Harry Johnston (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername= Harry Johnston


fullname = Henry Johnston
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1919|9|26|df=y
cityofbirth = Manchester
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1973|10|12|1919|9|26|df=y
height =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 19??-1934
1934-1955
clubs = Droylsden
Blackpool
caps(goals) =
398 (11)
manageryears = 1955-1962
managerclubs = Reading
nationalyears = 1946-1953
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 010 0(0)
pcupdate = January 10, 2007

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.Calley, R: "Blackpool: A Complete Record: 1877-1992", Breedon Books Sport, 1992]

Blackpool signed Johnston as a 15-year-old apprentice. Three years later, on November 20, 1937, he made his debut in a 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Preston at Deepdale. For the final game of the season, at home to West Brom, 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, he became the foundation on which the Blackpool team was built.Calley, R: "Blackpool: A Complete Record: 1877-1992", Breedon Books Sport, 1992] 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.

For a man of his stature, his international career was very short, with only ten appearances for his country in a seven-year span. His appearances were limited due to the consistent performances of Billy Wright.

He played his last game on April 25, 1955, at Newcastle. At that point he had made more appearances for Blackpool than any other player (a record later broken by Jimmy Armfield). Later that year, he became manager of Reading, with whom he spent seven seasons.

Johnston returned to Bloomfield Road in the late 1960s as chief scout.

When he died, in Manchester in 1973 at the age of only 54, the whole town mourned, for Harry Johnston was one of the greatest players ever to wear the tangerine shirt.Calley, R: "Blackpool: A Complete Record: 1877-1992", Breedon Books Sport, 1992]

Honours

Blackpool
*FA Cup winner: 1952/53
*Lancashire Cup winner: 1953/54

ee also

*One-club man

References

External links

* [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player1/harryjohnston.htm Independent site profile]
* [http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=545 EnglandStats.com]