Players - John Wark

John Wark
Birthdate: 4 August 1957
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Other clubs: Ipswich Town (1973-84), Ipswich Town (2 / 1988-90), Middlesbrough (1990-91), Ipswich Town (3 / 1991-97), Woodbridge Town (1999)
Signed from: Ipswich Town
Signed for LFC: £475,000, 20.03.1984
International debut: 19.05.1979 vs. Wales
International caps: 29/7 (3/0 at LFC) - 12.09.1984
Liverpool debut: 31.03.1984
Last appearance: 06.10.1987
Debut goal: 31.03.1984
Last goal: 14.03.1987
Contract expiry: 04.01.1988
Win ratio: 53.7% W:58 D:26 L:24
Games/goals ratio: 2.57
Games/assists ratio: 9
Honours: League Championship 1983/84
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 27 / 4
League games / goals / assists: 70 / 28 / 8
Total games / goals / assists: 108 / 42 / 12

Player Profile

Wark burst unto the scene in 1975 as a part of Ipswich's successful youth cup-winning team and the centre-half who had been fifth-choice at the beginning of the season, was by now starring in the first team. He benefited from the guidance of Bobby Robson, developing into a free-scoring midfielder reaching the pinnacle of his career in the 1980/81 season when he was voted PFA Player of the Year as well as Young European Player of the Year having netted 14 goals in Ipswich's successful UEFA Cup campaign, equalling the record of Jose Altafini. He scored a total of 36 goals in this outstanding campaign when Ipswich finished runners-up in the League to Aston Villa. Wark certainly enjoyed his time at Ipswich and also had his brush with Hollywood in the role of Arthur Hayes, a prisoner of war held by Nazis in "Escape to Victory." "I spent five weeks making the movie in Budapest in Hungary and mixing with the likes of Stallone, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and Pele. [Michael] Caine was fantastic, Stallone was a typical Yank; he had his minder and bodyguards. Once you got to know him he was fine, but he had all this baggage with him. Pele, the best player in the world and such a gentleman. We got on brilliant. It was a great time." Wark scored 46 goals in which proved to be his last two seasons at Ipswich. After Robson's departure the club was on the slide and the player who Robson once claimed to be "the finest goalscoring midfielder of his generation” wanted a change of scenery. “I felt that I deserved to be paid more but Ipswich refused and that prompted me to ask for a transfer," Wark admitted. 

The Scotsman made a high-profile move to Anfield with the impending departure of inspirational skipper Graeme Souness. Wark's great experience and impressive goalscoring record were no doubt seen as a way of reducing the impact of his fellow Scot's subsequent transfer to Sampdoria in Italy. Wark was staggered by how uncomplicated his medical at Liverpool was. "I was rather taken aback when the doctor entered the Anfield boot room", Wark said. "He was small in stature and I could not help but detect the smell of alcohol on his breath as he introduced himself to me. I was even more surprised when he announced we would stay put to conduct the medical examination. He took my blood pressure, looked at the reading and muttered 'that's fine.' Then something happened that to this day I still cannot get over. He asked me to bend down and touch my toes. Trying not to show my surprise, I did exactly as he asked and as I lifted my head he spoke again, this time to announce 'you've passed.' That was it, my Liverpool medical." Wark also enjoyed the training at the club. "I loved the training because it consisted of five-a-sides and more five-a-sides." Wark was certainly one of the lads and one teammate described him as "a total mad-cap with an unnerving habit of roaring with laughter without prior warning." On his arrival on Merseyside Wark was placed at the same hotel as summer arrivals, Jan Mølby and Paul Walsh. Almost inevitably because of the culture at the time, the trio didn’t waste time finding out what the city of Liverpool had to offer in terms of its nightlife. This wasn’t anything new to Wark: “If there had been a League championship for drinking in the 70s and 80s, Ipswich Town would have been among the major contenders," Wark said in his autobiography. "I found absolutely no difference after I was transferred to Liverpool in 1984. They were a match for anyone when it came to knocking it back”. Mark Lawrenson referred to Wark as “our champion beer-drinker." Wark scored on his debut at Watford and made nine first division appearances as the championship was won for a third successive year but he was ineligible to play in the semi-final and final of the European Cup that ended in victory in Rome. 

