Bill Johnstone (Scottish footballer)

Not to be confused with Billy Johnston (footballer, born 1901).
For other people with the same name, see William Johnstone.

Bill Johnstone
Personal information
Full name William Johnstone
Date of birth 18 May 1901
Place of birth Markinch, Scotland
Date of death 1975
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Rosslyn Juniors
1921–1922 King's Park 11 (1)
1922–1926 Clyde 98 (56)
1926–1929 Reading 78 (34)
1929–1931 Arsenal 9 (4)
1931–1933 Oldham Athletic 68 (28)
1933–1935 Clyde 56 (22)
1935–1936 Northwich Victoria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Johnstone (18 May 1901 – 1975)[1] was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward or centre forward. His clubs included King's Park and Clyde (two spells) in Scotland, and Reading, Arsenal and Oldham Athletic in England.[2][3]

While at Clyde, he was selected for the Glasgow FA's annual challenge match against Sheffield in September 1926, scoring twice,[4] and moved to Reading a few weeks later.[5] In his first season with the Royals, he had a prominent role in the club's run to the FA Cup semi-final in 1926–27,[6][7] and scored the winning goal in a giant-killing victory over reigning English champions Sheffield Wednesday in the same competition two years later.[8][9]

Signed by Arsenal in summer 1929, technically he was a member of the Gunners' squad that won the Football League title in 1930–31, but he made only two appearances in that campaign before moving on to second-level Oldham mid-season, having failed in his efforts to break into what was a very strong attacking line-up at Highbury.[6][10][11]

References

  1. ^ Bill Johnstone at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Johnstone Bill Image 1 Clyde 1922, Vintage Footballers
  4. ^ Football | Inter-City Match | Glasgow, 2; Sheffield, 1, The Glasgow Herald, 22 September 1926
  5. ^ Player Portraits 3 | W. Johnstone, The Biscuitmen
  6. ^ a b Bill Johnstone: a goalscorer but in a team awash with goalscorers, Tony Atwood, AISA Arsenal History Society
  7. ^ Season 1926-27, RoyalsRecord
  8. ^ Season 1928-29, RoyalsRecord
  9. ^ Reading 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday 1929, The Biscuitmen Reading FC Vintage
  10. ^ William S Johnstone, 11v11.com
  11. ^ Bill Johnstone, Arsenal FC