Craig Johnston
Encyclopedia
Craig Johnston is a former football player who was one of the first Australians
to make a major impact in the English
game. He is remembered for his time spent with Liverpool
throughout the 1980s. After retiring, he designed and created the prototype
for Adidas
' Predator
football boot
, worn by many footballers and rugby players
.
early in Johnston's life. At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis
and came close to losing his leg. Encouraged by his father who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United, Johnston took up football
at Lake Macquarie
and in the Newcastle
district in New South Wales
. At the age of 14 he wrote to four English
clubs seeking a trial. Middlesbrough
, managed by Jack Charlton
, replied and Johnston's parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England. As a 15-year-old, Johnston stayed at Middlesbrough for six months, returning to Australia to play briefly for Sydney City
, before moving back to Middlesbrough.
. His league debut came on the 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City
at St Andrews
and he scored his first goal later that season in a 2–1 home league defeat to West Ham United
. Johnston scored 16 goals in 64 games for Middlesbrough before moving to Liverpool
in 1981 for £
650,000.
Johnston made his Liverpool debut in August 1981, coming on as sub for Ray Kennedy
in the 1–0 league defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
at Molineux
. Johnston's first start came in the Intercontinental Cup
fixture against Brazil
ian side Flamengo
.
Johnston scored his first goal for Liverpool on 8 December 1981 against Arsenal
at Anfield
, during a League Cup
fourth round replay. Johnston opened the scoring in the fifth minute of extra time in a 3–0 win.
Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club, he was never a regular in the side, with his versatility in midfield and as a striker counting against him. His managers – Bob Paisley
, Joe Fagan
and Kenny Dalglish
– often kept him in reserve owing to the specialists in those positions available to them.
Johnston was part of the League championship
-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and gained a League Cup winner's medal in 1983. In 1984, Johnston was part of the team which won a treble of League championship, League Cup and European Cup
. Two years later he was an integral part of the side which won only the third League championship and FA Cup
"double"
of the 20th century. In the 1986 FA Cup final at Wembley, Johnston scored Liverpool's second goal in a 3–1 win over Everton.
In 1988, he was a frequent substitute and occasional starter as Liverpool again won the League title and reached the FA Cup final, aiming to complete a second "double". Johnston wrote the club's traditional Cup final song called "Anfield Rap
" which combined pro-Liverpool lyrics with the rap
and house
trends of the time, with other Liverpool players contributing.
His last two goals for the Reds came in the penultimate league game of the season, a 5–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday
. By this stage, Liverpool had wrapped up the 17th league title of their history.
Johnston resisted calls to play for Australia in 1981 and 1984, but instead chose to represent England
at under-21 and 'B' team level. Early in his career in England he had described playing football for Australia as "like surfing
for England." Johnston was called-up to the full England squad in 1986 but did not make an appearance at that level.
, Johnston incurred his manager's wrath when he announced his premature retirement from Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish
was livid but later relented and gave his blessing to Johnston when he found out the reason for the player's decision.
Earlier that year Johnston's sister became seriously ill and was admitted to a hospital in Morocco
. By the end of the season, it was clear she needed round the clock
attention back home in Australia and Johnston wished to provide that care. He came on for his 271st appearance as a substitute for John Aldridge
in the final (who had just seen his penalty saved with Liverpool a goal down) but ended up on the losing side. He never wore a Liverpool shirt again.
When the Hillsborough disaster
occurred in 1989, a year after Johnston's departure, he raised funds in Australia and also flew back to England to attend funerals and memorial services. He later dedicated his autobiography
, titled Walk Alone, to the victims of the Heysel
and Hillsborough disasters.
In 1991, when Graeme Souness
was manager of Liverpool F.C., he asked Johnston if he would like to train with the team with a view to playing again. Liverpool F.C. still held Johnston's registration as a player. It didn't work out and Johnston moved on. However, Johnston possesses an undying love for Liverpool and its fans. After his retirement he was constantly being linked to clubs from all over. Johnston always retorted this speculation stating that he could never play for anyone other than Liverpool.
