John Rudge - Playing Career

Playing Career

Born and raised in Wolverhampton, Rudge became a lifelong fan of Wolverhampton Wanderers. However he turned professional at Second Division club Huddersfield Town in November 1961. He made his debut under manager Eddie Boot in the 1962–63 campaign, and was given the residence of the recently departed Denis Law. He did not feature in 1963–64, appeared just twice in 1964–65, and did not get a game in 1965–66. He played two games at the start of the 1966–67 season, before manager Tom Johnston allowed him a move to Second Division rivals Carlisle United in December 1967.

Rudge made an immediate impact at Brunton Park, scoring seven goals in 14 appearances, as Tim Ward's "Cumbrians" finished third in 1966–67, six points short of promotion. Over the course of the 1967–68 campaign he scored nine goals in 29 league and cup games, as Carlisle posted a tenth place finish. He made just five goalless appearances in 1968–69, and in January 1969 manager Bob Stokoe handed him a free transfer to Torquay United of the Third Division.

He found the net just twice in 14 appearances before the end of the campaign for Allan Brown's "Gulls". He then found his form in 1969–70, finishing as the club's top scorer with 16 goals in 35 league and cup matches. He continued to regularly find the net in 1970–71, hitting 21 goals in 43 appearances, as Torquay finished tenth. However he scored just twice in 12 games in 1971–72, as the club suffered relegation under Jack Edwards. Rudge escaped this fate as he left Plainmoor in February 1972, signing a contract with Bill Dodgin's Bristol Rovers.

After three goals in eight games towards the end of the campaign, Rudge hit 12 goals in 29 appearances in 1972–73, as the club pushed for promotion under new manager Don Megson. The "Pirates" achieved their goal in 1973–74, as they finished runners-up of the as Third Division; however Rudge played only 15 games, scoring five goals. He featured just three times in 1974–75, and moved on to John Benson's Bournemouth in March 1975.

Rudge played seven games for the "Cherries", and could not prevent them from being relegated into the Fourth Division at the end of the campaign. He missed most of the 1975–76 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and made only 11 league appearances in 1976–77, scoring twice. His career was ended at age 32, owing to his achilles-tendon injury. He had scored a total of 79 goals in 230 appearances in all competitions.