John Vaughan

John Vaughan was born in Isleworth, in the west London borough of Hounslow, on 26 June 1964. He joined West Ham United as a youngster and came through the club's youth ranks as a goalkeeper.

Vaughan turned professional with West Ham United in 1982 but did not make a first-team appearance at Upton Park. To gain experience he went on loan to Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers and Wrexham in 1985 and to Bristol City in 1986. That summer Fulham signed him for 12,500 pounds. He made 44 league appearances in two seasons at Craven Cottage, with a further loan at Bristol City in 1988, and was in goal on the night Liverpool beat Fulham 10-0 in the League Cup, still Liverpool's record win in the competition.

Released by Fulham in 1988, he was signed by Cambridge United manager Chris Turner. Under Turner's successor John Beck, Cambridge won the Fourth Division play-offs in 1990 and the Third Division title in 1991, a rise of two divisions in two seasons. In 1991-92 they reached the Second Division play-offs, one step from the new Premier League, but lost to Leicester City. Vaughan made 178 league appearances for Cambridge between 1988 and 1993, but fell out of favour after Beck's departure and was released at the end of the 1992-93 season.

He spent 1993-94 at Charlton Athletic as cover for Bob Bolder, making six appearances, before rejoining Beck at Preston North End. He made 66 league appearances at Deepdale and was part of the side that won the Third Division title in 1995-96. When Beck moved to Lincoln City, Vaughan went with him again and played 65 league games there between 1996 and 2000, with loan spells at Colchester United in 1997 and 1999 and Chesterfield in 2000. In all he made 394 league appearances.

After retiring as a player he moved into coaching, working with York City, where he was appointed part time in September 2003, Macclesfield Town and Grimsby Town. He became goalkeeping coach at Huddersfield Town in August 2006, moved to Birmingham City in July 2012, staying until October 2014, joined Barnsley in June 2015 and took up the same role at Bradford City in June 2019.

Vaughan kept his family life private. Tributes after his death sent sympathy to his family and loved ones.

The death of John Vaughan, aged 62, was announced on 22 October 2026, and was reported that morning by BBC Sport and other outlets. No date, place or cause of death has been made public.

Bradford City, where he had been goalkeeping coach, said: "Bradford City AFC is saddened to learn of the passing of former Bantams goalkeeping coach, John Vaughan. Our thoughts are with John's family and loved ones at this devastating time. Rest in peace, John." Huddersfield Town, where he coached from 2006, also said it was saddened by the news. No funeral details had been announced at the time of writing.

Vaughan is remembered as the goalkeeper of the most successful period in Cambridge United's history, when John Beck's side rose from the Fourth Division to the brink of the top flight. In 2015 Cambridge supporters voted him the goalkeeper in the club's all-time greatest team, and his name was painted on the Legends Wall at the back of the Newmarket Road End at the Abbey Stadium. He went on to coach goalkeepers at clubs including Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City, Barnsley and Bradford City over almost two decades of coaching.