David Johnson

Everton

Johnson grew up in Halewood as a boyhood Kopite. He later said:

After winning the English schools trophy with the Liverpool schoolboys side, I was lucky to have scouts from both Liverpool and Everton trying to sign me. At the time the Everton scout sold Goodison better than the Liverpool scout did Anfield so I signed for them. I had watched Liverpool throughout the sixties and they fielded virtually the same side week in week out, whereas the Everton scout pointed out Everton had a good youth policy and did give the younger players a chance. So with Everton going through a transitional period, I felt I would have a better chance by going to Goodison. In May 1967 aged 15, he signed as an apprentice for Harry Catterick's Everton. He scored the first of four separate competition debut goals for Everton when scoring for the reserves in the Central League. Aged 19, Johnson scored debuting for Everton's first team, on 8 January 1971 in a 2–2 league draw at Burnley. The following month he scored on his FA Cup debut, winning 1–0 hosting Brian Clough's Derby County in the fifth round. He scored on his UEFA competition debut in the European Cup quarter-final 1–1 draw hosting Panathinaikos. Johnson subbed on for a right foot equaliser with the last kick of the game. He subbed on late in the Athens 0–0 second leg, but Everton went out on away goals. Four days later, Johnson was left out the FA Cup semi-final squad that lost 2–1 to a Liverpool comeback, to end a week…

Aged 23, Johnson was at Ipswich when England manager, Don Revie, called him up for his first full England cap. Johnson debuted in a British Home Championship match at Wembley Stadium on 21 May 1975. He scored both England goals in a 2–2 draw with Wales. In February 1980, Ron Greenwood recalled Johnson to play for England's senior team for the first time since 1975. Johnson scored twice in a 3–1 victory over then-world champions Argentina at Wembley on 13 May 1980, marking Diego Maradona's first game in England. 28 year old Johnson's last game playing for England was their opening game, a 1–1 draw against Belgium at UEFA Euro 1980. England went out at the group stage. Johnson scored at least five goals in his eight senior England appearances. His international goals tally is disputed. A Johnson effort in the 1980 home 1–1 draw with Northern Ireland is reported by some as a Noel Brotherston own goal. Johnson was unbeaten in all eight of his senior England games.

Johnson scored with both feet and his head. Roy Evans described him as such, "Led the line well up front. Scored his fair share of goals as well. A great personality, a big buoyant personality. It was always a great asset in the dressing room. Dave, kept everybody on their toes." Kenny Dalglish expressed on Johnson's death, "David was hugely popular in the dressing room. A really good guy." Everton chairman Bill Kenwright remarked, "That David enjoyed the love and respect of both sides of Stanley Park underlined his qualities both as a footballer and a man. He was one of the few who crossed the divide and managed to retain his reputation with both sets of supporters. That is because he was always honest, hard-working and brave." Johnson's Ipswich Town obituary commented on his, "ability to link the play up front, his inexhaustible work-rate and his eye for goal", "pace and willingness to go in where the boots were flying" and "ability in front of goal and his selfless running that benefited his teammates". The East Anglian Daily Times describe him as a "battling, play-linking forward". Johnson reflected on his Liverpool career, "I was never a great player but I did play in a great side with some very good players. We had the workhorses, the good players and the great players and it was down to the great management of Bob Paisley that we had such a superb balance."

Ipswich Town

Texaco Cup: 1973 Liverpool

Football League First Division: 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82 Football League Cup: 1980–81, 1981–82 FA Charity Shield: 1976, 1977 (shared), 1979, 1980 European Cup: 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81 European Super Cup: 1977 FA Cup runner-up: 1976–77 Everton

Football League Cup runner up: 1983–84 Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 1979–80 First Division Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2016