George Johnston | |
Fullname: | George Johnston |
Birth Date: | 21 March 1947 |
Birth Place: | Glasgow, Scotland |
Position: | Forward |
Youthyears1: | 1962–1964 |
Youthclubs1: | Cardiff City |
Years1: | 1964–1967 |
Caps1: | 60 |
Goals1: | 21 |
Years2: | 1967–1969 |
Clubs2: | Arsenal |
Caps2: | 21 |
Goals2: | 3 |
Years3: | 1969–1970 |
Caps3: | 9 |
Goals3: | 1 |
Years4: | 1970 |
Clubs4: | → Walsall (loan) |
Caps4: | 5 |
Goals4: | 1 |
Years5: | 1970–1972 |
Clubs5: | Fulham |
Caps5: | 39 |
Goals5: | 12 |
Years6: | 1972–1973 |
Caps6: | 18 |
Goals6: | 5 |
Years7: | 1973–1974 |
Caps7: | 3 |
Goals7: | 0 |
George Johnston (born 21 March 1947) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played more than 150 matches in the English Football League.
Johnston was born in Glasgow. He began his football career as a junior at Cardiff City, turning professional in 1964 and making his debut at the end of the 1964–65 season at the age of 17.[1] He was part of Cardiff's 1965 Welsh Cup-winning team.[2] The following year he settled into the side and, playing alongside the likes of John Charles and John Toshack, he finished as the club's top scorer with a total of 23 goals. In March 1967, Johnston played in a benefit match for victims of the Aberfan disaster against Arsenal and scored twice against the London club, which persuaded them to offer £20,000 to Cardiff to sign him.[1]
He made his debut for Arsenal on 19 August 1967, against Stoke City, and made 17 appearances in his first season, 1967-68. However, he could not hold down a place in 1968–69 and was dropped to the reserves, where he won a Football Combination winners' medal. Out of the Arsenal first team, he joined Second Division club Birmingham City in the summer of 1969, for a fee of £30,000.[3] He made 25 appearances and scored 3 goals for Arsenal.[4]
Signed as a replacement for Fred Pickering, Johnston failed to hold down a first-team place. A period on loan at Walsall immediately preceded a £6,000 move to Fulham, where he spent two years.[3] A season with Hereford United followed, and one more with Newport County, before, at the age of just 26, he dropped out of league football.[1]
He later settled in Cardiff and worked for a marine engineering company.[5]
Cardiff City
1965