, designing and creating the prototype
for Adidas
' Predator
football boot
, worn by many of the world's top players of both football and rugby
including Zinedine Zidane
, David Beckham
, Steven Gerrard
, Xavi
, Jonny Wilkinson
and Ronan O'Gara
. He later designed another innovative boot called The Pig or, to give them their full title, the Patented Interactive Grip can come as a 'skin' that can be placed over the toe of an existing boot. Getting the first boot off the ground took Johnston 5 years and was initially refused by Adidas, as well as Nike
and Reebok
. However, Johnston had filmed Franz Beckenbauer
using the boots in Germany
in snowy conditions, and its increased grip led to Adidas agreeing to the proposal.
Johnston also invented the Traxion sole for football boots and the software program the 'Butler,' a device that shows what has been removed from minibars in hotel bedrooms. Johnston is also the creator of a gameshow called 'The Main Event.'
Johnston invested heavily in a football school idea for inner city children but failed to win expected business backing and went bankrupt. He was made temporarily homeless as a result.
Johnston has since forged a new career as a photographer.
Johnston was very critical about modern football
boot designs, stating they are to blame for the recent spate of metatarsal injuries. He believed that the studs on the soles of the boots do not release quickly enough, meaning that they get stuck in the ground putting extra pressure on the players' already stressed knee
s, ankle
s and metatarsals. He also thought that the problem can be solved by designing a smaller stud that doesn't stick to the soil.
. On 18 June 2006, Johnston made an appearance as a guest on The Footy Show World Cup Spectacular in Germany
revealing information on his career.
Johnston's 100% commitment on the pitch never went unnoticed amongst the Anfield
faithful and he remains a fan favourite. During the 2006 poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop compiled by the official Liverpool Football Club web site over 110,000 Reds worldwide voted for their top 100 players of all time with Johnston coming in a very respectable 59th, not bad for a player who was once branded by Jack Charlton
, whilst he was a youngster at Middlesbrough
, as "the worst footballer I have ever seen,".http://www.dangerhere.com/gufflog/more.php?id=690_0_1_0_C
On the 3rd November 2007 after England's defeat to Croatia, Johnston appeared on Sky Sports and gave a discourse on the reasons for the poor state of English football.
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, Johnston wrote a 12-page letter to FIFA ruler, Sepp Blatter
, in which he collected all criticism by players and coaches of the controversial Adidas-produced Jabulani
ball, risking his reputation, and expecting to be blacklisted by the conservative governing body as a result of this letter.
Australian people
Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years...
to make a major impact in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
game. He is remembered for his time spent with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
throughout the 1980s. After retiring, he designed and created the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
for Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
' Predator
Predator (shoe)
Adidas Predator is a range of football boots developed by German sportswear manufacturers Adidas based on a prototype concept from the Australian former footballer Craig Johnston. The common feature of the Predator range is the presence of rubber patches or strips on the top of the shoe, designed...
football boot
Football boot
Football boots, called cleats or soccer shoes in North America, are an item of footwear worn when playing association football. Those designed for grass pitches have studs on the bottom to aid grip...
, worn by many footballers and rugby players
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
.
Childhood
Johnston's family returned home to Australia from South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
early in Johnston's life. At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
and came close to losing his leg. Encouraged by his father who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United, Johnston took up football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
at Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie
The City of Lake Macquarie is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia, approximately north of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to the city of Newcastle and was proclaimed as a city from 7 September 1984.-The City of Lake Macquarie:...
and in the Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
district in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. At the age of 14 he wrote to four English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clubs seeking a trial. Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, managed by Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
, replied and Johnston's parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England. As a 15-year-old, Johnston stayed at Middlesbrough for six months, returning to Australia to play briefly for Sydney City
Sydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
, before moving back to Middlesbrough.
Career in England
Johnston made his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in a FA Cup tie against EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. His league debut came on the 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
at St Andrews
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
and he scored his first goal later that season in a 2–1 home league defeat to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. Johnston scored 16 goals in 64 games for Middlesbrough before moving to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in 1981 for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
650,000.
