John Fleck (footballer): Difference between revisions

| years5 = 2024–2024

| clubs5 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C .|Blackburn Rovers]]

| caps5 = 01

| nationalyears4 = 2019–2019–2021

| club-update = 0914:2224, 710 DecemberSeptember 20232024 (UTC)

'''John Alexander Fleck''' (born 24 August 1991) is a Scottish professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]] for {{English football updater|BlackburnRoversChesterf}} club [[Blackburn RoversChesterfield F.C.|Blackburn RoversChesterfield]].

He began his career with [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], making his senior debut in 2008 aged 16,<ref name=cut/><ref name=int12/> and later spending a period on loan to [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]. In 2012 he transferred to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], remaining there until 2016 when he joined Sheffield United, helping the club achieve two promotions in three years, moving up from [[EFL League One|League One]] to the Premier League. In JanuaryFebruary 2024, Fleck joined [[Blackburn Rovers F.C. |Blackburn Rovers]] before signing for [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] later that year.

Fleck was born in [[Glasgow]] and was brought up in the city's [[Yoker]] (Langy) district;<ref name=cut>[https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/latest-blades-news/sheffield-united-why-john-fleck-delving-his-past-try-and-take-care-future-148073 Sheffield United: Why John Fleck is delving into his past to try and take care of the future], [[Sheffield Star]], 24 January 2019</ref> he was educated at [[Knightswood Secondary School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=1682 |title=Victory Shield Squad for Wales |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085351/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=1682 |archive-date=31 October 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/scotland-players-old-schools-send-good-luck-messages Scotland players' old schools send good luck messages], Henry Hepburn, [[TES (magazine)]], 11 June 2021</ref> His uncle, former [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] international [[Robert Fleck]], played for [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich]] in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1026918.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214175833/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1026918.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 February 2009 |title=Smith relishes Rangers' 'biggest test' |publisher=FIFA |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref>

On 25 August 2007, just a day after his 16th birthday, Fleck was included for the first time in the Rangers first team squad for a competitive match against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]. He made his competitive debut on 23 January 2008 in the [[Scottish Cup]] game against [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]]<ref name="Rangers 6-0 East Stirlingshire">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7203278.stm |title=Rangers 6–0 East Stirlingshire |website=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2008}}</ref> and made his league debut on 22 May in the final league game of the season against [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]. Two days later, Fleck became the youngest ever player to play in a senior British cup final,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/6999350/Rangers-blow-as-John-Fleck-and-Danny-Wilson-seek-way-out.html |title=Rangers blow as John Fleck and Danny Wilson seek way out |last=Grahame |first=Ewing |date=15 January 2010 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref> by appearing as a substitute in the [[2008 Scottish Cup Final]] against [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]].<ref name=2008ScottishCupFinal>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7416622.stm |title=Queen of the South 2–3 Rangers: Report |first=Clive |last=Lindsay |website=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2008 |access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> He gained his first start for Rangers against [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] on 17 January 2009, earning the man of the match award for his performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/4285704/John-Fleck-has-the-talent-to-be-a-Rangers-great-says-Steven-Davis.html |title=John Fleck has the talent to be a Rangers great, says Steven Davis |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=18 January 2009 |access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref> Five days before this, ''[[The Times]]'' had placed Fleck seventh in their Top 50 Rising Stars of football list.<ref name="Footballs Top 50 Rising Stars">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5502827.ece?token=null&offset=84&page=8 |title=Footballs Top 50 Rising Stars |newspaper=The Times |date=12 January 2009 |location=London |first=Tom |last=Dart |access-date=6 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On 22 February 2020, Fleck signed a new three-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Fleck signs new Sheffield United contract |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11683/11940348/john-fleck-signs-new-sheffield-united-contract |website=Sky Sports |access-date=25 August 2020 |date=22 February 2020}}</ref> He was a key player for the Blades in their return to the top flight, playing 30 games, as he helped his side to a surprising ninth place finish. He scored 5 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign, netting against the likes of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and scoring both goals in a 2-0 home win over [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50696490 |title=Sheffield United 2-0 Aston Villa: John Fleck scores twice as the Blades move up to fifth |date=14 December 2019 |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In May 2021, Fleck was named in the 26-man Scotland squad for the [[UEFA_Euro_2020UEFA Euro 2020|2020 European Championships]]. While on pre-tournament training camp, Fleck tested positive for [[Covid-19]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland: John Fleck tests positive for Covid-19 at training camp |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57315647 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref>

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