John James Blacklaw Borthwick (15 February 1886 – 23 April 1942) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre half in the Football League for Everton. He also played in the Scottish League for Hibernian.
Personal life Borthwick's younger brother Watty also became a footballer and his son Bill worked as a trainer for Everton. Borthwick served as a private in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War and suffered a gunshot wound to the head at Delville Wood in 1916. He described his injuries in a letter to Bert Lipsham: "my head has been trepanned, as the skull was knocked in. The cut extends from nearly the top of my head down to my eyebrow. It was a near thing of losing my right eye". Borthwick was discharged on 12 April 1917. After his retirement from football, he ran the Winslow Hotel, opposite Goodison Park.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHibernian1906–07Scottish Division One2000201907–0828031311Total30031331Everton1907–08First Division1000101908–091000101909–10190001901910–11400040Total25000250Career total55031581
References