Derek Johnstone
Encyclopedia
Derek Joseph Johnstone is a former Scottish association footballer.
Johnstone played mainly for Rangers
during his career. He also had a spell at Chelsea
and a brief stint in management with Partick Thistle
. He mainly played as a striker but could also perform in central defence
, and in midfield
. Uniquely, he was selected to play in defence, midfield, and attack for Scotland
.
on 19 September 1970, scoring twice on his debut, a 5–0 victory.
Johnstone thrust himself into the limelight a few months later when his header secured a 1–0 victory over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup Final of 1970–71. Johnstone was just sixteen-years-old at the time, but the faith shown in his ability by manager Willie Waddell paid off handsomely, as Rangers claimed their first piece of silverware for almost five years.
Despite his heroics against Celtic, Johnstone found regular first-team outings in the number nine jersey hard to come by, largely due to the presence of Colin Stein, Scotland's first £100,000 player, although he did score eleven goals in sixteen league appearances during the 1971–72 season. He compensated for his lack of frontline action by often playing as a centre-back when either Ronnie McKinnon or Colin Jackson were injured, and when the duo were ruled out of the European Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1972, Johnstone, still only eighteen, deputised in the showpiece match against Dynamo Moscow. His mature display in Rangers' 3–2 victory belied his youth and inexperience.
With performances such as this, Johnstone soon became a regular in the starting line-up, and he picked up a Scottish Cup winners' medal in 1973 when Rangers defeated Celtic 3–2 at Hampden Park. Johnstone played a huge role in the winning goal, rising above the Celtic defence to head a Tommy McLean free-kick towards goal, and when his header struck both posts, Tam Forsyth was on hand to nudge the rebound over the line. The McLean-Johnstone combination that created this famous goal was a hallmark of Rangers' play in the 1970s.
Johnstone eventually picked up a league championship medal at the end of the 1974–75 campaign, as Rangers ended Celtic's nine-year reign as Kings of Scotland, and he was an integral part of The 'Gers Treble success a year later. He scored a total of thirty-one goals in fifty-one appearances, including two in a 3–1 win over Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final. He scored his first, a typical header, after just forty-two seconds and thus earned himself a unique place in the annals of Scottish Football. The referee had actually kicked off the match early, so Johnstone had actually hit the net before the allotted 3pm kick-off time had been reached.
Although 1976–77 was a barren season for Rangers, they came back with a bang in 1977–78 by winning their second Treble inside three years. Johnstone was the outstanding performer in what was an exceptional Rangers side, scoring thirty-eight goals over the course of the campaign and picking up the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year accolade.
With Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in luring Rangers' top marksman to London, Johnstone submitted a transfer request in the summer of 1978. He was seeking a new challenge in his career, but the intervention of new Rangers manager John Greig persuaded Johnstone to stay in Glasgow. He was named club captain, and in his first season with the armband, he almost led Rangers to an unprecedented second successive Treble. Only a last-gasp 4–2 defeat against Celtic at Parkhead robbed Rangers of the Championship, but Johnstone did get his hands on the Scottish Cup – he scored twice in the Final's second replay against Hibernian and the League Cup.
That season was to be the high watermark for the John Greig era, though, and Rangers' fortunes nose-dived spectacularly thereafter. They did win the Scottish Cup in 1981 and the Scottish League Cup in 1982, but they found themselves playing second fiddle in the Premier Division to Celtic and the emerging New Firm
of Aberdeen and Dundee United.
defeat against Aberdeen to try his luck south of the border with Chelsea, the Londoners paying a fee of £30,000 to secure his signature. But his time at Stamford Bridge
was not a success. He failed to hold down a regular place, and had a month on loan to Dundee United
in 1984.
was not a success, just 23 appearances and one goal.
match against Wales
. Despite Johnstone's rich vein of scoring form in 1978, he was overlooked by Ally McLeod during Scotland's ill-fated World Cup campaign in Argentina. Although he was a member of the squad, he did not start any of the three matches that the Scots played.
, Radio Clyde
and currently Real Radio
.
Johnstone played mainly for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
during his career. He also had a spell at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and a brief stint in management with Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
. He mainly played as a striker but could also perform in central defence
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, and in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Uniquely, he was selected to play in defence, midfield, and attack for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Rangers
Johnstone, a boyhood Dundee United supporter, signed for Rangers as a schoolboy in 1968. He turned professional in 1970 and made his debut aged 16 years and 319 days against CowdenbeathCowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
on 19 September 1970, scoring twice on his debut, a 5–0 victory.
Johnstone thrust himself into the limelight a few months later when his header secured a 1–0 victory over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup Final of 1970–71. Johnstone was just sixteen-years-old at the time, but the faith shown in his ability by manager Willie Waddell paid off handsomely, as Rangers claimed their first piece of silverware for almost five years.
Despite his heroics against Celtic, Johnstone found regular first-team outings in the number nine jersey hard to come by, largely due to the presence of Colin Stein, Scotland's first £100,000 player, although he did score eleven goals in sixteen league appearances during the 1971–72 season. He compensated for his lack of frontline action by often playing as a centre-back when either Ronnie McKinnon or Colin Jackson were injured, and when the duo were ruled out of the European Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1972, Johnstone, still only eighteen, deputised in the showpiece match against Dynamo Moscow. His mature display in Rangers' 3–2 victory belied his youth and inexperience.
