Craig Johnston

Craig Peter Johnston (born 25 June 1960) is an Australian former professional soccer player.

He played as a midfielder in the English Football League between 1977 and 1988, winning the European Cup, five league titles and an FA Cup (scoring in the 1986 final) with Liverpool.

Nicknamed "Skippy", Johnston was a crowd favourite at Anfield, making 271 Liverpool appearances and scoring 40 goals.

His league debut came on 4 February 1978 in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's and he scored his first goal later that season in a 2–1 home league defeat to West Ham United.

Johnston was approached by Jock Stein in the early 1980s with a view to him playing for Scotland as he was eligible through his father.

Johnston scored 16 goals in 64 games for Middlesbrough before moving to Liverpool in 1981 for £650,000

Johnston made his Liverpool debut in August 1981, coming on as sub for Ray Kennedy in the 1–0 league defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Johnston's first start came in the Intercontinental Cup fixture against Brazilian side Flamengo.

Johnston scored his first goal for Liverpool on 8 December 1981 against Arsenal at Anfield, during a League Cup fourth round replay.

Johnston opened the scoring in the fifth minute of extra time in a 3–0 win.

Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club.

He worked under three managers – Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish – and, when picked, predominantly played on the right side of midfield.

He made 271 appearances for the club and scored 40 goals.

Johnston declined Stein's offer and also resisted calls to play for his country Australia in 1981 and 1984.

He instead chose to represent England at under-21 and 'B' team level.

Early in his career in England he had described playing football for Australia as "like surfing for England."

Johnston was also eligible to represent the South African national side due to being born there but was never approached or offered by the South African federation to play for them.

Johnston was part of the League championship-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and gained a League Cup winner's medal in 1983.

In 1984, Johnston was part of the team which won a treble of League championship, League Cup and European Cup.

Two years later he was an integral part of the side which won only the third League championship and FA Cup "double" of the 20th century.

He was a key member of the 1986 "double" winning team.

In the 1986 FA Cup final at Wembley, Johnston scored Liverpool's second goal in a 3–1 win over Everton.

Johnston was called up to the full England squad in November 1987 but did not make an appearance at that level.

He also co-wrote the team's 1988 cup final song "Anfield Rap".

Born in South Africa, he represented England at youth level.

After retiring, he designed and created the prototype for Adidas' Predator football boot, worn by many footballers and rugby players.

Johnston was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Australian parents; he returned home to Australia with his family as a small child.

At the age of six, Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg and would have done if not for the expertise of an American specialist who was touring and lecturing in Australia at the time.

Encouraged by his father, who had trialled at Preston North End and Dundee United, Johnston took up soccer as a child, playing with Lake Macquarie City in Newcastle, New South Wales.

At the age of 14, he wrote to four English clubs, among those Manchester United, Chelsea and Middlesbrough, seeking a trial.

Chelsea were the first club to reply by giving him a trial and Johnston's parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England.

He failed his Chelsea trial and the next month went for a trial at Middlesbrough and Jack Charlton signed him.

Johnston made his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in an FA Cup tie against Everton.

In 1988, he was a frequent substitute and occasional starter as Liverpool again won the League title and reached the FA Cup final, aiming to complete a second "double".

Johnston wrote the club's traditional Cup final song called "Anfield Rap" which combined pro-Liverpool lyrics with the rap and house trends of the time, with other Liverpool players contributing.

His last two goals for the Reds came in the penultimate league game of the season, a 5–1 away win over Sheffield Wednesday.

After 270 appearances and 40 goals and just days before the 1988 FA Cup Final at Wembley against Wimbledon, Johnston incurred his manager's wrath when he announced his premature retirement from Liverpool.

Earlier that year Johnston's sister became seriously ill and was admitted to a hospital in Morocco.

By the end of the season, it was clear she needed round the clock attention back home in Australia and Johnston wished to provide that care.

By this stage, Liverpool had wrapped up the 17th league title of their history.