John 'Jack' Boothway was born 4th February 1919 in Manchester. A rugged all action centre forward he was spotted by Mossley playing for amateur sides Rusholme and Sedgeley Park and in 1938 was invited to Seel Park for a trial by manager Robbie Bruce. He did well and impressed making 8 appearances scoring 4 goals in the 1938-39 season.
The following season was interrupted by the War but Boothway still managed to score 22 goals in just 21 appearances. During the War Boothway had a spell with Manchester City having signed for them in July 1941 but he moved to Crewe Alexandra and scored 5 goals in 11 appearances for them at the beginning of the 1946-47 season.
He was transferred to Wrexham and in three seasons at the Racecourse Ground he netted 55 goals in 95 appearances.
In February 1951 Boothway returned to Mossley and helped to lift the side off the bottom of the League with 14 goals in only 16 appearances and following Alan Fletcher's departure in May 1951, Boothway was appointed Player-Manager.
Mossley had a much improved first season under Boothway finishing 7th in the Cheshire League and winning the Ashton Challenge Cup with Boothway himself scoring the winner in the final against Ashton United. He made 45 appearances that season scoring 30 goals.
The form of the previous season wasn't maintained and Mossley finished 18th in season 1952-53 with Boothway scoring 15 goals in 31 appearances a season that also saw Boothway hang up his boots at 34 years old and concentrate on managing the team.
The 1953-54 season saw Mossley reach the last qualifying round of the FA Cup unluckily losing to Rhyl in a replay but they did win the Ashton Challenge Cup again beating Stalybridge Celtic 2-0 in the final at Hyde United's ground but League form was again poor and following another unimpressive showing in the 1954-55 season
Boothway departed from Seel Park for the last time. He managed Northwich Victoria between 1955 and 1957, and Runcorn between 1961 and 1971 winning the Cheshire League championship in 1963.
Jack Boothway died on 7th April 1979 aged just 60.
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