John Docherty was a Scottish born right winger who moved South from Glasgow to play for Brentford in three spells totalling 230 league games (66 goals), Sheffield United (41 league games, 9 goals) and Reading. 

His move to Reading on 2 February 1968 for a reported fee of £10,200, was financed by an extended FA Cup run including two games against eventual League champions Manchester City.  He made his debut against Gillingham in a 3-1 home win on 3 February and was ever present until the end of the season, which saw Reading narrowly miss out on promotion to Division Two.  He scored 4 goals, including a superb overhead kick which brought a 1-0 home win against Bournemouth.

He was used less frequently the following campaign and fell out of favour almost completely when Roy Bentley was replaced as manager by Jack Mansell.  In March 1970 he returned to Brentford to finish his playing career before going into management with several clubs most notably Millwall, whom he led into First Division football in 1987-88.  Other clubs he managed included Brentford, Cambridge United, Bradford City and non-league Slough Town.  Despite his lack of inches John was a tough competitor on and off the field, much respected throughout the game.  He died on 4 December 2024, aged 84.  John made a total of 48 first team appearances for Reading and scored 8 goals.

David Downs