John Mapson (2 May 1917 – 19 August 1999) was an English professional footballer. Born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, Mapson moved to Swindon in his youth and worked in a succession of jobs including grocer's boy, in a bakehouse and as a milk boy before signing for Reading in April 1935. In March 1936 he transferred to Sunderland for the sum of £2,000, beginning a career with Sunderland that would last for nearly twenty years.