George Johnston (footballer, born 1947)

George Johnston
Personal information
Full name George Johnston[1]
Date of birth (1947-03-21) 21 March 1947 (age 77)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1962–1964 Cardiff City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1967 Cardiff City 60 (21)
1967–1969 Arsenal 21 (3)
1969–1970 Birmingham City 9 (1)
1970 → Walsall (loan) 5 (1)
1970–1972 Fulham 39 (12)
1972–1973 Hereford United 18 (5)
1973–1974 Newport County 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

George Johnston (born 21 March 1947) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played more than 150 matches in the English Football League.

Life and career

Johnston was born in Glasgow. He began his football career as a junior at Cardiff City, turning professional in 1964 and making his debut at the end of the 1964–65 season at the age of 17.[2] He was part of Cardiff's 1965 Welsh Cup-winning team.[3] The following year he settled into the side and, playing alongside the likes of John Charles and John Toshack, he finished as the club's top scorer with a total of 23 goals. In March 1967, Johnston played in a benefit match for victims of the Aberfan disaster against Arsenal and scored twice against the London club, which persuaded them to offer £20,000 to Cardiff to sign him.[2]

He made his debut for Arsenal on 19 August 1967, against Stoke City, and made 17 appearances in his first season, 1967-68. However, he could not hold down a place in 1968–69 and was dropped to the reserves, where he won a Football Combination winners' medal. Out of the Arsenal first team, he joined Second Division club Birmingham City in the summer of 1969, for a fee of £30,000.[4] He made 25 appearances and scored 3 goals for Arsenal.[5]

Signed as a replacement for Fred Pickering, Johnston failed to hold down a first-team place. A period on loan at Walsall immediately preceded a £6,000 move to Fulham, where he spent two years.[4] A season with Hereford United followed, and one more with Newport County, before, at the age of just 26, he dropped out of league football.[2]

He later settled in Cardiff and worked for a marine engineering company.[6]

Honours

Cardiff City

References

  1. ^ "George Johnston". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 101. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  3. ^ "Welsh Cup Final 1964/65". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  4. ^ a b Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. ^ Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. p. 186. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  6. ^ Edwards, Leigh. "Ultimate Saddlers A–Z 10". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011.