{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1954–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Jake Findlay |image = |upright = |caption = |full_name = John Williamson Findlay |birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|07|13|df=yes}} |birth_place = Blairgowrie, Scotland |death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|05|03|1954|07|13|df=yes}} |death_place = |height = |position = Goalkeeper |youthyears1 = 1968–1975 |youthclubs1 = Aston Villa |years1 = 1975–1977 |clubs1 = Aston Villa |caps1 = 14 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 1977–1985 |clubs2 = Luton Town |caps2 = 167 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 1983 |clubs3 = → Barnsley (loan) |caps3 = 6 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 1983 |clubs4 = → Derby County (loan) |caps4 = 1 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 1985 |clubs5 = Swindon Town |caps5 = 4 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 1985 |clubs6 = Portsmouth |caps6 = 0 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 1986 |clubs7 = Peterborough |caps7 = |goals7 = |years8 = 1986–1987 |clubs8 = Coventry City |caps8 = 0 |goals8 = 0 |totalcaps = 192 |totalgoals = 0 }}
'''John Williamson''' "'''Jake'''" '''Findlay''' (13 July 1954 – 3 May 2025) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, notably for Aston Villa and Luton Town.
==Career== Born in Blairgowrie, Findlay was signed by Aston Villa a month before his 15th birthday.<ref name="hattersheroes">{{cite book | title=Hatters Heroes | publisher=Roger Wash | first= Roger | last= Wash | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-9560832-0-3}}</ref><ref name=ltfccouk/>
Only making 14 appearances for Villa, he was sold to David Pleat's Luton Town in 1977 as a replacement for Milija Aleksic. He starred for Luton as they won the Second Division in 1981–82.<ref name=hattersheroes/><ref name=ltfccouk/>
Findlay was constantly tipped to play for Scotland, but was never called up. Findlay fractured his thumb in 1983, and by the time he had recovered, Luton had signed Les Sealey. Findlay moved on to Swindon Town in 1985, and after spells with Portsmouth, Peterborough, and Coventry,<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref><ref>http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/jakefindlay.html</ref> he retired in 1987.<ref name=hattersheroes/><ref name="ltfccouk">{{cite web|url=http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/GreatHatters/0,,10372~110841,00.html|title=Jake Findlay|publisher=Luton Town F.C.|date=6 March 2007|accessdate=18 May 2009}}</ref>
== Personal life and death == Findlay was a supporter of Rushall Olympic. He died on 3 May 2025, at the age of 70.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rushall Olympic FC on X |url=https://x.com/ROFCOfficial/status/1918765060710715810 |access-date=4 May 2025 |website=X}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Findlay, Jake}} Category:1954 births Category:2025 deaths Category:People from Blairgowrie and Rattray Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:Luton Town F.C. players Category:Barnsley F.C. players Category:Derby County F.C. players Category:Swindon Town F.C. players Category:Peterborough United F.C. players Category:Portsmouth F.C. players Category:Coventry City F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen