Players - John Scales

John Scales
Birthdate: 4 July 1966
Birthplace: Harrogate, England
Other clubs: Leeds United (1984-85), Bristol Rovers (1985-87), Wimbledon (1987-94), Tottenham Hotspur (1996-2000), Ipswich Town (2000-01)
Signed from: Wimbledon
Signed for LFC: £3.5m, 02.09.1994
International debut: 03.06.1995 vs. Japan
International caps: 3/0 - 11.06.1995
Liverpool debut: 10.09.1994
Last appearance: 31.10.1996
Debut goal: 21.09.1994
Last goal: 25.10.1995
Contract expiry: 08.12.1996
Win ratio: 55.32% W:52 D:25 L:17
Honours: League Cup 1995
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 20 / 1
League games / goals / assists: 65 / 2 / 1
Total games / goals / assists: 94 / 4 / 2

Player Profile

When Scales was 19-years-old he moved on a free transfer after one season in Leeds' reserves joining Bristol Rovers in the Third Division. He impressed sufficiently in his two seasons there to join the Crazy Gang at Wimbledon enjoying a fairy tale ending to his debut campaign winning the FA Cup against all odds facing the all-conquering Liverpool. Scales came on as a substitute in the Wembley final for forward Terry Gibson in the middle of the second half. After plying his trade at top-level for seven years with Wimbledon he moved to Liverpool arriving the day after fellow centre-half Phil Babb signed for the Reds from Coventry. Liverpool boss, Roy Evans, was delighted to capture the central defender who he had been tracking for the last 12 months. "John is big, strong and a great athlete. He's been the steadiest defender in the League for a long time and he'll be a great asset to us," Evans predicted.

Scales was of more skilful nature than a lot of his fellow defenders but his lack of aggression sometimes was a cause for concern for Reds' fans. He knew his limits, distributed the ball quite sensibly, not being overambitious. He looked after himself, was very energetic and a strong header of the ball. He had in fact won medals for high-jump in his teens. He seemed to lack the necessary quality to succeed at a top-notch club like Liverpool. Scales only lasted two years at Anfield and later passed this judgement on his time at the club: "The ability in the team was phenomenal. The discipline was lacking and I'll hold my hands up at the time. It's certainly very difficult when you lose the discipline in a club."

Scales was disappointed not to have been chosen to play for England in Euro '96, but bigger disappointment was ahead. He struggled with persistent injuries and only played seven games in the 1996/97 season, before being sold to Tottenham. His move caused quite a controversy as he had already had a medical for his boyhood club Leeds. Scales had a change of heart at the last moment and joined Spurs where because of injuries he only played 33 games in four seasons.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 65 14 10 5 0 94
1994-1995 35 7 7 0 0 49
1995-1996 27 7 2 2 0 38
1996-1997 3 0 1 3 0 7
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
6 530 Manchester United
5 450 Leeds United
5 450 Aston Villa
5 450 Wimbledon
4 360 Tottenham
4 360 Newcastle United
4 360 Everton
4 352 Blackburn Rovers
4 338 West Ham United
4 327 Arsenal
4 299 Nottingham Forest
3 270 Chelsea
3 270 Southampton
3 270 Coventry City
3 270 Burnley
3 270 QPR
3 270 Crystal Palace
3 245 Manchester City
2 180 Ipswich Town
2 180 Charlton Athletic
2 180 Bolton Wanderers
2 180 Norwich City
2 180 Birmingham City
2 180 Sheffield Wednesday
2 180 Brøndby
2 150 Sion
1 90 Shrewsbury Town
1 90 Rochdale
1 90 Middlesbrough
1 90 Derby
1 90 Stoke City
1 90 Sunderland
1 90 Leicester City
1 71 Mypa 47
Total Started/substitutions
93 Started
2 On the bench
1 Substitute
7 Substituted
Total Venue
47 Home
44 Away
3 Neutral
Total Competition
65 Premier League
14 FA Cup
10 League Cup
3 European Cup Winners Cup
2 UEFA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
94 52 25 17 55.3% Roy Evans
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 2 0 2 0 0 4
1994-1995 2 0 1 0 0 3
1995-1996 0 0 1 0 0 1
1996-1997 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Opponent
1 Norwich City
1 Manchester City
1 Burnley
1 QPR
Total Started/substitutions
4 Started
0 Substitute
Total Competition
2 League Cup
2 Premier League
Total Goal minute period
2 1-15 minutes
1 31-45 minutes
1 61-75 minutes
Total Goal origin
4 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 1 0 0 2
1994-1995 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995-1996 0 0 1 0 0 1
1996-1997 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Total Opponent
1 Derby County
1 Sunderland
Total Competition
1 League Cup
1 Premier League
Total For player
2 Robbie Fowler
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 10.09.1994 West Ham United Anfield League
50 01.10.1995 Manchester United Old Trafford League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 42 21.09.1994 Burnley Anfield League Cup
Related Articles
Reds in driving seat

Match report from British Soccer Week on Liverpool - Burnley on 21.09.1994.

Cottee dismissal mars Hammers day

Match report from British Soccer Week on Liverpool - West Ham on 10.09.1994.

Scales and Babb join Roy Evans

Roy Evans bought Liverpool a pair of central defenders in 1994.

Scales moves to Anfield

From British Soccer Week 08.09.1994

Related Quotes

"Attitude, simple as that. The ability in the team was phenomenal. The discipline was lacking and I'll hold my hands up at the time. It's certainly very difficult when you lose the discipline in a club."

Scales on his time at LFC

Scrapbook
Interview with Babb and Scales from LFC Matchday Magazine 1995/96
Interview with Babb and Scales from LFC Matchday Magazine 1995/96
Poster from LFC Matchday Magazine 1995/96
Poster from LFC Matchday Magazine 1995/96
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Leeds United 1984-1985 England Second Division 0 0 0 0
Bristol Rovers 1985-1986 England Third Division 29 1 36 1
Bristol Rovers 1986-1987 England Third Division 43 1 49 1
Wimbledon 1987-1988 England First Division 25 1 30 1
Wimbledon 1988-1989 England First Division 38 5 48 5
Wimbledon 1989-1990 England First Division 28 2 34 3
Wimbledon 1990-1991 England First Division 36 2 40 2
Wimbledon 1991-1992 England First Division 41 0 46 0
Wimbledon 1992-1993 England Premier League 32 1 39 1
Wimbledon 1993-1994 England Premier League 37 0 45 0
Wimbledon 1994-1995 England Premier League 3 0 3 0
Tottenham 1996-1997 England Premier League 12 0 12 0
Tottenham 1997-1998 England Premier League 10 0 12 0
Tottenham 1998-1999 England Premier League 7 0 9 1
Tottenham 1999-2000 England Premier League 4 0 4 0
Ipswich Town 2000-2001 England Premier League 2 0 4 0
Total 347 13 411 15