Not everybody was convinced by Wark's usefulness to Liverpool, but prior to the 1984/85 season Wark declared: "People feel Joe Fagan made a mistake buying me but I’m determined to make them eat their words!" And how he force-fed those words to his detractors! Wark was Liverpool's leading goalscorer with 27 goals in his first full season. He scored 18 goals in 40 League games, continued his incredible striking rate in Europe, scoring five in ten games, four in seven FA Cup games, netted three hat-tricks and scored his hundredth League goal in a game, incidentally enough against Ipswich. Wark was No. 11 in Liverpool's starting line-up that fateful night at Heysel when Liverpool had hoped to win the European Cup for the second year running. "When I look back on my time in football, and in particular my appearance in what is unquestionably the biggest game of them all, it is as if I am staring at a blank page in a book," Wark says regretfully. Enjoying the training at Melwood did not make Wark any less susceptible to injury. A damaged Achilles while training and a broken ankle when back in first-team action were heavily responsible for the low number of matches he played in his second and third full seasons as a Liverpool player, just 18 in the glorious double season of 1985/86 and one less in the following campaign. The emergence of Jan Mølby restricted his chances further, settling in while Wark was out injured. Mølby is a big fan of Wark and analysed him as a player for LFChistory.net. "John is probably along with Bryan Robson the greatest goalscoring midfielder there has ever been. My strength was to read the game, but I still didn’t have that ability he had of knowing exactly when to arrive in the penalty area. John was an exceptional player. His biggest problem at Liverpool was that he wasn’t enough of a Liverpool player. His game was doing the job in the opposition’s penalty box and maybe he didn’t take enough part in the rest of the game."

“Hard as it was to depart Anfield, I knew it was the right thing to do." Wark moved back to Ipswich in January 1988. His mentor, Bobby Robson, advised him: “Money isn’t everything. Go where you will be happiest." That place was Ipswich Town, even though by then they were in the Second Division following their relegation in 1986. During his second spell at Portman Road, Wark's eye for a goal remained as strong as ever, as did his competence as a penalty-taker after being successful with 38 out of 43 spot-kicks during his first spell with the East Anglian club. A poor contract offer by his standards prompted him to go to Middlesbrough in 1990 after being voted the club's Player of the Year in two successive seasons. Wark returned "home" one year later for his third spell, this time returning to his old position of centre-half. He soon made an emotional return to Anfield in the FA Cup. Forced to come off with severe cramp towards the end of a pulsating match that Liverpool won 3-2 after extra-time, Wark was moved to tears by the thunderous reception the home supporters gave him as he left the arena. Wark played six more years for Ipswich until his retirement at 40. He made more than 820 appearances and scored a staggering total of 223 goals, to which can be added 29 full Scottish caps and 7 international goals, that total including all three matches and two goals for his country at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He missed the 1986 World Cup in Mexico because of injury. Wark became one of four inaugural inductees into Ipswich Town's Hall of Fame. Wark made one appearance for Woodbridge Town in February 1999 when he and former Ipswich teammate, Paul Mason, turned out for the amateur club against Thame United in the quarter-finals of the FA Carlsberg Vase as the club was missing vital players through injury.

