Biography
Attacking midfielder Bostock joined Hull City on a season long loan deal in July 2010, and made an immediate impression on his debut by smiting a distant shot past a hapless Swansea goalie. His undoubted talent and skill was, however, soon overshadowed by his excessive confidence and consequent poor decision making, and his profligacy meant that he couldn’t adequately fit into Nigel Pearson’s regimented style of play. He returned to his parent club before the end of the calendar year.
South Londoner Bostock had a reputation as a prodigiously skilled youngster from an early age at Crystal Palace, making his debut for the Eagles three months before his 16th birthday. He signed for Tottenham Hotspur in July 2008 in circumstances that irked the South London team, and he made his senior debut for Spurs in the UEFA Cup, two months before his 17th birthday. Things came easy for one so young, but as time moved on his career at Tottenham drifted. His loan at Hull City was the second of five loan moves he made in a four year period, and by the time he was 21 his contract expired and he moved on.
Bostock then embarked on a European leg of his career. Three seasons in the Belgian second division were followed by one and a half seasons at French Ligue 1 side RC Lens. In January 2018 he switched to Turkish side Bursaspor. During these touring years Bostock has reputedly corrected his suspect attitude and put a new focus on his team game. These attributes were perhaps why Toulouse FC bought Bostock back to the French Ligue 1 in July 2018, for whom he signed a three year deal. In August 2019 he returned to the UK with a loan move to Nottingham Forest and in June 2020 he left Toulouse. After six months out of the game Bostock signed an 18 month contract with Doncaster Rovers in January 2021, leaving the club in June 2022 after making 43 appearances.
After a similar hiatus Bostock signed an 18 month contract with Conference National leaders Notts County in December 2022 and piloted the Magpies to a 100 point haul and a Wembley play-off final victory against Chesterfield in May 2023 that saw the club return to the English Football League. Returning to the Football League, Bostock thumped a long range effort into the Grimsby Town net in August 2023, assisting the Magpies to their first League win of the season and reprising the goal he scored on his Tigers debut thirteen years earlier. he stayed at Meadow Lane for two seasons and scored four goals in 66 appearances before leaving the club in May 2024.
In July 2024 Bostock signed a two year deal at Conference National league side Solihull Moors, making his debut in August 2024 against AFC Fylde.
Bostock was capped numerous times at youth and under-21 levels for England. He was eligible for both England and Trinidad & Tobago but was not awarded a senior cap by either nation.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 13 October 1991, Camberwell
Hull City First Game: 7 August 2010, Swansea City H (Championship), 18 years, 298 days old
Hull City Final Game: 20 November 2010, Ipswich Town H (Championship), 19 years, 38 days old
Clubs
Crystal Palace (2007-2008), Tottenham Hotspur (2008-2013), Brentford (2009-2010, loan), Hull City (2010, loan), Sheffield Wednesday (2012, loan), Swindon Town (2012-2013, loan), Toronto FC (2013, loan), Royal Antwerp (2013-2014), OH Leuven (2014-2016), RC Lens (2016-2018), Bursaspor (2018), Toulouse FC (2018-2020), Nottingham Forest (2019-2020, loan), Doncaster Rovers (2021-2022), Notts County (2022-2024), Solihull Moors (2024-current)
Hull City Record
Career: 11 apps, 2 goals
John Bostock| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/11 | 8 (3) | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |