Saturday, August 30, 2025

Where Are They Now - John Teasdale

John Teasdale At Wolves

Scottish born striker John Teasdale played five games for Hereford United in the 1983 season scoring one goal.

Born in Glasgow in October 1962, his father was in the Navy, prompting plenty of different homes in the likes of Ipswich and Portsmouth before heading back North of the Border and settling in Elgin at the age of 12.

By 16, he was playing – and scoring goals - for Nairn County in the Highland League, and his Uncle, stationed at RAF Cosford, wrote a letter to Wolves’ chief scout.

When a trial included scoring twice in a friendly against Hednesford, Teasdale was taken on, signing a professional contract shortly after he had turned 18.

That was in 1979 but Teasdale only made just 8 appearances for Wolves. Later he moved to Walsall before joining Hereford.

“I went on loan to Ian Ross at Hereford. One day, though, I was playing in a reserve game at Walsall and a chap approached me, asking whether I fancied playing in Germany. He pointed out a scout sitting in a car; a chap that didn’t speak a word of English but who fancied me as a player.

“Walsall did release me but there was to be none of that signing-on money. I first of all joined Willenhall Town, the reason being that the German agent needed me to be registered with a club in England so he could negotiate the signing-on fee over there."

After Willenhall, a short spell in Germany. But it wasn't long before he joined Blackpool, afterwards a long stay at Elgin City. 

In the middle 90's he moved to the United States. 

"America has always been very good to me,” Teasdale told the Shropshire Star.

"I first came over in 1986, largely because of seeing all the American shows on TV, like Miami Vice!  

“The 80s and 90s were great times when you could rent an apartment five minutes or so from the beach for 500 or 600 bucks a month.

“You could live really well in Los Angeles for not a lot of money."

And he met up with a super star. It happened after he played against  Rod Stewart’s Exiles.

"I hit a hat-trick against them and they invited me to join them. I told them I would need a job so they asked: ‘Can you drive limousines?’

"So that’s what I did, in Beverly Hills for $1,000 a week back in the day. I did it for two years and loved it, becoming quite friendly with Rod. And all of this, with the Scottish accent thrown in, did me no harm with the ladies!"

Now 62 Teasdale is a sales manager in a Honda store in Houston.