Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Craig Johnston

Photo by SeppH-Pixabay

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Craig Johnston

Craig Johnston is a South African-born Australian former professional footballer. He played midfielder in the English Football League between 1977 and 1988, winning the European Cup, five league titles, and an FA Cup with Liverpool.

For an international career, he was eligible to play for Scotland, Australia, South Africa and England globally; however, he appeared for the England U21s. After retiring, he designed and created the prototypes for Adidas’ Predator football boot, which many footballers and rugby players wore.

Learn more about Craig Johnston in these top 10 fascinating facts.

1. During His Childhood, He Contracted Osteomyelitis

Craig Peter Johnston was born to Australian parents on June 25, 1960, in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a small child, he returned home to Australia with his family.

At age six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg. His leg was saved by an American specialist who was touring and lecturing in Australia at the time.

His father encouraged him, who had been trialed at Preston North End and Dundee United and took up soccer as a child, playing with Lake Macquarie City in Newcastle, New South Wales.

He wrote to four English clubs at the age of 14, among those Manchester United and Chelsea, seeking a trial. 

2. Johnston Started his Professional Football Career at Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough, managed by Jack Charton, replied to his application to the club and accepted him. Johnston’s parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England for him to play in the club.

At the age of 17, Johnston made his first team debut for Middlesbrough in an FA Cup tie against Everton. He made his league debut on February 4, 1978, in a victory over Birmingham City.

Johnston scored his first goal in a league game against West Ham United. He scored 16 goals in 64 games for Middlesbrough before transferring to Liverpool in 1981.

3. Johnston Was Signed to Liverpool in 1981

Photo by Rodhullandemu-Wikimedia

Liverpool signed him in April 1981, and he made his Liverpool debut in August 1981. He came up as a sub for Ray Kennedy in the 1-0 league defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. His first start came in the International Cup fixture against Brazilian side Flamengo.

He scored his first goal for Liverpool on December 8, 1981, against Arsenal at Anfield during a League Cup fourth-round replay. At Liverpool, he worked under three managers, Kenn Dalglish, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan.

He mostly predominantly played on the right side of midfield. During his time at Liverpool, he made 271 appearances for the club and scored 40 goals.

4. Johnston International Career

In the 1980s, Johnston was approached by Jock Stain with a view to him playing for Scotland as he was eligible through his father. He declined Stein’s offer and resisted calls to play for his country Australia in 1981 and 1984.

After turning down the offer, he chose to play for England at under-21 and ‘B’ team levels. He was also eligible to represent the South African national side because he was born there but was never approached for offers by the South African federation to play for them.

In November 1987, Johnston was called up to the entire England squad, but he didn’t make an appearance at that level.

5. Johnston Was Part of the League Championship Winning Teams

Photo by SeppH-Pixabay

He took the central part of the League Championship of 1982 and 1983. He even gained a League Cup winner’s medal in 1983.

In 1984, he was part of the team which won a League championship, League Cup, and European Cup treble. In 1986 he was part of the team which won the third league championship and FA Cup ‘double’ of the 20th century.

6. Johnston’s Retired from Football in 1988

Johnston incurred his manager’s wrath when he announced his premature retirement from Liverpool. After Kenny Dalglish understood his reasons for retirement, he gave him his blessing.

In 1991, when Graeme Souness was manager of Liverpool F.C and he asked Johnston to train in the team with the view of him playing again. It didn’t work out since Johnston moved, but he has an undying love for Liverpool and its fans.

After his retirement, he was constantly linked to clubs from all over. He always shut down the speculation stating that he could never play for anyone other than Liverpool.

7. Johnston Was Involved in Charity Work

The Hillsborough Memorial. Photo by Superbfc-Wikimedia

When the Hillsborough disaster (a fatal human crush during a football match at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15, 1989) was a year after he retired from football, he helped raise funds in Australia to help the victims.

He also flew back to England to attend funerals and memorial services. Later Johnstone dedicated his autobiography, “Walk Alone,” to the victims of the Heysel stadium and Hillsborough disasters.

8. Johnston is a Successful Businessman

After retiring from football, he found business success. He designed and created the prototype for Adidas’ Predator football boot. The boots are worn by many worlds’ top players of both football and rugby, such as Jonny Wilkinson, David Beckham and many others.

He later designed another boot called “The Pig” (Patented Interactive Grip), which came as a ‘skin’ that can be placed over the toe of an existing boot. This took him five years to bring the idea to a reality.

The boots were refused by Adidas, Nike, and Reebok. Although he had filmed Franz Beckenbauer using the boots in Germany in snowy conditions. This increased grip led Adidas to agree to the proposal.

Additionally, he invested heavily in a football school idea for inner-city children but failed to win the expected business backing and went bankrupt. He was made temporarily homeless as a result.

9. He was an Innovator

Johnston invented the Traxion sole for football boots and the software program ‘Butler,’ a device that shows what has been removed from minibars in hotel bedrooms. He also created a game show called ‘The Main Event.

10. Johnston Has Been Recognized in Several Ways

He has been recognized at home for his achievement in England. On June 18, 2006, he appeared as a guest on The Footy Show World Cup Spectacular in Germany, revealing information on his career.

During the 2006 poll, 100 Players Who Shook The Kop compiled by the official Liverpool FC website. Over 110,000 of the club’s fans worldwide voted for their top 100 players of all time, and Johnston came at the 59th position.