The Hotel End

I know we have a RIP section elsewhere, but Big John, who passed away last night, was a Cobblers legend and also a top bloke. RIP Big John.

Very sorry to learn of this as he looked well and good recently. Echo your sentiments entirely. Never forgot his performance at Spurs out-tackling Dave McKay. Yes ...RIP Big John.

Heard on Sunday he'd been rushed into hospital. So sad to hear of his passing. Another cobblers legend gone. RIP john and deepest sympathy to your family.

A true Cobblers legend and many people’s favourite ever player .
Sixfields will be a poignant place during the minute’s silence .
How we could do with him now .

To true!

I wasn’t lucky enough to see him play although I have obviously heard the stories of what a good player he was - can anyone tell me what position he played as he chron says centre half, Wikipedia (I know) has him down as a wing half (I believe this is equivalent to the modern midfielder)?

These days he would probably be classed as a centre back. Him and Terry Branson were our backbone. One of my favourite players from the first division team. It was great to have a chat with him at the Hotel End reunion a few years back. RIP John.

Thanks for that mate - he sounds like a great player and man.

He played as a wing half but may have doubled elsewhere due to player injuries. His tackling was, shall we say fierce and as far as I can remember he never injured an opposing player. Another game I can remember was against Brighton at the old Goldstone Ground where he virtually tackled the Brighton fwds out of the game which incidentally we won 0-5! Apart from JJOT we don't have any player with same tackling ability or presence on the field, wish we had! One other thing, he was no Joe Kiernan or similar but he formed a good partnership with Branston, Derek Leck & Joe.

It sounds like he was uncompromising and a leader - as people are saying exactly what we need in the team right now.

Sad news. Glaswegian and a great fan of Celtic as well as the Cobblers. I saw him on many occasions at Sixfields down the years when his playing days were well past.  Imagine a side with Killer, Branston and Carr to leave a collective calling card! Condolences to his family and friends. RIP to a very decent man. I trust the club will mark his passing.

Correct - he was a wing-half. Branston was the centre-half. The Chron have some decent sports reporters but this was written by one of their general reporter bods. I've e-mailed but they rarely correct errors, and some of them get affronted when you point out their factual errors and even their spelling or grammar.

Terrible news.

Hail hail and Up the Cobblers. RIP Big Man.

He played for us well before my time but my dad still talks about him in reverential tones. In his later years, he lived near my parents and my dad would occasionally bump into him in the street where he was always happy to stop for a chat, much to my dad's delight.

Not from my era supporting Town but great to hear the memories being shared. RIP.

My Dad remembers John Kurila very well and has dug out some really interesting tidbits.

His apparently "inability to tackle below the waist" being one of them  ;D

What a sad loss and what a player. I remember him as a tough tackling fullback, with Leck, Branston and Kiernan as half backs.

I was at that game. My 1st Cobblers away game, if memory serves me right John Mackin went in goal when Harvey got injured. Spurs levelled from a penalty Jimmy Greaves. RIP Big John Killer Kurila he always put a shift and he certainly never hid. Another one of the team who played in top flight has sadly gone. God Bless you John.

RIP John sad news

His like will never be seen again...... 

JJOT is pretty close - too close at times!