He returned to help Vale to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1969–70 and was also named as the club's Player of the Year.
John Green was born and grew up near Warrington, like his lifelong friend Roger Hunt; both played as amateurs for Stockton Heath before becoming professional footballers.
Green began his professional career with Tranmere Rovers, signing in February 1958, with the club in the Third Division North.
The following season, 1960–61, Green made just one league appearance, on 8 October 1960, as Suart rang the changes following a single-goal defeat at Preston North End in the West Lancashire derby in the previous outing.
Green's final appearance for the club took place in the penultimate league game of the season, a 3–1 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion on 6 May 1967.
While there, he notched 4 goals in 25 matches as the Royals struggled in the North American Soccer League, and finished bottom of the Pacific Division.
Green struggled with his fitness but played twelve games, finding himself on the scoresheet in home wins against Newport County and Chester.
[13] However, he could not translate this success over to the 1970–71 Third Division campaign, and new signings Brian Horton and Tony Lacey established themselves in the first XI.
He was different from most of the players who had played for Vale over the years, the creative and artistic element in what was otherwise a team of artisans.Green rounded off his career in professional football as player-manager of Northern Premier League side Northwich Victoria for the latter part of the 1971–72 season.