotion to the Third Division.
This biographical article related to association football in England, about a forward born in the 1960s, is a stub.