Craig Johnston: A great Australian success story but not a great Australian footballer

I noticed that you cherry picked a couple of quotes that help back up your one sided story! Soccer in Aust was and still is controlled at grass roots levels and up by strong and biased enthic groups! I have seen for myself both personally and from a distance skill full children get overlooked while others whom parents have a relationship manage to get their average kids promoted. This than extends into the teenage years and above - it's not just the little things like missing out on special coaching clinics or represention while fat and unskilled kids of specially placed parents get their kids promoted. Craig Johnstone rised above the bias and all the rubbish found at grass roots level soccer in Aust and worked so hard and sacrificed everything - something most if not all of the kids whom he had seen get promoted above him could not handle. Corruption in Aust Soccor at a local level was and still is rife - that is why Craig wanted to be paid as there were Aust Soccor officials (basicly unskilled moms and dads) getting paid good money for no business skills. Craig Johnstone left Aust Soccor with no money to find a place that would take him on his skill and not his family status!

dasilva, First congrats on a well written piece. I do have some issues with some of your points though. CJ played 2 games at U/21 level for England not at England B level whilst still an Australian National. After became an English citizen he was in an English squad but never played a game. Would your rationale then extend to Tim Cahill who played U/17 or U/21 level for either Western Samoa or Tonga, would he be ineligible for this award in the future? As this was a Professional Footballers Association award i think he truely deserves it as i don't think the players that followed would have had the inspiration or the opportunities that they enjoy now

Das - can't agree. Rellum & Rob - yes. Rusty>>Would Johnston’s speed and skills have made for a different result (0-2 in Scotland, 0-0 in Melbourne)? Definitely. We were woeful at finishing plenty of opportunities that night ... >>I’ll concede one thing that this issues isn’t black and white. HE was probably an inspiration to people growing up in the 80’s. >>SInce I wasn’t really around that era I don’t have that emotional attachment and I just see it as rewarding someone who represented another country. As you say, your perspective depends a lot on what you grew up with - but for this GenXer he will always remain an absolute inspirational legend. http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=219720.msg4304907#msg4304907 All I can say to the (surprisingly) bitter naysayers is that I was searching for a copy of the 1986 FA cup final to show my roo ball playing son and daughter an example of football playing at its sublime best, complete with (arguably) the best club team ever, and the best Australian footballer ever (so far) ... And yes - I've read his book ... and seen his surfboard in the museum at Anfield ...

Pip, I agree with most of what you say. It is important to note that Johnson never cemented a first team spot at Liverpool. He was always playing for his spot despite being there for 8 years. In the 80's there were no international windows and foreign players were still a bit of a novelty in the English First Division. I would have loved to see him play for Australia but it is totally understandable if he felt that making himself available for Australia may well have been the end of his Liverpool career. He made that choice. One point though which makes Johnson somewhat unique and interesting is that he did not have a twilight of a career. He walked away not only from the biggest club in the world but also football whilst fully fit at age 28 and never kicked a ball in anger again. Not many have done that.

Yes, but the point is, Das, that it doesn't. Therefore, he deserves it. If your argument had not been based purely on what strikes me as a personal attack (which I acknowledge you have backed away from), and a spurious comparison to Simunic, then perhaps your argument might have made sense. If you had stated that your point was that the Alex Tobin Award should exclude any player who represented another country more clearly, I would suggest your point is valid. And the Simunic point still stands. Yes, people study at university and then live overseas, but generally temporarily before returning to Australia to live, where they contribute the most. Simunic, however, will NEVER return the investment while a player, having turned his back on Australia after recieving significant benefit from this country (unlike Johnson) to assist another nation reach World Cups, etc. your point about Bosnar is a good one, and fair play to the guy for sticking on principle to his desire to play for Australia. Reading his book would at least give you a sense of what he was thinking at the time, the reasons for his decision not to play for Australia and all of that. That's why you should read his book. Rather than judge a person before hearing all sides of the story, at least take a look at what he has had to say about the situation beforehand. Not to do so is poor form. I tend to enjoy reading your work, Das, but this one was not your best work.

das really interesting piece and perspective. As Mid menions above - it was a different time - Johnston was probably 10 or more years ahead of his fellow Australians, recalling that he was a regular with Liverpool and scored a goal in a winning FA Cup team at a time when there were no, or very, very few other Australians playing overseas. Back in 1980-81, when we were struggling to get past NZ on the road to the 1982 WC, it would be another 13 or 14 years before we were to start thinking seriously about how we got professionals playing with big clubs back in Australia to play for the Socceroos. In other words, that a player like Johnston would actually turn out to play with part-timers in the Socceroos was just never given any serious consideration at the time. From his perspective - he was living his life-long dream of being a professional footballer - he wasn't going to give that up for anything. But does he deserve to be viewed as a great Australian Footballer 20 years on? Well, yes and no. One thing's for sure - he never turned out for the Socceroos (and he could have if he really had wanted to), nor did he go out of his way to try to at any point during his career - even in the twilight of his career he would have been welcomed if he had wanted it.

Tnaks Mick I enjoyed reading that article.

I remember his commentary and can't recall him sounding it smug or superior. What I DO remember is that he was actually put on the spot by the ABC commentator (Peter Wilkins, I think) about what was stopping him playing for Australia (he hadn't committed elsewhere at that stage). Johnston was clearly embarrassed and his reply was vague and non-committal without ruling out the possibility. In subsequent years I never heard him provide a credible reason for shunning the national team, although it was clearly something he came to regret.

