Eddie Johnson (English footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Eddie Johnson


fullname = Edward William Johnson
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|9|20|df=y
cityofbirth = Chester
countryofbirth = England
height = height|m=1.58
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder / Striker
youthyears = 1994–1999
1999–2003
youthclubs = Crewe Alexandra
Manchester United
years = 2003–2006
2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
2006–2008
clubs = Manchester United
→ Royal Antwerp (loan)
→ Coventry City (loan)
→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)
Bradford City
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
11 (5)
26 (5)
22 (5)
64 (7)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = England Youth
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 12:22, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Edward William "Eddie" Johnson (born 20 September 1984) is an English professional footballer who is unattached but training with Chester City. He is a midfielder but has also previously played as a striker. Born in Chester, he began his career with Crewe Alexandra and Manchester United's academies. He had loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Coventry City and Crewe Alexandra, before he was released by Manchester United in 2006 and joined Bradford City, where he played 64 league games in two seasons. He has also represented his country at youth level.

Career

Manchester United

Born in Chester, Johnson attended The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School in the city. [cite news
url=http://www.chestereveningleader.co.uk/chestercity/Just-the-ticket.4216587.jp
title=Just the ticket
date=2008-06-24
accessdate=2008-10-03
publisher=Evening Leader
first=Tony
last=Allan] He started his career at Crewe Alexandra at the age of 10cite news
url=http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2005/7/14/254809.html
title=Eddie's back and ready to reply the Alex with goals
date=2005-07-14
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Cheshire Guardian] but in 1999 signed for Manchester United as a junior player, [cite news
url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/71/71361_united_the_next_generation.html
title=United: The next generation
date=2003-10-30
accessdate=2008-03-03
publisher=Manchester Evening News] where he was part of the 2003 FA Youth Cup winning team.cite news
url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/71/71394_leeds_2_manchester_united_3.html
title=Leeds 2 Manchester United 3
date=2003-10-29
accessdate=2008-03-03
publisher=Manchester Evening News] He made his debut for United on 28 October 2003 against Leeds United when he came on as a 112th minute substitute in a 3–2 League Cup victory at Elland Road. His form also earned him a place in England's team in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship after scoring twice in a friendly game before the tournament. [cite news
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U20s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/11/EngU20_vJapan_Nov03.htm
title=Sakata sinks England
date=2003-11-30
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=The FA
first=Alex
last=Stone] [cite news
url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U20s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/12/EngU20_vWales_report.htm
title=Johnson steers U20s to victory
date=2003-11-14
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=The FA]

He was loaned out to the Belgian club Royal Antwerp in January 2004 where he made 11 appearances, scoring five goals. [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/teams/m/man_utd/players/246118/html/profile1_hi.stm
title=Man Utd statistics
date=2005-02-26
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] In July 2004, he was sent on loan to Championship-side Coventry City for the 2004–05 season in order to gain first-team experience. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/3890825.stm
title=Coventry snap up Johnson
date=2004-07-13
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] He scored on his Coventry debut in a 2–0 victory against Sunderland on 7 August 2004. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3942091.stm
title=Coventry 2-0 Sunderland
date=2004-08-07
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] He scored a second later that month in a 4–1 defeat of Nottingham Forest. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3585854.stm
title=Nottm Forest 1-4 Coventry
date=2004-08-28
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] He did not score again until October, when he scored three times in four games, but they proved to be his last goals of the season. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=134&playerid=36691
title=Games played by Eddie Johnson in 2004/2005
publisher=Soccerbase
accessdate=2008-03-04]

