Barry Johnston (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Barry Johnston is an Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 footballer currently playing for Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...

.

After serving the best of apprenticeships at Celtic Boys under Jim 'Dino' Heaney, Johnston believed he could cut it as a tricky winger when he joined Cliftonville's U18 set-up. Big 'Dino', though, felt his best position was a defensive one sweeper or right back.

An horrific broken leg suffered in his younger days made him re-appraise his attitude towards football. He still has nine screws and a steel plate anchored to his marrow.

It was during a two-year scholarship in New Orleans with William Carey College
William Carey College
William Carey University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in the United States, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The main campus is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; there are two subsidiary...

 that Johnston began to thrive in the defensive midfield role.

The day he returned from his two-year sabbatical in the States, he contacted Marty Quinn
Marty Quinn
Martin "Marty" Quinn is a former Irish League footballer and a current manager. Quinn is well known for leading Cliftonville to become Irish League champions in 1998, and leading Coleraine to Irish Cup glory in 2003.-Playing career:...

 about hooking up with him at Coleraine.

However, the chances of assuming his new-found central midfield role - occupied by Packie McAllister and Tony Gorman at Ballycastle Road at the time - were slim. Johnston had to make do with a wide midfield position while with the Bannsiders, but he was even deprived of that role for the 2003 Irish Cup final against Glentoran.

He moved to Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...

 in October 2002 where he reached two IFA Cup Finals in 2003 and 2004 against the same opposition Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...

 winning one and losing one.

Johnston moved back to Cliftonville in January 2006. Lost another IFA Cup Final in May 2009 against Crusaders http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/8041769.stm.

He signed for Rovers after impressing in guest appearances against Newcastle and Hibs. making his competitive debut in a win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium is a football stadium in the Southside suburb of Tallaght, Dublin. Shamrock Rovers originally announced details of the stadium back in July 1996...

.

Johnston returned north to sign for Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...

 in December 2009 http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_151209.html.

He then signed for Cliftonville for the third time in September 2010 http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_010910.html.

Johnston scored Cliftonville's equaliser against The New Saints F.C.
The New Saints F.C.
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League...

 in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League
2011–12 UEFA Europa League
The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League is the third season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. It began on 30 June 2011 with the first legs of the first qualifying round, and will end on 9 May 2012 with the final to be held at Stadionul Național in Bucharest, Romania...

 http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/report_tns_300611.html.

Honours

  • IFA Cup
    • Coleraine F.C.
      Coleraine F.C.
      Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...

       2003

  • County Antrim Shield
    County Antrim Shield
    The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...

    • Cliftonville F.C.
      Cliftonville F.C.
      Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...

      2006/07, 2008/09
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