- Craig Johnston
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Craig Johnston Personal information Full name Craig Peter Johnston Date of birth 25 June 1960 Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Playing position Midfielder (Retired) Youth career 1975–1977 Middlesbrough Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1977–1981 Middlesbrough 64 (16) 1978 → Newcastle KB (loan) 9 (0) 1981–1988 Liverpool 190 (30) 1982 → Newcastle KB (loan) 4 (3) Total 267 (49) National team‡ 1980–1981 England U-21 2 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:47, 26 November 2009 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:30, 26 November 2009 (UTC)Craig Johnston (born 25 June 1960) is a former football player who was one of the first Australians to make a major impact in the English game.[1][2] He is remembered for his time spent with Liverpool throughout the 1980s. After retiring, he designed and created the prototype for Adidas' Predator football boot, worn by many footballers and rugby players.
Contents
Childhood
Johnston's family returned home to Australia from South Africa early in Johnston's life.[3] At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg.[4] Encouraged by his father who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United,[5] Johnston took up football at Lake Macquarie and in the Newcastle district in New South Wales.[6] At the age of 14 he wrote to four English clubs seeking a trial.[7] Middlesbrough, managed by Jack Charlton, replied and Johnston's parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England.[8] As a 15-year-old, Johnston stayed at Middlesbrough for six months, returning to Australia to play briefly for Sydney City, before moving back to Middlesbrough.
Career in England
Johnston made his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in a FA Cup tie against Everton.[9] His league debut came on the 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrews and he scored his first goal later that season in a 2–1 home league defeat to West Ham United. Johnston scored 16 goals in 64 games for Middlesbrough before moving to Liverpool in 1981 for £650,000.[10]
Johnston made his Liverpool debut in August 1981, coming on as sub for Ray Kennedy in the 1–0 league defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.[11] Johnston's first start came in the Intercontinental Cup fixture against Brazilian side Flamengo.
Johnston scored his first goal for Liverpool on 8 December 1981 against Arsenal at Anfield, during a League Cup fourth round replay. Johnston opened the scoring in the fifth minute of extra time in a 3–0 win.
Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club,[citation needed] he was never a regular in the side, with his versatility in midfield and as a striker counting against him. His managers – Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish – often kept him in reserve owing to the specialists in those positions available to them.
Johnston was part of the League championship-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and gained a League Cup winner's medal in 1983. In 1984, Johnston was part of the team which won a treble of League championship, League Cup and European Cup. Two years later he was an integral part of the side which won only the third League championship and FA Cup "double" of the 20th century. In the 1986 FA Cup final at Wembley, Johnston scored Liverpool's second goal in a 3–1 win over Everton.
In 1988, he was a frequent substitute and occasional starter as Liverpool again won the League title and reached the FA Cup final, aiming to complete a second "double". Johnston wrote the club's traditional Cup final song called "Anfield Rap" which combined pro-Liverpool lyrics with the rap and house trends of the time, with other Liverpool players contributing.
His last two goals for the Reds came in the penultimate league game of the season, a 5–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday. By this stage, Liverpool had wrapped up the 17th league title of their history.[12]
Johnston resisted calls to play for Australia in 1981 and 1984,[13] but instead chose to represent England at under-21 and 'B' team level. Early in his career in England he had described playing football for Australia as "like surfing for England."[14] Johnston was called-up to the full England squad in 1986 but did not make an appearance at that level.
Retirement
After 271 appearances and 40 goals and just days before the 1988 FA Cup Final at Wembley against Wimbledon, Johnston incurred his manager's wrath when he announced his premature retirement from Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish was livid but later relented and gave his blessing to Johnston when he found out the reason for the player's decision.[citation needed]
Earlier that year Johnston's sister became seriously ill and was admitted to a hospital in Morocco. By the end of the season, it was clear she needed round the clock attention back home in Australia and Johnston wished to provide that care. He came on for his 271st appearance as a substitute for John Aldridge in the final (who had just seen his penalty saved with Liverpool a goal down) but ended up on the losing side. He never wore a Liverpool shirt again.[15]
When the Hillsborough disaster occurred in 1989, a year after Johnston's departure, he raised funds[citation needed] in Australia and also flew back to England to attend funerals and memorial services. He later dedicated his autobiography, titled Walk Alone, to the victims of the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.
In 1991, when Graeme Souness was manager of Liverpool F.C., he asked Johnston if he would like to train with the team with a view to playing again. Liverpool F.C. still held Johnston's registration as a player. It didn't work out and Johnston moved on. However, Johnston possesses an undying love for Liverpool and its fans.[citation needed] After his retirement he was constantly being linked to clubs from all over.[citation needed] Johnston always retorted this speculation stating that he could never play for anyone other than Liverpool.