Johnston made his Liverpool debut in August 1981, coming on as sub for Ray Kennedy
Ray Kennedy
Raymond Kennedy is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s...
in the 1–0 league defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
. Johnston's first start came in the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
fixture against Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian side Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
.
Johnston scored his first goal for Liverpool on 8 December 1981 against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, during a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
fourth round replay. Johnston opened the scoring in the fifth minute of extra time in a 3–0 win.
Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club, he was never a regular in the side, with his versatility in midfield and as a striker counting against him. His managers – Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
, Joe Fagan
Joe Fagan
Joe Fagan was an English football manager best known for being manager of Liverpool F.C. from 1983 to 1985.- Career:Joe Fagan's playing career was largely spent at Manchester City for whom he signed in 1938...
and Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
– often kept him in reserve owing to the specialists in those positions available to them.
Johnston was part of the League championship
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and gained a League Cup winner's medal in 1983. In 1984, Johnston was part of the team which won a treble of League championship, League Cup and European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. Two years later he was an integral part of the side which won only the third League championship and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
"double"
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
of the 20th century. In the 1986 FA Cup final at Wembley, Johnston scored Liverpool's second goal in a 3–1 win over Everton.
In 1988, he was a frequent substitute and occasional starter as Liverpool again won the League title and reached the FA Cup final, aiming to complete a second "double". Johnston wrote the club's traditional Cup final song called "Anfield Rap
Anfield Rap
The "Anfield Rap" was a song released by members of Liverpool F.C. before the 1988 FA Cup Final against Wimbledon FC. The song reached #3 in the UK singles chart. The song was co-written by Liverpool's midfielder Craig Johnston and rapper Derek B-Style:...
" which combined pro-Liverpool lyrics with the rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
trends of the time, with other Liverpool players contributing.
His last two goals for the Reds came in the penultimate league game of the season, a 5–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. By this stage, Liverpool had wrapped up the 17th league title of their history.
Johnston resisted calls to play for Australia in 1981 and 1984, but instead chose to represent England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at under-21 and 'B' team level. Early in his career in England he had described playing football for Australia as "like surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
for England." Johnston was called-up to the full England squad in 1986 but did not make an appearance at that level.
Retirement
After 271 appearances and 40 goals and just days before the 1988 FA Cup Final at Wembley against WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, Johnston incurred his manager's wrath when he announced his premature retirement from Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
was livid but later relented and gave his blessing to Johnston when he found out the reason for the player's decision.
Earlier that year Johnston's sister became seriously ill and was admitted to a hospital in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. By the end of the season, it was clear she needed round the clock
Round the Clock
Round The Clock is an English internet radio service from China Radio International. The broadcast basically rotates between China Drive and the following weekly programs:* Monday: Front Line* Tuesday: Biz-China* Wednesday: China Horizons...
attention back home in Australia and Johnston wished to provide that care. He came on for his 271st appearance as a substitute for John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
in the final (who had just seen his penalty saved with Liverpool a goal down) but ended up on the losing side. He never wore a Liverpool shirt again.
When the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
occurred in 1989, a year after Johnston's departure, he raised funds in Australia and also flew back to England to attend funerals and memorial services. He later dedicated his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, titled Walk Alone, to the victims of the Heysel
Heysel Stadium disaster
The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool of England and Juventus of Italy...
and Hillsborough disasters.
In 1991, when Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
was manager of Liverpool F.C., he asked Johnston if he would like to train with the team with a view to playing again. Liverpool F.C. still held Johnston's registration as a player. It didn't work out and Johnston moved on. However, Johnston possesses an undying love for Liverpool and its fans. After his retirement he was constantly being linked to clubs from all over. Johnston always retorted this speculation stating that he could never play for anyone other than Liverpool.
