Craig Johnston made his Boro debut v Everton this day 28th January 1978

Erimus74

Well-known member
42 years ago
Boro manager John Neal was showing great faith in this exciting youngster who, after seeing the Boro playing friendlies in Australia during Jack Charlton term as Boro manager paid his own air fare to the UK, hoping to make it as a professional footballer

John Neal had seen enough during his reserve outings & gave him his debut, wearing the No10 shirt in place of Tony McAndrew, in the mouth watering 4th round FAC home tie v Everton, with Boro winning this game 3-2

This victory brought sweet revenge as Everton knocked out the mighty Boro 2-1 at Ayresome Park, with the help of one of the best opposition goalkeeping performances I have ever witnessed at AP in George Wood

Boro won this cup tie with a brace from David Mills & John Mahoneys 1st Boro goal
Boro went in to a 3-0 lead, Everton brought on Duncan McKenzie & at the end we were hanging on for victory, but we did & went in to the hat for the 5th round

John Neals team

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Ian Bailey
John Mahoney
Stuey Boam
Alan Ramage
David Mills
Stan Cummins
Billy Ashcroft
Craig Johnston
David Armstrong
Sub
John Hickton - Big John's final Boro Cup match
 

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Cup rosette & match ticket
 

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He certainly was, an excellent, exciting player, who oozed class, scored goals & a player who John Neal wanted to build his team around
 
John Mahoney, signed half a season before Souness left, although a more than decent top level footballer, could never quite live up to filling those immensely talented boots and suffered at the hands of the fans as a result.

Craig Johnston was a fantastic footballer.
 
John Mahoney was our record signing at £90k when John Neal signed him from Stoke City
He said on hearing of Boro's interest he said he didn't want to leave Stoke but they were in the 2nd division & on the opening day of the season were away to Mansfield, Boro were home to Liverpool, to me he never really wanted to be at the Boro, my opinion mind
 
John Mahoney was our record signing at £90k when John Neal signed him from Stoke City
He said on hearing of Boro's interest he said he didn't want to leave Stoke but they were in the 2nd division & on the opening day of the season were away to Mansfield, Boro were home to Liverpool, to me he never really wanted to be at the Boro, my opinion mind
He was certainly a better player at Stoke than he was for us.
 
Craig Johnston,was a fantastic player for Boro, I remember his FA Cup Debut v Everton fondly. He always had time to speak to supporters and I remember chatting to him at The Kirk .
 
If you've not heard it, check out the Matty Johns podcast with Craig. It's an hour long+ interview about his life and career, obviously Boro and Jack Charlton play a huge part in this. It's an incredible story.

Its also filmed and on youtube.
 
I have a 20 minute interview on a cassette, a good few years back mind, think it's with Roger Thames, where he talks fondly of the Boro & not wanting to leave

Thanks London_Boro I'll check that out
 
I have a 20 minute interview on a cassette, a good few years back mind, think it's with Roger Thames, where he talks fondly of the Boro & not wanting to leave

Thanks London_Boro I'll check that out

Let me know what you think? I thought it was brilliant!
 
London_Boro, thank you for posting, not seen it, great interview, I loved CJ, loved his style & time at the Boro
Made me laugh on his 1st trial, which I knew about & his 1st reserve game when scoring 3, would live to have that teamsheet with CJ named as sub

A remarkable story to young kids to work hard to try & go as far as you can in any aspect of life

Someone asked a me a few years back, if there was a living Boro players signature you dont have & would love to have, who would it be, I replied Heine Otto, which I now have & of course Craig Johnston

Very emotional regarding his sister, what a person to walk away from everthing he had acheived in football to look after & care for his sister, a remarkable & lovely person indeed

I was unaware of his cancer illness, good luck Craig & thankyou for coming to the Boro & sticking at it to when the odds were stacked heavily against you, to enable us fans to see you playing for our football club
 

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