Bob Paisley has the last word: "How many times have you heard it said that goalscoring is all about being in 'the right place at the right time. Most footballers know where the right 'place' is, but relatively few can sense when the time is 'right'. John Wark has great timing. You could set your watch by him."
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 70 13 10 10 5 108
1983-1984 9 0 0 0 0 9
1984-1985 40 7 3 10 2 62
1985-1986 9 4 3 0 2 18
1986-1987 11 2 3 0 1 17
1987-1988 1 0 1 0 0 2
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
7 375 Tottenham
6 457 Manchester United
6 373 Coventry City
5 413 QPR
5 385 Southampton
5 322 Ipswich Town
4 360 Everton
4 360 West Ham United
4 360 Aston Villa
4 360 Watford
4 357 Luton Town
4 343 York City
4 330 Newcastle United
4 296 Norwich City
3 270 Leicester City
3 270 WBA
3 183 Arsenal
3 118 Oxford United
2 210 Stockport County
2 180 Juventus
2 180 Lech Poznan
2 180 Austria Vienna
2 180 Panathinaikos
2 180 Chelsea
2 180 Stoke City
2 180 Sunderland
2 136 Benfica
2 127 Sheffield Wednesday
1 90 Nottingham Forest
1 90 Barnsley
1 90 Wimbledon
1 90 Notts County
1 90 Charlton Athletic
1 90 Oldham Athletic
1 90 Birmingham City
1 90 Fulham
1 76 Independiente
1 64 Blackburn Rovers
Total Started/substitutions
94 Started
20 On the bench
14 Substitute
14 Substituted
Total Venue
54 Home
46 Away
8 Neutral
Total Competition
70 League
13 FA Cup
10 League Cup
9 European Cup
3 Screen Sport Super Cup
1 World Club Championship
1 European Super Cup
1 Charity Shield
Total W D L Win % Manager
71 35 19 17 49.3% Joe Fagan
37 23 7 7 62.2% Kenny Dalglish
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 28 6 3 5 0 42
1983-1984 2 0 0 0 0 2
1984-1985 18 4 0 5 0 27
1985-1986 3 2 1 0 0 6
1986-1987 5 0 2 0 0 7
1987-1988 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 8 1 0 1 2 12
1983-1984 4 0 0 0 0 4
1984-1985 2 1 0 1 0 4
1985-1986 2 0 0 0 0 2
1986-1987 0 0 0 0 2 2
1987-1988 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 31.03.1984 Watford Vicarage Road League
50 06.03.1985 Austria Vienna Gerhard Hanappi St. Europe
100 24.01.1987 Newcastle United Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 58 31.03.1984 Watford Vicarage Road League
Related Articles
Wark On

John Wark's name, reputation and career command respect. This book is a fascinating summary of an outstanding club career with Ipswich Town, Liverpool and Middlesbrough.

Brave Ipswich

Match report from British Soccer Week on Liverpool - Ipswich on 26.02.1992.

John Wark - The greatest goalscoring midfielder?

LFChistory met with Ipswich and Liverpool great John Wark.

John Wark's Shoot Focus

John Wark was in Focus at Shoot! when he was in his first spell at Ipswich.

Wark sees Liverpool comfortably through

Match report from 03.10.1984 by the Times.

Imagination and discipline rewarded with away goal

Match report from 19.09.1984 by The Times.

Wonder Wark

Article from Shoot! in 1975.

Paisley's opinion on John Wark

Bob Paisley had incredible insight. Here are his views on midfield goalscorer John Wark.

Related Quotes

"A total mad-cap with an unnerving habit of roaring with laughter without prior warning."

John Wark as described by a former team-mate

"People feel Joe Fagan made a mistake buying me but I’m determined to make them eat their words!"

John Wark in 1984-85. He finished the season as Liverpool's top-scorer with 27 goals.

"He was one of those guys who just loved playing football. He could play at the back but was more famous for coming from midfield. Could score goals from deep and was a great all-round player."

Roy Evans on John Wark

"Caine was fantastic, Stallone was a typical Yank; he had his minder and bodyguards. Once you got to know him he was fine but he had all this baggage with him. Pele, the best player in the world and such a gentleman. We got on brilliant. It was a great time."

