Paterson went three consecutive seasons without missing a league game for Hibs and he played in every game of the championship winning 1951–52 season.[4] Paterson played for the Scottish Football League XI in the following season, in a 3–0 defeat by a Welsh select team.[2] He was unable to play for the Scotland national football team due to his English birthplace.[5]
His son, Craig Paterson, also played for Hibernian.[5] Paterson died in January 2000; a moment's silence was observed in his memory at the next Hibs home match.[6]
^"APPEARANCES". www.hibsprogrammes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2011. Full back Joe Davis was an ever present in Hibernian teams from season 1965/66 through to 1968/69. His total of four seasons with a 100% record is almost replicated by John Paterson, Alan Sneddon and Jim Leighton, each of whom had three seasons without missing a game, Leighton's three being consecutive campaigns. In Hibs' championship winning season of 1951/52 three players – John Paterson, Hugh Howie and Jock Govan – didn't miss a single game. That record was bettered in season 1976/77 when Mike MacDonald, John Brownlie, Des Bremner and Bobby Smith all sailed through the term without missing a single league game.
^ abDonald, Brian (25 January 2000). "John Paterson". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 9 September 2012.