Tom Johnson (footballer, born 1926) explained

Tom Johnson
Fullname:Thomas Johnson
Birth Date:5 March 1926
Birth Place:Stockton-on-Tees, England
Death Date:[1]
Position:Left half, inside forward
Youthclubs1:Seaton Holy Trinity
Years1:1945–1947
Clubs1:Middlesbrough
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1947–194?
Clubs2:Darlington
Caps2:6
Goals2:1
Years3:194?–1949
Clubs3:Stockton
Years4:1949–1952
Clubs4:Horden Colliery Welfare
Years5:1952–1953
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:1953–1954
Clubs6:Annfield Plain
Years7:1954–19??
Clubs7:Horden Colliery Welfare

Thomas Johnson (5 March 1926 – 9 December 2018), known as Tom or Tommy Johnson, was an English footballer who played as a left half or inside forward in the Football League for Darlington and Bradford Park Avenue.[2] He later worked as a physiotherapist for Hartlepool United and Middlesbrough.

Life and career

Johnson was born in Stockton-on-Tees. He played football for Seaton Holy Trinity before signing professional forms with Middlesbrough in early 1945.[3] He played for their first team in wartime football,[4] but made no appearances in the Football League once that competition resumed, and joined Darlington in August 1947. He made his senior debut in the opening match of the 1947–48 Third Division North season, a 4–2 defeat away to Carlisle United, and appeared in four of the next five fixtures, scoring in a 1–1 draw at home to Gateshead on 1 September. He made one more league appearance later in the season,[5] and then moved into non-league football with Stockton and Horden Colliery Welfare.[6] Johnson signed for Bradford Park Avenue in August 1952. Apart from one league appearance, away to Barrow in September,[7] he played reserve-team football before moving back into non-league with Annfield Plain and a further spell with Horden CW.[8]

After his retirement at the age of 30 due to a head injury, Johnson retrained as a physiotherapist. He went on to work for Hartlepool United for 25 years, before moving to Middlesbrough in 1986.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tommy Johnson: 10 touching pictures from funeral of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough FC physio . Debra . Fox . Hartlepool Mail . 23 December 2018 . 23 February 2019 .
  2. Web site: Tom Johnson . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 13 December 2016.
  3. News: League . Northern Daily Mail . West Hartlepool . 10 February 1945 . 7 . I also hear that the latter have verified the high opinion they hold of Tommy Johnson, the Seaton player, and have now signed him on professional forms. . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  4. News: Seaton Holy Trinity . Northern Daily Mail . West Hartlepool . 19 October 1948 . 7 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  5. Book: Tweddle, Frank . The Definitive Darlington F.C. . SoccerData . Nottingham . 2000 . 44, 104 . 978-1-899468-15-7.
  6. News: World of Sport . Argus . Sunderland Daily Echo . 9 December 1949 . 15 . ...recently signed from Stockton and has already made several appearances for the Horden senior and reserve sides . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  7. News: More Bradford changes . Yorkshire Post . 5 September 1952 . 3 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  8. News: Johnson back with his old club . Sunderland Daily Echo . 19 February 1954 . 27 . ...the latest acquisition, Tommy Johnson, signed yesterday. Johnson, an inside forward, played for Horden two seasons ago and since then has had spells with Bradford Reserves and Annfield Plain. . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Web site: Tributes paid to former Hartlepool United and Middlesbrough FC physiotherapist Tommy Johnson who 'lived his life to help others' . Sophie . Brownson . Hartlepool Mail . 11 December 2018 . 23 February 2019 .