John Wark on his role in Escape to Victory

"How many times have you heard it said that goalscoring is all about being in 'the right place at the right time. Most footballers know where the right 'place' is, but relatively few can sense when the time is 'right'. John Wark has great timing. You could set your watch by him."

Bob Paisley's opinion on John Wark

Scrapbook
18 June 1977
18 June 1977
20 March 1984
20 March 1984
Fagan wins race for midfield ace
Fagan wins race for midfield ace
Focus on John Wark at Ipswich
Focus on John Wark at Ipswich
Focus on Scotland's John Wark
Focus on Scotland's John Wark
How John Wark rescued his Liverpool career
How John Wark rescued his Liverpool career
John Wark on the cover of Shoot! 11 September 1982
John Wark on the cover of Shoot! 11 September 1982
John Wark on the cover of Shoot! 5 May 1984
John Wark on the cover of Shoot! 5 May 1984
Just for luck, but he's not superstitious - John Wark Profile from LFC match programme
Just for luck, but he's not superstitious - John Wark Profile from LFC match programme
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Life is tough at the top - 31 March 1984
Life is tough at the top - 31 March 1984
Liverpool back in race - 31 March 1984
Liverpool back in race - 31 March 1984
Liverpool swoop for Wark
Liverpool swoop for Wark
New boy Wark strikes - 31 March 1984
New boy Wark strikes - 31 March 1984
Page from Arnie's scrapbook (editor of LFChistory.net)
Page from Arnie's scrapbook (editor of LFChistory.net)
Record-breakers - 23 September 1986
Record-breakers - 23 September 1986
Shoot! Focus on Ipswich's John Wark
Shoot! Focus on Ipswich's John Wark
The game I remember - 26 November 1983
The game I remember - 26 November 1983
The true grit of Liverpool - 18 April 1984
The true grit of Liverpool - 18 April 1984
Third spell at Ipswich
Third spell at Ipswich
Wark joins Liverpool
Wark joins Liverpool
Wark right On - 18 April 1984
Wark right On - 18 April 1984
Wark signs today - 20 March 1984
Wark signs today - 20 March 1984
Wark tall - 31 March 1984
Wark tall - 31 March 1984
Wark tall! - LFC match programme 1981
Wark tall! - LFC match programme 1981
Wark to the rescue - 18 April 1984
Wark to the rescue - 18 April 1984
Wark's facesaver - 18 April 1984
Wark's facesaver - 18 April 1984
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Ipswich Town 1974-1975 England First Division 3 0 5 0
Ipswich Town 1975-1976 England First Division 3 0 4 0
Ipswich Town 1976-1977 England First Division 33 10 38 10
Ipswich Town 1977-1978 England First Division 18 5 25 7
Ipswich Town 1978-1979 England First Division 42 6 55 9
Ipswich Town 1979-1980 England First Division 41 12 50 15
Ipswich Town 1980-1981 England First Division 40 18 64 36
Ipswich Town 1981-1982 England First Division 42 18 55 23
Ipswich Town 1982-1983 England First Division 42 20 49 23
Ipswich Town 1983-1984 England First Division 32 5 38 11
Ipswich Town 1987-1988 England Second Division 7 0 9 2
Ipswich Town 1988-1989 England Second Division 41 13 49 13
Ipswich Town 1989-1990 England Second Division 41 10 47 10
Middlesbrough 1990-1991 England Second Division 32 2 38 2
Ipswich Town 1991-1992 England Second Division 37 3 46 3
Ipswich Town 1992-1993 England Premier League 37 6 48 7
Ipswich Town 1993-1994 England Premier League 38 3 46 4
Ipswich Town 1994-1995 England Premier League 26 4 28 4
Ipswich Town 1995-1996 England First Division 14 2 19 2
Ipswich Town 1996-1997 England First Division 2 0 3 0
Woodbridge Town 1999 Eastern Counties League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 571 137 716 181