Business career
After retiring from playing football, Johnston found success as a businessman and innovator, designing and creating the prototype for Adidas' Predator football boot, worn by many of the world's top players of both football and rugby including Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Xavi, Jonny Wilkinson and Ronan O'Gara. He later designed another innovative boot called The Pig or, to give them their full title, the Patented Interactive Grip can come as a 'skin' that can be placed over the toe of an existing boot. Getting the first boot off the ground took Johnston 5 years and was initially refused by Adidas, as well as Nike and Reebok. However, Johnston had filmed Franz Beckenbauer using the boots in Germany in snowy conditions, and its increased grip led to Adidas agreeing to the proposal.
Johnston also invented the Traxion sole for football boots and the software program the 'Butler,' a device that shows what has been removed from minibars in hotel bedrooms.[16] Johnston is also the creator of a gameshow called 'The Main Event.'[citation needed]
Johnston invested heavily in a football school idea for inner city children but failed to win expected business backing and went bankrupt.[citation needed] He was made temporarily homeless as a result.[16]
Johnston has since forged a new career as a photographer.[16]
Johnston was very critical about modern football boot designs, stating they are to blame for the recent spate of metatarsal injuries. He believed that the studs on the soles of the boots do not release quickly enough, meaning that they get stuck in the ground putting extra pressure on the players' already stressed knees, ankles and metatarsals.[citation needed] He also thought that the problem can be solved by designing a smaller stud that doesn't stick to the soil.[citation needed]
Other activities
Though he travels the world with his business interests, Johnston remains based in Australia. On 18 June 2006, Johnston made an appearance as a guest on The Footy Show World Cup Spectacular in Germany revealing information on his career.
Johnston's 100% commitment on the pitch never went unnoticed amongst the Anfield faithful and he remains a fan favourite. During the 2006 poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop compiled by the official Liverpool Football Club web site over 110,000 Reds worldwide voted for their top 100 players of all time with Johnston coming in a very respectable 59th, not bad for a player who was once branded by Jack Charlton, whilst he was a youngster at Middlesbrough, as "the worst footballer I have ever seen,".[5]
On the 3rd November 2007 after England's defeat to Croatia, Johnston appeared on Sky Sports and gave a discourse on the reasons for the poor state of English football. [17]
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Johnston wrote a 12-page letter to FIFA ruler, Sepp Blatter, in which he collected all criticism by players and coaches of the controversial Adidas-produced Jabulani ball, risking his reputation, and expecting to be blacklisted by the conservative governing body as a result of this letter.[18]
Honours
- Division 1 (Level 1): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988
- Football League Cup: 1983, 1984
- European Cup: 1984
- FA Cup: 1986
- Charity Shield: 1986 (shared)
Runner-up
- Division 1 (Level 1): 1985
- Intercontinental Cup: 1981, 1984
- Charity Shield: 1983
- European Cup: 1985
- Football League Cup: 1987
- FA Cup: 1988
Further reading
- Craig Johnston; Neil Jameson (1990). Walk alone : the Craig Johnston story. North Ryde, N.S.W.: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207168180.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.34
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.43
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.30
- ^ Johnston, Jameson pp.45,47
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.52
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.54
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.82
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.115
- ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 – 0 Liverpool". LFC History. 1981-08-29. http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_id=1219. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ [3]
- ^ Johnston, Jameson p.97, 148
- ^ "I was cast aside – Skippy sets the record straight". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 November 2009. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/11/14/1258043830620.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Liverpool 0 – 1 Wimbledon". LFC History. 1988-05-14. http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_Id=1639. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ a b c [4]
- ^ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aBiTnUqW8
- ^ Craig Johnston critical of World Cup ball. 6 July 2010.
http://designmuseum.org/design/craig-johnston
External links
- Official Liverpool FC profile
- Player profile at LFCHistory.net
- Middlesbrough seasonal record 1977/78-1980/81 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 1) 1980/81-1983/84 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 2) 1985/86-1987/88 at sporting-heroes.net
- Youtube with Craig Johnston at Newcastle KB from 1980
- http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=534666&root=global&cc=4716
Categories:- 1960 births
- Australian people of South African descent
- England under-21 international footballers
- England B international footballers
- Living people
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Middlesbrough F.C. players
- People from Johannesburg
- English people of South African descent
- English footballers
- Newcastle KB United players
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