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A Leeds lad, Rod Johnson was another yet another talented player
who couldn't quite make the breakthrough into the first team at a
time when they were playing such great football. After just 30 games
in 6 years, Johnson dropped down to the lower divisions where he
enjoyed some success with 3 Yorkshire clubs. He had a brief spell
in the NASL with Chicago Sting in the mid 1970s.
Darryl Johnson says: He's my cousin and just to fill in your
England query. He played for England just once at Amateur level
against Scotland aged 17 in 1962 at Peterborough. David Pleat, then
of Nottingham Forest, played in the same team. I think the result was
4-2 to England but I'm not sure even though I was there. I was only 14
or so and more interested in the pies. You might be interested to
know that Rod scored and was also stretchered off on his league debut
at the age of 17. He was selected to replace the great John Charles
who was injured. The match was at Swansea and Rod was clobbered by an
aging ex-England goalie Reg Matthews as he scored. As a schoolboy he
scored over 70 goals in his under 15s season with Cow Close School and
Leeds City Boys and was a contemporary of Paul Reaney and Paul
Madeley. He was an excellent ball player and goal-poacher of the
Michael Owen variety, relatively short but well balanced and quick
over a short distance. A combination of ill-timed injuries and
temperament difficulties obstructed what could have been a more
distinguished career. But then I am biased.
Brett Norman says: he is currently helping Ray Norman (Manager of
Emley Academy) with Coaching the strikers
Darryl Johnson says: Correction: Apparently I've slandered Mr
Matthews who wasn't keeping goal in the match at Swansea. Rod was
flattened by a goalie call Dwyer and sometime after he scored his
debut goal. Sorry Reg. Funny how the memory plays these
tricks. Still, it was 41 years ago!
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