Harry Johnston (footballer)
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| Harry Johnston | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Henry Johnston | |
| Date of birth | 26 September 1919 | |
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | |
| Date of death | 12 October 1973 (aged 54) | |
| Playing position | Defender | |
| Youth career | ||
| 193?-1934 | Droylsden | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1934-1955 | Blackpool | 398 (11) |
| National team | ||
| 1946-1953 | England | 10 (0) |
| Teams managed | ||
| 1955-1962 | Reading | |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Henry "Harry" Johnston (26 September 1919 — 12 October 1973) was an English footballer. He was the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1951. He spent his entire professional playing career with Blackpool, with whom he appeared in three FA Cup Finals. During his career, he appeared in all three half-back positions, and even moved up to centre forward when needed.[1]
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[edit] Club career
Blackpool signed Manchester-born Johnston as a 15-year-old apprentice. Three years later, on 20 November 1937, he made his debut in a 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Preston North End at Deepdale. For the final game of the season, at home to West Bromwich Albion, he was moved to the forward line. He responded by scoring Blackpool's third goal in their 3-1 victory. By the following season, he was a regular in the Seasiders team.
After the war, during which he served in the Middle East, Johnston became the foundation on which the Blackpool team was built.[1] As captain, he led them to FA Cup Final appearances in 1948, 1951, and the most famous final of all in 1953, when he became the first and, thus far, only Blackpool skipper to lift the trophy. He made 40 appearances and scored three goals in the competition in his career.
In 1951, Johnston was voted Footballer of the Year. He was the subject of bids from other big clubs, but he always remained a one-club player.
He played his last game on 25 April 1955, at Newcastle United. At that point he had made more appearances for Blackpool than any other player; a record later broken by Jimmy Armfield.
[edit] International career
For a man of his stature, his international career was very short, with only ten appearances for England in a seven-year span. His appearances were limited due to the consistent performances of Billy Wright.
Johnston made his England debut on 8 June 1953, in a 6–3 victory over the United States at Yankee Stadium. His tenth and final international appearance occurred later that year, on 25 November, in a 6–3 defeat to Hungary at Wembley.
[edit] Post-retirement
In late 1955 Johnston became manager of Reading, with whom he spent seven seasons. He returned to Bloomfield Road in the late 1960s as chief scout.
When he died, in his hometown of Manchester in 1973 at the age of only 54, the whole town of Blackpool mourned, for Harry Johnston was one of the greatest players ever to wear the tangerine shirt.[1]
[edit] Honours
Blackpool
- FA Cup winner: 1952-53
- Lancashire FA Cup winner: 1953-54
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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