Business career
After retiring from playing football, Johnston found success as a businessman and innovatorInnovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
, designing and creating the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
for Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
' Predator
Predator (shoe)
Adidas Predator is a range of football boots developed by German sportswear manufacturers Adidas based on a prototype concept from the Australian former footballer Craig Johnston. The common feature of the Predator range is the presence of rubber patches or strips on the top of the shoe, designed...
football boot
Football boot
Football boots, called cleats or soccer shoes in North America, are an item of footwear worn when playing association football. Those designed for grass pitches have studs on the bottom to aid grip...
, worn by many of the world's top players of both football and rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
including Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
, David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
, Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
, Xavi
Xavi
Xavier Hernández i Creus , commonly known as Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi , is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, where he has spent his entire 14-year career....
, Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson
Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players...
and Ronan O'Gara
Ronan O'Gara
Ronan John Ross O'Gara is an Irish rugby union player, playing at fly-half for both Munster and Ireland. He is the all time highest point scorer for both Munster and Ireland. In addition to his prolific point-scoring, he has captained Munster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions...
. He later designed another innovative boot called The Pig or, to give them their full title, the Patented Interactive Grip can come as a 'skin' that can be placed over the toe of an existing boot. Getting the first boot off the ground took Johnston 5 years and was initially refused by Adidas, as well as Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
and Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
. However, Johnston had filmed Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
using the boots in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in snowy conditions, and its increased grip led to Adidas agreeing to the proposal.
Johnston also invented the Traxion sole for football boots and the software program the 'Butler,' a device that shows what has been removed from minibars in hotel bedrooms. Johnston is also the creator of a gameshow called 'The Main Event.'
Johnston invested heavily in a football school idea for inner city children but failed to win expected business backing and went bankrupt. He was made temporarily homeless as a result.
Johnston has since forged a new career as a photographer.
Johnston was very critical about modern football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
boot designs, stating they are to blame for the recent spate of metatarsal injuries. He believed that the studs on the soles of the boots do not release quickly enough, meaning that they get stuck in the ground putting extra pressure on the players' already stressed knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
s, ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
s and metatarsals. He also thought that the problem can be solved by designing a smaller stud that doesn't stick to the soil.
Other activities
Though he travels the world with his business interests, Johnston remains based in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. On 18 June 2006, Johnston made an appearance as a guest on The Footy Show World Cup Spectacular in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
revealing information on his career.
Johnston's 100% commitment on the pitch never went unnoticed amongst the Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
faithful and he remains a fan favourite. During the 2006 poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop compiled by the official Liverpool Football Club web site over 110,000 Reds worldwide voted for their top 100 players of all time with Johnston coming in a very respectable 59th, not bad for a player who was once branded by Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
, whilst he was a youngster at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, as "the worst footballer I have ever seen,".http://www.dangerhere.com/gufflog/more.php?id=690_0_1_0_C
On the 3rd November 2007 after England's defeat to Croatia, Johnston appeared on Sky Sports and gave a discourse on the reasons for the poor state of English football.
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, Johnston wrote a 12-page letter to FIFA ruler, Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
, in which he collected all criticism by players and coaches of the controversial Adidas-produced Jabulani
Adidas Jabulani
The Jabulani is an Association football ball manufactured by Adidas. It was the official match ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.The ball is made from eight spherically molded panels and has a textured surface intended to improve aerodynamics...
ball, risking his reputation, and expecting to be blacklisted by the conservative governing body as a result of this letter.
Honours
- Division 1Football League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(Level 1): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 1983, 1984 - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1984 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 1986 - Charity Shield: 1986 (shared)
Runner-up
- Division 1Football League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(Level 1): 1985 - Intercontinental Cup: 1981, 1984
- Charity Shield: 1983
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1985 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 1987 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 1988
External links
- Official Liverpool FC profile
- Player profile at LFCHistory.net
- Middlesbrough seasonal record 1977/78-1980/81 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 1) 1980/81-1983/84 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 2) 1985/86-1987/88 at sporting-heroes.net
- Youtube with Craig Johnston at Newcastle KB from 1980
- http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=534666&root=global&cc=4716