Many happy returns Craig Johnston who turns turns big 60 today

[Erimus74]

After watching Boro who were playing a tour of Australia in New South Wales hecwrote to the Boro, among other clubs, asking for a trial, with the Boro been the 1st to reply, his history with big Jack is well documented
It was John Neal who gave Johnston his start & what a player he turned into, I loved his style of football, after establishing himself he was attracting all the scouts from the big teams in the country but John Neal was in the process of building a good, young exciting team with CJ a big part of his plans, unfortunately it didn't work out for Craig at the Boro & from the Jaws of triumph was dispair as we crashed out of the FAC at Wolves & CJ was sold to Liverpool

He made his Boro at home to Everton in THE FAC 4th round in a 3-2 win
His 1st goal at home to WHU April 1978, big John's last Boro game

Between 1977 - 81 he played 77 games, scoring 16 goals

 

[Fatsuma]

After watching Boro who were playing a tour of Australia in New South Wales hecwrote to the Boro, among other clubs, asking for a trial, with the Boro been the 1st to reply, his history with big Jack is well documented
It was John Neal who gave Johnston his start & what a player he turned into, I loved his style of football, after establishing himself he was attracting all the scouts from the big teams in the country but John Neal was in the process of building a good, young exciting team with CJ a big part of his plans, unfortunately it didn't work out for Craig at the Boro & from the Jaws of triumph was dispair as we crashed out of the FAC at Wolves & CJ was sold to Liverpool

He made his Boro at home to Everton in THE FAC 4th round in a 3-2 win
His 1st goal at home to WHU April 1978, big John's last Boro game

Between 1977 - 81 he played 77 games, scoring 16 goals

Loved him as a player. Had the pleasure of meeting him about 15 years ago at a conference in London, where he had a stand to promote his photographic work. Chatted with him for about 15 mins. Top lad!

 

[r00fie1]

Craig scored two at Everton - the Boro hadnt won there since before WWII!
Great player.

 

[Erimus74]

Craig scored two at Everton - the Boro hadnt won there since before WWII!
Great player.

Excellent player, I think that match v Everton he was at the top of his game, full of running & goals

 

[HolgateCorner]

Very entertaining player, can’t believe he is 60, you just remember these players as young men don’t you?

 

[Erimus74]

Very entertaining player, can’t believe he is 60, you just remember these players as young men don’t you?

Certainly do HolgateCorner

 

[since1970]

He would certainly be named my best ever MFC line up.

 

[HolgateCorner]

He would certainly be named my best ever MFC line up.

Where would you play him though? I think he was one of those players whose position was hard to pin down.

 

[Michael_Vronsky]

It seemed like we got peanuts for him too which I remember being really peed off with at the time.

 

[since1970]

Where would you play him though? I think he was one of those players whose position was hard to pin down.

I agree. A free role, just in front of Graeme Souness.

 

[HolgateCorner]

I agree. A free role, just in front of Graeme Souness.

Yes I think that’s about right, he was a very attacking midfielder wasn’t he? But quite versatile as well. More like a deep playing David Mills perhaps.

 

[borgelite]

Great player for us, remember watching him as a kid, he was also a great player for Liverpool

 

[Borobarmy]

I loved him when I was a young lad . I came upon this article giving a canny insight in his footy days . Grest read

'You're the worst player I've ever seen' - The incredible story of Craig Johnston - Football Bloody Hell

Craig Johnston was synonymous in the Liverpool team which won the double in 1986. He played in every game other than the opening one. Yet his journey to double winner was a hard one, harder than most. Battling his and other people’s view of his abilities. For many players, their route to...

footballbh.net

 

[HolgateCorner]

I loved him when I was a young lad . I came upon this article giving a canny insight in his footy days . Grest read

'You're the worst player I've ever seen' - The incredible story of Craig Johnston - Football Bloody Hell

Craig Johnston was synonymous in the Liverpool team which won the double in 1986. He played in every game other than the opening one. Yet his journey to double winner was a hard one, harder than most. Battling his and other people’s view of his abilities. For many players, their route to...

footballbh.net

Interesting read and good story about Big Jack, in fairness to Johnston he did well to come back from that but nice to see the likes of Souness helped him out.

I think there’s a bit of ‘it was all down to Liverpool’ in that article but 650k was a massive transfer fee at the time and Johnston was an established first division player when he went there to be surrounded by the all stars.

It was the Boro who brought Johnston through, make no mistake about that. And it might have been a bit hard for him on Teesside but we turned him into a man.

 

[Tommy_Dickfingers]

I was only a young lad but iirc the midfield of CJ, Dave Hodgson & Mark Proctor was feted throughout the country.

 

[indeedido]

I loved him as a player for us and he is a fantastic man too.
With Hodgy, Proc and Spike I really did think we had a team on the verge of really competing.
He agreed which was why he was so gutted when the club didn't invest in players and instead sold them all quickly.
Footballer, businessman/inventor, artist, brother/carer; he is a great bloke.

 

[Erimus74]

I loved him as a player for us and he is a fantastic man too.
With Hodgy, Proc and Spike I really did think we had a team on the verge of really competing.
He agreed which was why he was so gutted when the club didn't invest in players and instead sold them all quickly.
Footballer, businessman/inventor, artist, brother/carer; he is a great bloke.

Yep agree with all that

He was happy here & we could have made something, the end of the season John Neal resigned, a very good manager IMHO who knew the way the board were going with the selling of the top players & he'd had enough, shame really we suffered badly because of the board

 

[r00fie1]

Yep agree with all that

He was happy here & we could have made something, the end of the season John Neal resigned, a very good manager IMHO who knew the way the board were going with the selling of the top players & he'd had enough, shame really we suffered badly because of the board

Erimus: I dont know if you agree, but at its best - all Jhon Neale needed was a couple more quality players and that team would have taken off to the moon! With Proc, Hodgo, Johno, Terry C an Platty we had a good core - not forgetting Spike an Tony Mac. I think the board didnt have the nous or foresight to look beyond the end of Ayresome Street and thats why we ended up flogging the lot

 

[Borobarmy]

Erimus: I dont know if you agree, but at its best - all Jhon Neale needed was a couple more quality players and that team would have taken off to the moon! With Proc, Hodgo, Johno, Terry C an Platty we had a good core - not forgetting Spike an Tony Mac. I think the board didnt have the nous or foresight to look beyond the end of Ayresome Street and thats why we ended up flogging the lot

Agree , we did a fire sale and it was heartbreaking to endure . Remember we had Steven Bell and Darren Wood in the making and then add Otto and we were a centre forward short of great days

 

[ticker_tape]

Bundle of energy and although not a great played made the best use of his engine and enthusiasm.
Played well for us and was a dynamo for Liverpool, had a very successful life through hard graft.