In July 2005, he again moved on loan this time returning to Crewe Alexandra in a six-month deal. It took him eight games to score his first goal which came in a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle on 13 September 2005. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4232322.stm
title=Plymouth 1-1 Crewe
date=2005-09-13
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=135&playerid=36691
title=Games played by Eddie Johnson in 2005/2006
publisher=Soccerbase
accessdate=2008-03-04] Three more goals followed by the end of 2005 including one on Boxing Day against Hull City, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4537638.stm
title=Crewe 2-2 Hull
date=2005-12-26
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] who then offered him a permanent deal.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/4585210.stm
title=Johnson agrees to stay with Alex
date=2006-01-05
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] Hull and Manchester United agreed a fee for Johnson but he decided to extend his loan deal at Crewe until the end of the 2005–06 season. It was not until the last game of the season against Millwall that he scored another to bring his tally to five from 22 games. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4933582.stm
title=Crewe 4-2 Millwall
date=2006-04-30
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] Having failed to make an impact at Manchester United, he was amongst seven United players given a free transfer at the end of the 2005–06 season. He was offered a contract at Crewe, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/4968340.stm
title=Ten players offered Crewe deals
date=2006-05-03
accessdate=2008-03-03
publisher=BBC Sport] but also attracted interest from Barnsley and Bradford City, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/5098638.stm
title=Barnsley want Man Utd youngster
date=2006-06-20
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] the latter of whom he joined on a two-year deal. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/5109036.stm
title=Bradford snap up striker Johnson
date=2006-06-23
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport]

Bradford City

The start of Johnson's career at Bradford City was marred by injury in a pre-season friendly at Boston United which was expected to keep him out of the first month of the season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/5209816.stm
title=Bantams line up Johnson stand-in
date=2006-07-24
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] He recovered to make his debut in City's 2006–07 season's opening game at Nottingham Forest as a late substitute. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5226800.stm
title=Nottm Forest 1-0 Bradford
date=2006-08-05
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] Two weeks later he scored his first Bradford goals by netting twice against his former club Crewe in a 3–0 Bradford victory. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4786333.stm
title=Crewe 0-3 Bradford
date=2006-08-19
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] Johnson struggled for goals at City, and had only scored another two by the time he was ruled out for a month after going off at half-time against Chesterfield on 16 December 2006 with a shin injury. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2006/12/18/190029.html
title=Bantams get the job done
date=2006-12-18
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] He returned to the City team after a six-game absence for a Friday night game with Tranmere Rovers, which ended 1–1. [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2007/1/18/190937.html
title=I'll be back, vows Deano
date=2007-01-18
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] [cite news
url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2007/1/20/191108.html
title=Wirral cope without Windass!
date=2007-01-20
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus] He had a goal disallowed against Yeovil Town a week later for offside, with his namesake Jermaine Johnson being sent off for dissent. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6282109.stm
title=Bradford 0-2 Yeovil
date=2007-01-27
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] City manager Colin Todd was sacked, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/6354497.stm
title=Bradford part company with Todd
date=2007-02-12
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] with his replacement David Wetherall converting Johnson from a striker to a midfielder after an injury to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1345949.0.city_pair_muscle_in_on_midfield.php
title=City pair muscle in on midfield
date=2007-04-20
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] However, City were relegated after a defeat to Chesterfield [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6578859.stm
title=Chesterfield 3-0 Bradford
date=2007-04-28
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] with Johnson finishing the season with just four goals. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?seasonid=136&teamid=234
title=Bradford 2006/2007 player appearances
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Soccerbase]

At the start of the 2007–08 season, new manager Stuart McCall continued to employ Johnson in a midfield role, and he was rewarded with goals in back-to-back games and the club's player of the month in September.cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1660531.0.johnson_settling_in_as_man_in_middle.php
title=Johnson settling in as man in middle
date=2007-09-03
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1906256.0.city_refuse_to_set_date_for_johnson_return.php
title=City refuse to set date for Johnson return
date=2007-12-14
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] In November, he was ruled out for 11 weeks because of a back injury, before he was sidelined again when he gashed his shin in his comeback game against Wrexham on 26 January 2008. [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.1997550.0..php
title=Johnson cut up over new injury
date=2008-01-27
accessdate=2008-01-27
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] He returned two weeks later as a second half substitute against Bury. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7223942.stm
title=Bradford 1-2 Bury
date=2008-02-09
accessdate=2008-03-04
publisher=BBC Sport] He was used in his former striker's role later in the season, and scored his sixth league goal in a 1–0 victory over Morecambe on 5 April 2008. [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2174654.0..php
title=City 1 Morecambe 0
date=2008-04-05
accessdate=2008-04-05
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Mike
last=Crowther] He scored again three days later in a 1–1 draw with Barnet, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7332149.stm
title=Bradford 1-1 Barnet .
date=2008-04-08
accessdate=2008-04-08
publisher=BBC Sport] as he tried to secure a new contract with Bradford. [cite news
url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/display.var.2175133.0.johnson_set_to_front_up.php
title=Johnson set to front up
date=2008-04-07
accessdate=2008-04-08
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Mike
last=Crowther] However, on 29 April 2008, Johnson was deemed to be surplus to requirements at Valley Parade and was released by manager Stuart McCall along with 13 other Bradford players. [cite news
url=http://www.telegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2234555.0..php
title=Johnson one of 13 axed by City
date=2008-04-29
accessdate=2008-04-29
publisher=Telegraph & Argus
first=Simon
last=Parker] He played a total of 71 games in all competitions for City, scoring eight goals. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=36691
title=Eddie Johnson
accessdate=2008-10-03
publisher=Soccerbase]

