Bert Johnston (footballer)

Robert Johnston (2 June 1909 – 27 September 1968) was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland and Scotland as a central defender.[1]

For the Canadian player, see Albert Johnson (soccer).

Bert Johnston
Personal information
Full name Robert Johnston
Date of birth 2 June 1909
Place of birth Falkirk, Scotland
Date of death 27 September 1968(1968-09-27) (aged 59)
Place of death Sunderland, England
Playing position(s) Centre half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Alva Albion Rangers
1929–1939 Sunderland   146 (0)
National team
1937 Scotland 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Johnston made his debut for Sunderland on 25 April 1931 against West Ham United in a 3–0 win at Upton Park.[2] He joined Sunderland aged just 20 from the Scottish Junior leagues and found it hard to break into the team, though he played more regularly after others left.[3] Johnston played for Sunderland from 1929 until 1939 making 146 league appearances, without scoring a goal.[4] While on a squad tour to Spain in the summer of 1935 Johnston suffered from an attack of malaria;[5] he recovered to play a part in the club's Football League title-winning campaign in the 1935–36 season, and the FA Cup victory at Wembley in 1937. Although his playing career was curtailed by the Second World War, he worked as a coach for Sunderland between 1951 and 1957.[3]

Johnston represented Scotland once, in a 5–0 victory against Czechoslovakia in 1937.[6]

References
  1. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "West Ham United 0-3 Sunderland". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  3. "Bert Johnston". A Love Supreme. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  4. "Bert Johnston". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. Lanchberry, Edward (1950). Footballer’s Progress: Raich Carter. Sporting Handbooks Ltd. p. 179.
  6. "[Scotland player] Robert Johnston". www.londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
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