I think I meant that Craig Johnston status in the Australian game will always be controversial

Craig Johnston is surely a great player. I'll concede one thing that this issues isn't black and white. HE was probably an inspiration to people growing up in the 80's. SInce I wasn't really around that era I don't have that emotional attachment and I just see it as rewarding someone who represented another country. Judging by response by people who were been around even longer and who were following socceroos from the 60s and 70s such as KB and a few people from other forums. They didn't have nostalgic memory of growing up following Craig Johnston as a youngster as well and their response were different as well It's just that this PFA awards were pretty much awarded by people who were pretty much all socceroos growing up in the 80's. I pretty much just saw Craig Foster, Tobin, Awaratife etc. I kind of wish they had a bit more diverse demographics of ex socceroos there. If I hear someone like Ray Baartz, Peter Wilson, Adrian Alston or perhaps the socceroos of the 80s such as Farina, Krncevic, Mitchell who played for the socceroos whilst Johnston didn't support Johnston PFA medal then I will be willing to say that he deserves it. I think what Craig Johnston status in the Australian game will always be different to different people

David Lowe, a former socceroo and by all accounts a good pro, wrote a good piece in this mornings Newcastle Herald on Johnson and particularly playing with him during his guest stint with Newcastle KB United. http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/david-lowe-deserved-recognition-for-craig-johnston/1679007.aspx He got a pfa award and it appears he had an impact on those pros that were growing up in the 80's.

Come on David V. What does it mean as an Australian then? (are you Australian by the way?)

...all means nothing to me as an Everton supporter. Just a player on an opposing team that I despise.

There's one thing to add as well Although none of the players played at the same level as Johnston Mitchell did play for Rangers FC and Feyenoord and Eintracht Frankfurt. Not as big as Liverpool but they were still major clubs playing in good leagues (SPL, Eredivise and Bundesliga). He was a rotation player for the club (maybe because of punishment for his involvement with the national team) and I doubt those clubs would have been happy for him to play for Australia. Patikas played for AEK Athens, Farina - Club Brugge, Krncevic - Dinamo Zagreb, Anderlecht. This is probably more of the case of playing in lesser leagues like Robbos mention. Nevertheless these aren't small clubs in those leagues. They might have all have less pressure from their clubs then CJ but I'm quite sure those clubs will have been putting heavy pressure on these guys to play for Australia.

I'm curious can you give me some examples of these smug comments. Was he talking down Australia saying they were rubbish or what? Or was he talking himself up? He always seems humble whatever interview I've seen him so it's a surprised to hear about this.

I still have mixed feelings ... TBH when I saw CJ playing for Liverpool he was for me representing Australia... the very sad thing is CJ at Liverpool was a player a class or many classes above any other player we had at the time and only Harry has risen to the same hieghts that CJ did... In fact Joe Marsden, JC, Harry & Dukes sort of stand out from everyone else... I also take Rob's point above about the requirements for the Alex Tobin award .. it is a good point... Maybe we need to understand the award ... even so I still question an award given to a non Socceroo ... I guess a lot comes down to feel ... if it look like a duck, walks like a duck etc, then it is a duck.... I always considered CJ to be an Australian at Liverpool I am in my mid 50's maybe it's my fault because inspite of everything he said and did as a young man I still considered him Australian... so I still have mixed feelings ....

Dasilva, I'm in my early 40's and old enough to have watched Johnston's career unfold during the eighties. For all the controversies surrounding his international allegiances Australians took ownership of him anyway in those days and I can't remember a bad word being spoken about him, probably because I was an ignorant kid. But I do know that he inspired a generation of football tragics like me, and I remember being totally mesmerized at the sight of an Aussie playing against Roma in 84 European Cup final, the ill fated 85 final and of course the 86 FA cup final. I don't think I would have turned out to be a Liverpool fan if it wasn't for the presence of an Australian in the team. Maybe guys like Tobin, Foz and others in PFA feel the same way. And come on, didn't he offer an apology for the `surfing for Australia' comments and express his regret for not playing for Australia? The Arok comments might be true, but it was 25 years ago - give the man a break. Nothing wrong with celebrating and recognizing the achievements of a man who inspired so many.

Vladimir, please don't knock what you cannot understand.

The rugby analogy doesnt work, its true but not or the reason vlad gave. Pocock and his family HAD to leave Zim or face the prospect of being killed! Slightly different and Vlad the game isnt the pits you probably just dont understand it, which is understandable ;)

What is the use of Dasilva's reading his book? Surely it would not be objective? It would be purely CJ's point of view and would teach Dasilva nothing? The reality is Johnston had the chance to be the real beacon for Australian football, way before Viduka, Kewell et al, in the years when the Socceroos were struggling to get back into the World Cup and could use all teh quality they could get. He was by far Australia's best player; he was the first footballer -- of any code I believe -- to make $1million a year, so what is a bit of sacrifice to play for your allegedly beloved country? Why the urge to play for England? He was already near (while at Boro) or at the top level in England (with Liverpool). All this belated love of Australian football sounds like just a flag of convenience. Yes, Ron and Robbos and Roger Rational, he may have been your hero in the 80s because he was an Australian achieving great things, but the fact he kept turning his back on his country, despite being asked personally by coaches more than once, showed how much he cared for you all.