With performances such as this, Johnstone soon became a regular in the starting line-up, and he picked up a Scottish Cup winners' medal in 1973 when Rangers defeated Celtic 3–2 at Hampden Park. Johnstone played a huge role in the winning goal, rising above the Celtic defence to head a Tommy McLean free-kick towards goal, and when his header struck both posts, Tam Forsyth was on hand to nudge the rebound over the line. The McLean-Johnstone combination that created this famous goal was a hallmark of Rangers' play in the 1970s.
Johnstone eventually picked up a league championship medal at the end of the 1974–75 campaign, as Rangers ended Celtic's nine-year reign as Kings of Scotland, and he was an integral part of The 'Gers Treble success a year later. He scored a total of thirty-one goals in fifty-one appearances, including two in a 3–1 win over Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final. He scored his first, a typical header, after just forty-two seconds and thus earned himself a unique place in the annals of Scottish Football. The referee had actually kicked off the match early, so Johnstone had actually hit the net before the allotted 3pm kick-off time had been reached.
Although 1976–77 was a barren season for Rangers, they came back with a bang in 1977–78 by winning their second Treble inside three years. Johnstone was the outstanding performer in what was an exceptional Rangers side, scoring thirty-eight goals over the course of the campaign and picking up the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year accolade.
With Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in luring Rangers' top marksman to London, Johnstone submitted a transfer request in the summer of 1978. He was seeking a new challenge in his career, but the intervention of new Rangers manager John Greig persuaded Johnstone to stay in Glasgow. He was named club captain, and in his first season with the armband, he almost led Rangers to an unprecedented second successive Treble. Only a last-gasp 4–2 defeat against Celtic at Parkhead robbed Rangers of the Championship, but Johnstone did get his hands on the Scottish Cup – he scored twice in the Final's second replay against Hibernian and the League Cup.
That season was to be the high watermark for the John Greig era, though, and Rangers' fortunes nose-dived spectacularly thereafter. They did win the Scottish Cup in 1981 and the Scottish League Cup in 1982, but they found themselves playing second fiddle in the Premier Division to Celtic and the emerging New Firm
New Firm (Scotland)
The New Firm was the short-lived term used, during the 1980s, to describe the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United...
of Aberdeen and Dundee United.
Chelsea
Johnstone was placed on the transfer list by John Greig in April 1983, and he left Ibrox after the 1983 Scottish Cup Final1983 Scottish Cup Final
The 1983 Scottish Cup Final was played on May 21, 1983 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 108th Scottish Cup. Aberdeen and Rangers contested the match, Aberdeen won the match 1–0, thanks to Eric Black's extra time goal.-Match details:...
defeat against Aberdeen to try his luck south of the border with Chelsea, the Londoners paying a fee of £30,000 to secure his signature. But his time at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
was not a success. He failed to hold down a regular place, and had a month on loan to Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
in 1984.
Return to Rangers
He was tempted back to Ibrox by Jock Wallace in January 1985 for £25,000. He returned to a Rangers side that was in the midst of a doleful period in their history, and it was hoped that the return of a former favourite could galvanise an ailing team. Alas, it failed to work out and Johnstone was handed a free transfer when Graeme Souness took over the reins at Ibrox in the summer of 1986. His return to IbroxIbrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
was not a success, just 23 appearances and one goal.
International career
Johnstone made his debut in a British Home ChampionshipBritish Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. Despite Johnstone's rich vein of scoring form in 1978, he was overlooked by Ally McLeod during Scotland's ill-fated World Cup campaign in Argentina. Although he was a member of the squad, he did not start any of the three matches that the Scots played.
International goals
- Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 May 1978 | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
1–1 | 1–1 | British Home Championship British Home Championship The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84... |
|
| 2. | 17 May 1978 | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
1–0 | 1–1 | British Home Championship British Home Championship The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84... |
Managerial career
He had a short spell as player-manager of Partick Thistle which was short and unhappy. Johnstone left the professional game in 1987.Career statistics
| Season | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | European | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 1970–71 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 21 | 8 |
| 1971–72 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 5 | – | 35 | 12 |
| 1972–73 | 31 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | – | 47 | 10 |
| 1973–74 | 31 | 1 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 2 | 1 | 44 | 2 |
| 1974–75 | 27 | 14 | 2 | – | 6 | 2 | – | – | 35 | 16 |
| 1975–76 | 33 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 31 |
| 1976–77 | 27 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | – | 42 | 21 |
| 1977–78 | 33 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 38 |
| 1978–79 | 31 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 16 |
| 1979–80 | 33 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 47 | 21 |
| 1980–81 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 33 | 7 |
| 1981–82 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | – | 42 | 16 |
| 1982–83 | 16 | 6 | 1 | – | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 11 |
| 1984–85 | 11 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 12 | 1 |
| 1985–86 | 8 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 11 | 0 |
| Total | 369 | 132 | 57 | 30 | 85 | 39 | 35 | 9 | 546 | 210 |
Post football career
Since then, he has worked extensively in the football media, including for BBC ScotlandBBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
, Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde is a division of Bauer Radio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently operate an FM station and an AM station from studios in Clydebank West Dunbartonshire.- History :...
and currently Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
.
External links
- Derek Johnstone proflie at Rangers.co.uk