In June 2008, he was offered a two-year contract by fellow League Two side Chester City, [cite news
url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2008/06/11/chester-city-fc-in-move-for-midfield-duo-59067-21059800/
title=Chester City FC in move for midfield duo
date=2008-06-11
accessdate=2008-06-11
publisher=Chester Chronicle
first=David
last=Triggs] but two weeks later, he turned down the deal. [cite news
url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2008/06/25/frustration-for-chester-city-fc-as-eddie-johnson-turns-down-deal-59067-21149645/
title=Frustration for Chester City FC as Eddie Johnson turns down deal
date=2008-06-25
accessdate=2008-06-25
publisher=Chester Chronicle
first=David
last=Triggs] Instead he returned to Crewe Alexandra on trial, [cite news
url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_3757845,00.html
title=Johnson offered Alex trial
date=2008-06-30
accessdate=2008-07-01
publisher=Sky Sports News] and scored twice in a 4–1 pre-season friendly victory over Quorn on 16 July 2008. [cite news
url=http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/crewealex/3212854.Johnson_stakes_a_claim/
title=Johnson stakes a claim
date=2008-06-17
accessdate=2008-06-17
publisher=Crewe & Nantwich Guardian
first=Toby
last=Robinson] Despite spending the rest of the summer with Crewe, the club decided not to offer him a full-time contract, because coach Steve Holland felt he was not better than the club's other forwards. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7543026.stm
title=Alex have bid for player accepted
date=2008-08-05
accessdate=2008-08-06
publisher=BBC Sport] Instead, Johnson was given another chance with Chester City, with whom he trained in the run up to the start of the 2008–09 season. [cite news
url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/sport/chester-fc/2008/08/08/chester-in-move-for-utility-man-johnson-64375-21490151/
title=Chester in move for utility man Johnson
date=2008-08-08
accessdate=2008-08-09
publisher=Liverpool Daily Post
first=Neil
last=Turner] He scored in a friendly against an Everton reserve team, [cite news
url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-city-fc/chester-city-fc-news/2008/08/22/eddie-johnson-ready-to-lead-chester-city-line-line-59067-21582644/
title=Eddie Johnson ready to lead Chester City line
date=2008-08-22
accessdate=2008-08-22
publisher=Chester Chronicle
first=David
last=Triggs] but despite the club wanting to sign Johnson, the transfer has faltered because of the club's salaray cap. Johnson will have to wait a number of weeks to sign for Chester, after a deal to take Paul Rutherford to Northwich Victoria, freeing up money to pay Johnson, failed to go through before the 2008 summer transfer deadline closed. [cite news
url=http://www.chestereveningleader.co.uk/chester-city/City-willing-to-wait-for.4448773.jp
title=City willing to wait for Eddie
date=2008-09-02
accessdate=2008-09-03
publisher=Evening Leader]

References

External links

*soccerbase|36691|Eddie Johnson
* [http://bradford.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=176 Eddie Johnson Vital Profile]

Persondata
NAME = Johnson, Eddie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 20 September 1984
PLACE OF BIRTH = Chester, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =