As an amateur inside-forward, understudying Edgar Chadwick, John Small – nick-named “Ranji” by his team-mates after the famous Indian cricketer of the day – scored on his Western League debut, but was limited to four Southern League appearances in his two seasons at The Dell. He then joined a Second Division club that had just changed its name to “Manchester United”.  There was no change of fortune for John, though, and, without having made the first team, he soon returned to The Dell – to carry on understudying and to get the occasional run-out in the Western League. Undeterred, he switched back to United, now on a professional contract. He again failed to get a game, however, and settled, in May 1905, for Hampshire League football with Salisbury City. In later years, he was a painter and decorator.