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Craig Johnston
Craig Peter Johnston (born 25 June 1960) is a South African-born Australian former professional football player. He played as a midfielder in the English Football League between 1977 and 1988, for Middlesbrough and Liverpool. Nicknamed "Skippy", Johnston was a crowd favourite at Anfield, making 271 Liverpool appearances and scoring 40 goals. He was a key member of the 1986 "double" winning team. He also co-wrote the team's 1988 cup final song "Anfield Rap". Johnston's career ended prematurely when aged 27, he retired from football to take care of his ill sister.
Johnston designed and created the prototype for one of the worlds largest selling football boots of all time, the Adidas Predator, worn by many footballers and rugby players.
Johnston was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Australian parents of Scottish descent; he returned home to Australia with his family as a small child. At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg and would have done if not for the expertise of an American specialist who was touring and lecturing in Australia at the time.
He began his career at Lake Macquarie City in Newcastle, New South Wales. Encouraged by his father Colin, who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United, aged 15, he wrote to several English clubs, with Middlesbrough replying. His parents sold their house to pay for the flight to England.
In his first match as a trialist, at half time and 3–0 down he was told by then manager Jack Charlton "you are the worst footballer I have ever seen in my life. You won't make a player while your arse still points to the ground". He was told to "hop it" therefore losing his room at the hotel for all the trialists. He stayed in a cleaned out coal shed behind the hotel. Refusing to give up, he trained alone in a car park near Ayresome Park where he was spotted by then Boro captain Graeme Souness.
Middlesbrough, managed by John Neal now, signed Johnston in 1977 making his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in a 3–2 FA Cup victory against Everton. His league debut came on 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's 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 league 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 Brazilian 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 became a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club. He worked under three managers – Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish – and, when picked, predominantly played on the right side of midfield. He made 271 appearances for the club and scored 40 goals.
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Craig Johnston
Craig Peter Johnston (born 25 June 1960) is a South African-born Australian former professional football player. He played as a midfielder in the English Football League between 1977 and 1988, for Middlesbrough and Liverpool. Nicknamed "Skippy", Johnston was a crowd favourite at Anfield, making 271 Liverpool appearances and scoring 40 goals. He was a key member of the 1986 "double" winning team. He also co-wrote the team's 1988 cup final song "Anfield Rap". Johnston's career ended prematurely when aged 27, he retired from football to take care of his ill sister.
Johnston designed and created the prototype for one of the worlds largest selling football boots of all time, the Adidas Predator, worn by many footballers and rugby players.
Johnston was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Australian parents of Scottish descent; he returned home to Australia with his family as a small child. At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg and would have done if not for the expertise of an American specialist who was touring and lecturing in Australia at the time.
He began his career at Lake Macquarie City in Newcastle, New South Wales. Encouraged by his father Colin, who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United, aged 15, he wrote to several English clubs, with Middlesbrough replying. His parents sold their house to pay for the flight to England.
In his first match as a trialist, at half time and 3–0 down he was told by then manager Jack Charlton "you are the worst footballer I have ever seen in my life. You won't make a player while your arse still points to the ground". He was told to "hop it" therefore losing his room at the hotel for all the trialists. He stayed in a cleaned out coal shed behind the hotel. Refusing to give up, he trained alone in a car park near Ayresome Park where he was spotted by then Boro captain Graeme Souness.
Middlesbrough, managed by John Neal now, signed Johnston in 1977 making his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in a 3–2 FA Cup victory against Everton. His league debut came on 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's 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 league 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 Brazilian 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 became a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club. He worked under three managers – Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish – and, when picked, predominantly played on the right side of midfield. He made 271 appearances for the club and scored 40 goals.