Where are they now? John-Paul Kissock

, 24 November, 6comments  |  Jump to most recent
The Echo interview a player who was once widely touted as the next star off the Finch Farm production line before he was released by Everton six years ago and forced to rebuild his career in Scotland and now non-League football in England.

» Read the full article at Liverpool Echo



Reader Comments (6)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 24/11/2015 at 21:25:33
He says he needed a bit of luck in order to break through at Everton, and (previously) that his path to the first team was blocked by better players who kept being selected ahead of him.

Just how many clubs has he been through since? That has to be a telling factor... Yet another example of one given the talent but unable to deliver, presumably, in terms of commitment and focus.

Kieran Kinsella
2 Posted 24/11/2015 at 22:45:18
Delusional. His second-tier non-league manager is "the best" he’s played for. Yeah right... just like it’s only "luck" separating him from Premier League stardom.

The manager is "great" cause he lets JP play how he wants. If you go low enough, you find a level where you can shine. Any of us could join a team of five-year-olds and look like Messi. Says a lot about the kid that he doesn’t see any of his own faults or failings.

Mike Gaynes
3 Posted 24/11/2015 at 23:38:28
Last line of the story:

"But if Vardy's success has proven anything, it's that there's no reason fortune can't yet favour Kissock."

Oh, my heavens. FORTUNE??

Jamie Vardy got out of the football wilderness by scoring 60 goals in two seasons. That's what attracted Leicester's attention.

Since signing at the same wilderness level with Southport five years ago, Kissock -- playing in attacking mid, mind you -- has a grand total of six goals. (I use the word "grand" with appropriate sarcasm.) My Pomeranian had a better strike rate at age 14, with no teeth.

Kieran chose the right word... "delusional"... only it applies not only to the player but the author of the article.

Dick Fearon
4 Posted 25/11/2015 at 00:32:09
It is sad but true that size and strength are mostly a vital part of a top class pros make up. To coin a phrase, a good big un’ will beat a good little un’.

Kissock quite simply did not have the physical stature to succeed at the top level. There are exceptions to that rule but in those cases extraordinary skill and toughness come into the equation. It is becoming obvious that in the development of youngsters clubs are placing a greater emphasis on physical attributes.

Soon after the RS appointed Shankly, that club placed full page adverts in most major newspapers offering try-outs to any youngsters that fulfilled specific criteria.
For example, would-be keepers depending upon age needed to be a certain minimum size and weight. Other positional categories had their own minimums. No mention was made about experience or technical ability.

Under Shankly, the RS embarked on a long period of success that had its foundation built on power and strength that unsurprisingly suffered few injury problems.

Patrick O'Keeffe
6 Posted 26/11/2015 at 02:14:06
Hi, I'm a Brighton & Whitehawk fan, and very interested to see the article and your comments on John Paul Kissock.

Certainly at non-league level he is an outstanding talent, and last season it was interesting to compare his efforts in the Whitehawk team, alongside his equally skillful, but older, team mate Sergio Torres, with the allegedly superior, but in my view, woeful duo of Gary Gardner and Jake Foster Caskey in the Albion line-up.

Thankfully they have been replaced by the highly talented duo of Beram Kayal and Dale Stephens. However, I would gladly have JPK in the line-up today. He is a much better player than the current England Under-21 Jake Forster Caskey and

I am amazed he is not playing at a higher level. The only reason, as others have pointed out, is his size. I don't think his attitude is a problem.

Peter Gorman
7 Posted 26/11/2015 at 21:12:29
First heard of this kid when he picked up some sports personality of the year award whilst still at school. The Echo article raved about him being blessed with two good feet and it was pleasing to note he was at Everton.

Then I think he grew his hair. After that I think he appeared on a SoccerAM showboat. Then he was released and after that I forgot about him until now.

All the best to him though, he is still playing the game he loves and by all accounts has been turning his hand to many a trade to get by. Good luck to him.


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