Name: Henry Johnston
Nickname: "Harry"
Country:
EnglandClub: Blackpool F.C.
Position: *DMF, CB
Side: LF/BS
Age: 29-34 years (26/9/1919)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Attack: 63
Defence: 84
Balance: 82
Stamina: 82
Top Speed: 77
Acceleration: 79
Response: 82
Agility: 75
Dribble Accuracy: 77
Dribble Speed: 76
Short Pass Accuracy: 78
Short Pass Speed: 74
Long Pass Accuracy: 78
Long Pass Speed: 77
Shot Accuracy: 64
Shot Power: 80
Shot Technique: 64
Free Kick Accuracy: 60
Curling: 62
Header: 82
Jump: 83
Technique: 78
Aggression: 62
Mentality: 90
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 85
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 7
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 8
Growth type: Late Peak
CARDS:
P02 - Anchor Man
S08 - Slide Tackle
S09 - Covering
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Sliding - Covering
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence Minded
INFO:
Legendary Blackpool captain and one of the best players in England in the years after the war. Harry Johnston spent his entire career at Blackpool, leading them to 3 FA Cup finals, winning the last of them in 1953. His primary position was right half, although he played in all 3 half back positions, and he was a very deep lying half back, mostly dropping into the defensive line and using his excellent positioning, anticipation and tackling skills to win the ball. His tackling was incredibly clean and he rarely came out of a 50/50 without the ball, his style of defending was graceful and he rarely looked stressed on the pitch. He was also a capable ball player, although he rarely left his own half. He was a great leader and his inspiring speeches and tactical knowledge were a massive asset to Blackpool's team. Johnston's consistent performances were of such a high quality that he was named England's Footballer of the Year in 1951. Unfortunately he is probably most well remembered now for being the man chosen to mark Nandor Hidegkuti in the legendary "Match of the Century" between England and Hungary in 1953. Hidegkuti, wearing the number 9 shirt, ran riot as Johnston didn't know whether to stay in position or follow Hidegkuti when the Hungarian dropped back into midfield, something that was a completely alien concept in English football. This was Johnston's last game in an England shirt, only earning a measly 10 caps, since the presence of Billy Wright meant his chances were limited. Regardless, he was a world class player in his time and arguably only Stanley Matthews stands above him in Blackpool's history.